Morning at Bealtaine Cottage and Jack awaits my company for a walk. This is now mid September and the air remains humid and warm from the end of Summer heat.
Kilronan Mountain appears baby blue in the early morning. Young Ash trees on the lane have dropped their meagre leaves as Chalara overtakes them. Lots of wood will come down over winter storms. All will go into the kindling pile in the barn.
As I work in the woodland, coppicing and clearing, the light breaks through in subtle ways, allowing secondary growth to happen. I have often spoken about the way in which I created this woodland, citing the importance of “pioneer trees”, as a way of preparing the earth for longer lasting secondary planting. It has worked beautifully! The way I have planted this woodland is set out in my first book, “A Cottage and Three Acres”.
Yesterday and today I am engaged with cutting back the Clematis that covers the front of the cottage. Winter storms may damage the heavy canopy it has formed, so thinning out will help protect the plant. My wheelbarrow is piled high! All cuttings are piled up into “habitat piles”. These will provide winter homes for small creatures.
This load will help create one to the side of the Sidhe Shed, behind where I am standing.
The early morning sun bestows its rays upon the Goddess.
She reminds me of my mother.
A Song Thrush joins me. She sits on the dead ash tree, now covered with Polygonum, Russian Vine, nicknames ‘Mile a Minute’, as it grows so fast!
Look at what has happened in the plant pot…the little violas have all seeded themselves from last winter and are now putting out flowers! Birds have already begun to feast on the petals, but lots more flowers will emerge.
I love the delicate silken webs that herald Autumn.
“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.”
― John Donne
“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!”
― Humbert Wolfe
Nasturtium…September flowers to feed the bees.
Figs…always one for the birds and wasps. Let them at one and they will stay off the rest!
The Stone Circle, willow removed to allow light to the Oak tree in the centre. The light ushers in the energy and magic!
