Hawthorn is one of the sacred Ogham trees of Ireland. It goes by the name Huath in Irish, being the tree that symbolises Bealtaine, the merry month of May! This is also a wonderful, magical herb of abundant medicine. Hawthorn, or whitethorn, is easily identifiable during this time as her creamy blossoms brighten hedgerows, stone walls, fields and sacred sites.
Hawthorn is also known as the fairy tree for it is believed, especially a solo tree in a field, that it is a place that fairies would stop to rest (or party!) as they traversed across the land.
There was a frost this morning, as you can see from the roof of the cottage. Insulation in the loft keeps the frost on the roof. You can always tell a poorly insulated home from the state of the roof on frosty mornings!
An icy cover on the rain barrel by the lodge!
Myself and Jack set off for a morning stroll in the woodland gardens.
I was reminded of the many herbs growing freely at Bealtaine Cottage and all along the roadsides here in the west of Ireland, as I walked along the woodland paths.
Dandelion, another exceptional wild herb growing abundantly here, with Its young leaves that can be used to make a tea with potassium-saving diuretic properties, so very useful for treating people suffering from high blood pressure.
Consumption of the bitter leaves will also aid digestion and act as a general laxative, while eating the ground root helps detoxify the liver.
It’s good to remember that the sticky, milky- white latex contained within its stalks can be used externally to kill warts and veruccas.
The fire pit near the cottage has lots of precious wood ash to be spread out into the gardens. I continue to burn some of the dried blackcurrant stems from last year.
The tidy up continues as I move the rusted bin over to the back of the old compost heap near the tunnel.
There are many wild and naturalised herbs growing in this semi-wild area, such as Comfrey, Nettle and Wild Garlic. Sweet Bay is planted to the right of the path in this picture. The Potager Bed is filled with many other cultivated herbs, growing happily alongside their wild cousins!
Growing here at Bealtaine Cottage, in damp, grassy places, from July to September, this majestic, sweet- scented perennial, Wild Angelica, is known as Gallfheabhrán in Irish. Here it is, covered in frost this morning…
Wild Angelica was eaten in past times as a vegetable and used for dyeing cloth.
Traditionally it was used to treat rheumatism, gout and indigestion or to flavour liqueurs.
It really is amazing the vast quantities of wild herbs that are growing all around us. We have forgotten many of them and know very little of the edibility and uses of many of the recognisable plants. You can see some of the Chives spilling out from one of the Potager beds here by the Sedum.
The colour wash across the woodland gardens continues this morning, the second day of Samhain as the progression of winter moves across the land. Flat Parsley is visible to the front of the bed! I moved all the Nasturtiums this morning from near the old Hen House, as the great tidy-up continues.
Burdock, Nettle and Meadowsweet all grow with wild abandon here at Bealtaine Cottage. Meadowsweet contains essential oils, flavonoids and tannins. It is renowned for its anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, analgesic, and relaxant qualities. Just walking among it during the heady days of summer induces all of the above!
Wild Oregano, or Marjoram, Yarrow, Coltsfoot and, Mullein…still in flower in the Lughnasadh Garden by the way!
I shall post a photo of this over on the Twitter account for Bealtaine Cottage later on…
Bealtaine Cottage Goddess Permaculture Gardens
@PermaGoddess
Plantain, Herb Robert and Feverfew can be added to the extensive list…I am now imagining a Bealtaine Book of Herbs and their uses, as I realise what a Herb Sanctuary this little acreage has blossomed into!
Books, map and calendar can be accessed through the link at the top of the website.
The calendar is packed with 46 photographs! The months of the year are all in Irish and there is room enough to write notes and appointments daily.
The map is printed back and front on thick card with beautiful detailed artwork just waiting to be coloured in!
Moon phases for 2019 and 2020 are all included!
Morning at Bealtaine, infused with tasks and rituals as the hands on the clock move towards midday on this last Thursday of September.
This was the true Mabon or Equinox moon, casting light through the trees that surround the cottage, illuminating the landscape, lighting the way.
The air remains still and warm, much the same as when I walked through the woodland gardens at twilight last night, making a video as I went.
The cottage is immersed in quiet contemplation as I write…yes, these walls are alive and incubate the vibrations of life within, so reflecting my mood.
In recent years we have rediscovered that truth as Quantum Physics has advanced in understanding our relationship with our world and universe.
Many of us seek endlessly for a meaning in life, a spiritual awakening.
The evening has drawn in without my noticing, a sure sign of Autumn quickening towards Samhain.
I have walked the woodland gardens this evening and made a video.
It’s so much easier to upload videos with my new laptop now that both phone and laptop are compatible.
I have missed the regular writing I do here on the website and was pondering on what to do in order to make the time for this?
This website was my very first and enduring foray into the world outside of Bealtaine Cottage.
I have decided to make this website a priority above FaceBook and Twitter…those who want to will find and subscribe here.
I may even get back to a daily journal of sorts…we shall see!
There are stories to be told and pictures to share…
For all of my life before I have dieted, lost weight and then, in the space of a month or two, put it all back on again!
This time, after losing a massive amount of weight over the course of 100 days, something amazing has happened…I have not gained a single pound back over the past 52 days of eating!
And a reminder of my weight problem and ensuing health problems from last year…
Now that I’m here, I’m never going back!
The year is tipping towards an end as Samhain marks the beginning of the new year… 
There has been much change here at Bealtaine Cottage as the canopy of trees has merged to form what is now truly a woodland.
This evolution has happened at just the right moment in time as we have witnessed a terrifyingly hot summer and drought…the woodland gardens have come through the worst unscathed…no loss on anything!
Beauty now lies between the stones of the great circle. I have flowers to plant here and many, many happy memories of this visiting soul who decided to spend time with us here at Bealtaine.
And so the wheel turns…
Much of my holiday was spent walking, something I love about being in the city!
Rain had fallen in my absence and the Spring Well was refreshed enough to send water to the cottage down the hill…the tank in the loft is now full and filling!
I expected to see much more leaf drop, but as you can see for yourself here in these photos, the trees have come through unscathed!
The forecast for Autumn seems very much as it should be and may prove to be quite a spectacular colour show!
This website is now approaching two million views…wonderful to imagine all those who have stopped by and perhaps taken a little inspiration into their lives, shaking off the old paradigm of what a garden should be…
The gardens at Bealtaine are all dedicated to the Great Mother and thus are charged with her energy.
The energy of earth is healing, both of herself and all her life upon.
As I walked with Jack around the cottage I was stopped in my tracks by this image…that of a woodland cottage, for this year has seen the manifestation of my heart’s desire from fourteen years ago, that of a cottage in the woods.
Butterflies were out in force today, in time for the sweet flowers of the Buddleia!
I uploaded a video shot this morning showing some of the Butterflies feasting on the flowers!
I want to say a special “Thanks and Blessings,” to all of you who sent condolences for Beauty…such kindness and compassion, Bless you XXX
There is the beautiful month of Lughnasadh to enjoy and appreciate the changes as summer merges into Autumn.
I have completed a 100 Day Juice Fast as a way of restoring health and am now following this lifestyle… It is working very well so far, as I feel content and balanced with all the benefits I felt on the Juice Fast!
I eat all this in one meal with 2 toasted wholemeal pitta breads with masses of salad including lettuce and chopped herbs.
I am also continuing to juice each day…usually in the morning. This much spinach to 3 green apples and half a lemon.
Watermelon is my preferred snack in this hot weather!
Yummy and heart healthy!
I have a further 18lbs to lose in order to reach the OUTER limits of the healthy BMI chart! The wonderful thing is…this does not feel like a diet and really is a lifestyle.
Are we part of the consciousness of Mother Earth?
I believe we shape the beauty around us with both our physical selves and our conscious minds.
We often hear the statement, ‘seeing is believing.’
I say, believing is seeing.
Belief in the sentient being that is Mother Earth has formed a major part of the energy that has manifested here.
From the very first time I saw this place I envisioned a cottage in the woods, surrounded by the music of Nature and the beauty of life.
Mother Earth is thriving.
Her abundance is nothing less than magnificent.
Everywhere on this land She thrives.
I have found a great many Cherry Trees She has seeded and grown over the past two years, but have remained hidden in the general mayhem of Spring and Summer, only to be discovered this year as Spring seemed to struggle and lag behind, so allowing me to see.
“Kinship with all creatures of the earth, sky, and water was a real and active principle.
In the animal and bird world there existed a brotherly feeling that kept us safe among them…
The animals had rights – the right of man’s protection, the right to live, the right to multiply, the right to freedom, and the right to man’s indebtedness.
This concept of life and its relations filled us with the joy and mystery of living; it gave us reverence for all life; it made a place for all things in the scheme of existence with equal importance to all.”
And so wherever we allow Her, enable Her and protect Her, abundance flows…
It’s humbling to witness…
Symbols have always resonated with us.
We possess an innate ability to read and understand symbols, for they transcend language and culture.
This time in a recently re-potted tree…lots of tiny Parsley seedlings. I have no idea where they have come from, except to add that I used home made compost and these are from the seed-heads of last Summer.
