nature

Autumn Equinox 2026

~ Ashley ~ 7 Comments

As I now follow the seasonal tree cycle suggested in The Ogham Grove* the common Elder, Sambucus nigra, is seen as the guardian of the West and Dusk, and as it falls into the period between the 12th and the 29th September, it is the tree of the Autumn Equinox.  It is the 15th letter in the tree year: RUIS – R in Old Gaelic.

In Mandy Haggith’s wonderful anthology of tree poems Into The Forest* she opens the chapter on the elder tree describing it as more like a “scraggy shrub!”  I love that expression!  The elder tree is rarely seen as a full grown tree and is more usually found in hedgerows, or anywhere there is or was human habitation, where a phosphate rich soil is to be found (bones from domestic rubbish heaps or burial grounds).  The wood of the tree has been used for small items such as pipes and whistles as the narrower branches have a soft core which can be hollowed out.  The main areas of use though have been the medicinal properties garnered from the flowers in spring and the berries in autumn when cures for anti-inflammatory or anti-viral ailments are required.

It was said that having an elder tree growing near your home would protect it from evil.  The leaves have a distinct smell, not a pleasant one, and small bunches would be hung in dairies and kitchens to keep flies away; sprigs of leaves would also be attached to horses bridles.

A sketch by myself after one by Lizzie Harper.*

Here is part of a poem that I wrote last year:

In autumn
..............berries like alien antennae,
hang;
shining, black, full of vigour,
they shiver on the air.

Ashley 🌳

*The Ogham Grove by Yuri Leitch – ISBN: 9781517653637

*Into the Forest: An Anthology of Tree Poems – edited by Mandy Haggith – ISBN: 978-190864318-6

*The Living Wisdom of Trees by Fred Hageneder with illustrations by Lizzie Harper – ISBN: 978-1-786783-33-2

Further reading:  The Tree Dispensary: The uses, history and herbalism of native European trees by Christina Stapley – ISBN:978-1-91350-472-4

Beltaine 2026

~ Ashley ~ 64 Comments

This ancient festival of fertility and its manifestation in nature, literally growing under our feet, falls halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.  As with most things relating to the natural world, trees coming into leaf, flowers bursting into bloom or indeed the grass growing under our feet (I’m thankful that I no longer have a lawn to cut) I see this celebration as a period in time lasting for more than one day.

In honour of Mother Earth’s seasonal cycle, I choose to write and draw according to her timetable, hopefully, also living by her example.  Unfortunately for this post, I struggled with my artwork.  It lies unfinished in a folder ready to be refreshed and completed for next year, maybe!  (As some of my regular followers already know, the last 6 months have been traumatic and unsettling, as my beloved recovers from major heart surgery.  That journey for her has of course impacted my routines, especially regarding my own creative activity, so with small steps, mirroring her progress, I too recover).

So, a photo this time must suffice.

 

The oak tree in the photo is bursting with new leaves and soon I won’t be able to see the many branches.  It is in a neighbour’s garden and I see this tree as being ready to embrace the light and warmth of the summer sun.  Like most oaks in the UK she acts as a host to over 2300 different species who live on or within her being, from birds and squirrels to insects and fungi.  Whilst sometimes referred to as being male I believe the oak tree embodies so much that is female, a mother indeed to so many new lives.  I thank Brigitte on a recent Zoom meeting (The Ogham Grove)* for mentioning that she envisaged the shape of an oak tree as being similar to that of a womb.  Wow!






With her branches held ready





for an embrace,





the oak tree.















A vessel, an ark,





welcoming all;





a doorway home.









The Oak tree is sacred to the Druids; in fact the word Druid means Oak Person.  Also, the words for oak and door have ancient connections.


In the Celtic Tree Ogham the letter D (Duir) is represented by the symbol shown in the photo below.  I whittled a piece of oak to show the symbol.


 










I will note at the end some of the books I refer to for my writing here.  One that I am still reading is Galahad and the Grail;; a story told in ballad form, which I find irresistible!  For now I should mention a new book that will be coming from the poet, singer and priest Malcolm Guite.  The easiest way to do this is to include a short video from YouTube but here’s a taster of his words (I hope Malcolm will forgive me if I’ve got the line breaks wrong):


“…he knew each living oak is not itself alone //  its roots reach out to other trees  //  a woven web of mysteries  //  from darkest soil to lightest breeze  //  embodying the memories of every year its grown…”


Thank you, Malcolm!


 





































Here are the books that I look to for help:


Sacred Earth Celebrations by Glennie Kindred


The Ogham Grove by Yuri Leitch


Voices from the Grove by Yuri Leitch


*If you search on YouTube you will also find a series of videosmcalled The Ogham Grove*


For now, happy Beltaine to everyone who visits here.


Ashley 🌿


 





			

	


				
					


	

			
Summer Solstice 2024
		

				

						 ~ Ashley			 ~ 58 Comments					

				

		
Oh my goodness!  Here we are at the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and still it doesn’t feel like summer!  Whilst we’ve had a few sunny days, the skies have mostly been overcast.  Still, the cycle of nature continues to turn and here in our little garden, some of my favourite flowers are blooming, even with overcast skies.  Geraniums are relatively easy to grow and there are many hardy varieties to choose from which flower throughout the summer months.


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With longer days,
Summer flowers open;
Oh my, geraniums!






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Unfortunately, I’ve lost most of their names but I think the 2nd photo shows Johnson’s Blue, and the 3rd photo shows Bob’s Blunder.


Finally, here is a picture from our small garden, under a grey sky:


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In the northern hemisphere, the sun is at its highest point and the wheel of the year begins again. I hope that we do get some warmer days even as each day passes it is a little shorter than the previous one.





Happy Summer Solstice 🧡🌞





Ashley




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Rowallane Walled Garden
		

				

						 ~ Ashley			 ~ 65 Comments					

				

		
In the walled garden - Rowallane




This photograph was taken towards the end of May and with all the greenery it looks like the summer has arrived.  We were in Rowallane Gardens, a favourite haunt of ours when we don’t have to travel too far from home.





There weren’t many people visiting and anyway the gardens are big enough to absorb the crowds.  We arrived early and brought a box full of books for their used book shop.  That’s at least 40 books we’ve donated this year (only another couple of hundred to go). 





 




 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  



I’m a terrible one for plant names and writing them down just makes matters worse!  Here they are, from left to right:


Chaerophyllum hirsutum ‘Roseum’ – Marrubium vulgare Horehound – Ranunculus constantinoplitanus ‘Plenus’


Personally, I prefer hardy geraniums and here is a cracker:


Geranium hybrid 'Ann Folkard'


Geranium hybrid ‘Ann Folkard’




We did have some lovely warm sunny days at the end of May and the first day of June was a scorcher.  However, temperatures have dropped back (10c feels like 8c) and today I actually put the heating on for an hour.  It’s supposed to be the summer and in a few weeks time it will be the summer solstice, the longest day!  Are you ready to celebrate?




Ashley