It’s evening here at Bealtaine Cottage.
The sun is setting in the west and there’s a mild chill in the air.
I have been cutting back some of the wild summer growth and the sunlight can now reach areas where there was only heavy shade.
The dappled light covers the standing stone on the bank under the cottage.
One of the big tasks is tying in the willow growth from this year into the fedges that cover the smallholding.
It’s a lovely task really, I can’t complain, as I work and listen to the sounds of Nature all around me.
It also allows me time to look at the way plants are developing and plan the next task, so there is an organic flow to my work.
This willow arch has many stems of Dogwood worked into it.
The fedge on the right was the first one constructed here and had developed well over seven or so years.
It looked odd at the beginning as it stood all alone on a rushy field.
An upside down vase covers the top of a stem from a Sitka spruce that I recently cut down.
There is a disease which is killing these trees off all over Ireland and Scotland and no wonder!
The plantations of these trees spread far and wide and are monoculture nightmares that blot the landscape in huge square planting schemes that allow no light or biodiversity into their space…it is purely for greed!
The bog garden has seen lots of work over recent days as I clear the edges of the pond and cut back willow and shrubs.
This is a lovely time of the year to work outdoors.
Autumn is my favourite season.
It is a time when the gardens start to look their best as the summer party ends and the tidy up begins…
I have realised the great value of Willow this year as a fuel for the stove.
Much of what I cut last Autumn made great kindling and small logs, giving a strong heat.
It also works well in the Rocket Stove.
When I had finished my work, I walked back up through the Fairy Dell Wood as the evening sun was illuminating the entrance, making it look magical.
I have always believed in Fairies…
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Tags: arch, Bog Garden, fairy, fedge, forestry, garden on a budget, illuminate, Ireland, pond, Scotland, sitka spruce disease, sunset, willow, woodland
