It has been some time…
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ~ Henry James
Just as the rosebuds are swelling, early Summer makes an appearance. It has been a long cold Winter and Spring.
Euphorbia has brightened the veranda with its vivid lime green.
And finally, finally the garden stirs into full life.
“Green was the silence, wet was the light,
the month of June trembled like a butterfly.”
~ Pablo Neruda
“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don’t they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.”
~ Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine.
Garden visitors have left and the warmth of a sunny afternoon is all my own once more.
Quince is now fully open in the sun against the warm wood of the barn wall.
“it’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine … it’s summertime!” ~ Kenny Chesney
Cotoneaster and Birch grow to create shelter by the front door.
Primroses prolong their blooms in the shady banks along the driveway.
Bunting heralds a welcome to garden visitors…every day of May…
And there’s Jack, curious as always to pick up the scent of visitors…
The golden Goddess now has her sacred Owls nearby…one day Owls will move into Bealtaine…one day…
Dandelions create a food path for the bees at the top of the driveway.
Blessings of early Summer be yours XXX Colette, Jack, SammyBear and Beauty XXXX
“A Cottage and Three Acres,” by Colette O’Neill
Please email Colette if you would like a particular inscription in your book. From a desolate cottage set in 3 acres of monoculture sadness, to a vibrant, thriving food forest of life…the journey back to Eden over 13 years… Bealtaine Books and Maps are printed in Ireland and posted from Ireland to support the people of Ireland.
€27.00
In Search of The Goddess Rising
This is the second book in the Goddess Permaculture series from Colette O’Neill at Bealtaine Cottage, Ireland. In this book I explore the ancient landscape, mythology, literature and life around Bealtaine Cottage… in search of the Great Goddess. The price of the book includes all postage and packing to wherever you live in the world! Bealtaine Books and Maps are printed in Ireland and posted from Ireland to support the people of Ireland.
€21.00
Bealtaine Cottage Guide to the Deep Midwinter
A little Yuletide book filled with colour photographs, recipes, reflections, lore, poetry and mirth to guide you through the wonderful days ahead. Fifty pages of sheer delight from Bealtaine Cottage to you. The book is fully bound and can be posted direct as a gift. Price includes P&P worldwide. Bealtaine Books and Maps are printed in Ireland and posted from Ireland to support the people of Ireland.
€15.00
Special Offer
In Search of the Goddess Rising and The Bealtaine Cottage Guide to the Deep Midwinter…both books normally cost €36.00 but can be purchased together for for €32.00 which includes P&P Worldwide. Bealtaine Books and Maps are printed in Ireland and posted from Ireland to support the people of Ireland.
€32.00
Magical Mythical Map of Bealtaine Cottage and Gardens
Beautiful map created by the artist David Gascoigne, especially for Bealtaine Cottage. The picture shows one side of the map…it is printed on both sides, see the photos on this page. The price includes all Postage and Packing to wherever you live in the world! Bealtaine Books and Maps are printed in Ireland and posted from Ireland to support the people of Ireland.
€12.00
As the thousand and more trees and thousands of plants of the Bealtaine Project grow taller and more dense, so it is the once barren land seems more and more as it is…an Ark for Earth, set into a monoculture landscape of Cash-Crop-Forestry and animal grazing fields. 
This summer witnessed the most Bees, Butterflies, Pollinators and Birds ever! 
The wildlife in search of home are migrating to the oasis of Bealtaine Cottage. 
They know where the food, shelter and ultimate habitat is to be found! 
So, I thought to myself, what if those with gardens, allotments, smallholdings etc., pledged to devote a percentage of what they tend or own to wildlife?
We are talking Arks, where wildlife can not only survive, but thrive! 
This takes the presumption that one cannot make a difference and turns it on it’s ridiculous head! 
For one can make a difference! 
Two can double that little Ark for Earth…hundreds can create a huge difference and thousands…well, thousands can begin to stack the odds in favour of Mother Earth! 
Now don’t get me thinking of hundreds of thousands or even millions, for my head will almost explode with possibilities…but you see where this is going, don’t you? 
And as for Guerrilla Gardening…oh joy!
What about seed bombs chucked out of the car window onto the motorway verges? 
We are creative people who care…if you’ve landed here on this website you most certainly are! 
So let’s get to it! 
Oh, and the Lughnasadh Garden is being worked on little by little, with a grand opening and dedication ceremony next Bealtaine (May 1st)
…the Ark is being extended…
…One Garden At A Time
and…it’s going to be mighty!
And here it is, the very first flight of the baby Bluetits!
