Tag Archives: Ireland

Happy Bealtaine, the 1st Day of Summer in the Celtic Calendar.

1 May

Summer dawn at Bealtaine Cottage IrelandThe Celtic Festival of Bealtaine, also spelt as Beltane, Beltain, Beltainne and Beltaine is a Cross Quarter Day.

Midsummer Magic at Bealtaine CottageThis means,  that it is half way between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice.

Midsummer Magic at Bealtaine 003Of course, as nothing is static in the Universe,  the actual astronomical date is a number of days later.

  This year, 2013, the date when the cross-quarter day falls is May 5th.

Bealtaine Cottage May In Irish mythology, the beginning of the summer season started with the Fire Festival at Bealtaine.

May in the Fairy Wood at  Bealtaine Cottage Great bonfires were held which would herald in the season in the hope of a good harvest later in the year.

May in the Fairy Wood at  Bealtaine Cottage The bonfires would be accompanied with rituals of cleansing and protection.

A small branch of the Rowan tree was hung over the door to protect from fire and ill health.

may at Bealtaine cottage permaculture wine makingI made a short video this morning to share the sights and sounds of this special day, the first day of Summer, with you…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZjuMzAqLCc

April 2013 in the Permaculture Gardens of Bealtaine Cottage, Ireland

5 Apr

April 2013 Permaculture gardens at Bealtaine Cottage

Lots of work in the gardens over recent days…cutting back, shredding and tidying up.

Grass paths have been dug in along the edges and the birds have followed looking for tasty morsels!

Ribes in bloom at Bealtaine Cottage, great for the bees!eRibes bushes are now heavy with flowers, attracting the bees and feeding some of the early risers.

An early bee in April 2013 at bealtaine Cottage permaculture gardensAnd just in case you thought that the bees were still in hibernation…

Polytunnel at Bealtaine Cottage permaculture gardens in April 2013The polytunnel has been cleaned and tidied, as this becomes very abundant during the summer months!

Can you see the pink blossom on the Nectarine tree?

Buddha under the Laurel arch at Bealtaine Cottage permaculture gardensThe Laurel Archway has been given a good trim.

You can see it better in the top pic.

Laurels grow very fast and if an archway is to be maintained then a heavy cut must be carried out every 2-3 years.

All the cuttings are shredded and spread on beds and compost heaps.

Polytunnel at Bealtaine Cottage Permaculture GardensThis morning is warm and filled with sunshine as I walk the permaculture gardens of Bealtaine Cottage.

Water Garden at the Permaculture gardens of Bealtaine CottageThe water garden is emerging from slumber as the frog-spawn hatches.

Bealtaine CottageThe gardens are coming back to life…

Willow archways and fedges at Bealtaine CottageWillow archways and fedges are in bud…

Broad Beans at Bealtaine Cottage

Broad beans are ready to plant out…

permaculture Gardens of Bealtaine CottageWhat a wonderful start to the weekend!

Bealtaine Cottage is also on YouTube…with over 85 videos about Permaculture, planting, growing and living.

The archives on this blog measure over 500 in total!

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