The promise of peaches growing outdoors in the west of Ireland, another Bealtaine Cottage first! Blossom on these home grown trees, grown from seed, is looking good. So far, with only the first month behind us, this has been a remarkable Spring!
New Bird Boxes have been added to the rich habitat, now in its fifteenth year on these three acres.
The interior of the tunnel has been remodelled to create a sanctuary in which to enjoy being in the garden, even in very wet weather!
Sanctuaries are much needed in today’s world!
The plastic has been washed inside and out, ready for its fourteenth year!
The area around the tunnel, which includes compost heaps and potting corner, is now tidy.
Crocosmia is growing into fine clumps of lime green foliage.
Rhubarb doesn’t need forcing in the mild climate enjoyed here in the west of Ireland. 
Beds have been well mulched and Rhubarb banked up with enriched compost.
Work in the garden never stops, because Mother Earth never sleeps.
Sweet Peas have successfully germinated outdoors in plastic buckets. Many of you have been following this experiment.
There are lots more seeds germinating in this way and I expect them to be stronger and hardier for their experience being outdoors, even through the recent snow!
In between the outdoors work, clothes are hand-washed and hung out to dry in the wind and sporadic sunshine.
Potatoes are arranged to chit, as pots are brought together and prepared for potato planting.
In a home without television, reading is the great entertainment…my book of the moment is all about the incredible life of Vita Sackville-West…a rollicking good read in the form of a wonderful biography by Victoria Glendinning.
And, as always, whenever the weather allows, the back door is thrown open to welcome in the day that’s in it!
Books, Map, Calendar and Bumper Sticker selection…
Bealtaine Cottage Press:
https://bealtainecottage.com/bealtaine-cottage-publications-books-and-maps/
So beautiful, just found your you tube channel, and I love love it all! Hugs from Shreveport, Louisiana USA, Lynn
I too just discovered Beltaine Cottage. I live in Missouri, USA but also own a home not too far from you in Tyler County, Texas. Small world.
Inspiring!
“Sanctuaries are much needed in today’s world”….so true. Love your Blog Colette.
Photos are so mystical. My crocosmia is peeking up as well. And the rhubarb is growing strong. Love what is going on in the polytunnel. Thank you for all you do. Blessings on ye, Colette.?
Ha! Blessings are not in question. 😍
What clever little sweet peas! 😀 … so glad they survived and are thriving. 🙂
Lovely photographs. I was thrilled with your video on early Spring gifts, like nettles and all the many uses for health. We have been eating the leaves of the nasturtiums hoping to ward off the worst of sinus and head colds. It is important to remember the old ways. We are only one or two generations separated from these practices of wild crafting, foraging and growing and preserving our foods. We have allowed the commercial growers, sellers, etc to lull us into a dangerous dependency of “convenience.” And, in turn, we have lost our sense of the seasons, of life and death of patience and the reward of time.
So very true!
Beautiful! Relaxing ☺
So lovely, Colette! We’re still under snow here in Michigan. 🙂
Colette, as always your garden is stunning! We are buried in several feet of snow, I’ve heard that we’ve had 12 feet already and there is more to come next week. Our last frost date is usually the end of May. Just a bit of DNA story. Ancestry constantly refines their testing, and now I have much more Irish than they said earlier. I love it.
Ireland & Scotland
Primarily located in: Ireland, Wales, Scotland
Range: 4%—41%
Your DNA shows that you have ancestry from Ireland and Scotland and links you to these specific regions:
Munster, Ireland
Iveragh Peninsula
South West Munster
Ulster, Ireland
Louth & Monaghan
Overview
Located in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales remain linked to Celtic culture. Along with a handful of other isolated communities within the British Isles, are some of the last holdouts of the ancient Celtic languages that were once spoken throughout much of Western Europe. And though closely tied to Great Britain, both geographically and historically, all three have maintained their unique character through the centuries.
Read more
Florian Christoph / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 / Cropped
DNA Story Ireland & Scotland
Feel such affinity with your space, Colette, even though I’m in a different hemisphere.
We both compost and compoost! Have just had weeks of no rain (& we’re on rainwater only) yet everything that was mulched is thriving, it always warms my heart to see how Mother Earth adapts and adjusts and working with her is just the biggest joy, isn’t it 🙂
Wonderful!
Lovely recap of the spring at Bealtaine so far. Thank you Colette!