Posted in Allotment, nature

Solace in Nature

It definitely feels like late summer now. Nights are noticeably drawing in, the sun is lower and my spidey senses have noticed a change in the air too.

The highlights of last week were seeing a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) on a Buddleja and noticing the harvests developing.

Autumn, my favourite season, is nearly here. The apples at the allotment are coming along nicely, almost ready to eat, along with the ripening blackberries. Plus hazelnuts and walnuts can be picked soon too.

Rowan berries have ripened now, their beautiful red colour showing through the green foliage. Last Thursday I noticed a female blackbird pick some before flying off with them.

It’s also been lovely to see my resident family of Blue tits on the Rowan tree (Sorbus), as I enjoy breakfast before my days work.

These small moments bring me so much joy and are a fantastic way to begin the day. I am grateful for natures restorative ability. Finding solace in it helps ground me while enabling me to remain in the moment and appreciate the small things. This time of year, when nature starts to slow down, also reminds me to take things more easily too. I do love this time of year. For me, the transition into Autumn, is a time of contemplation and preparation for the future.

Posted in Allotment, nature

A Spring into New Beginnings

The first of March, meteorological spring along with St Davids day all took place last Monday. Even the first grass cut of the season took place last week (albeit only a high cut to level off uneven growth).

Blackthorn was fully blossoming and spring flowers still bloomed as the birds, amphibians and insects continued to become more active. There were a few new observations; I noticed a single Two-leaf squill (Scilla bifolia) growing in a lawn and, in the same garden, saw a male Ring necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) strutting his stuff.

Things are moving on at the allotment. Sweetpea and Vegetable seedlings are doing well as are the seeds sown for cut and wild flower areas on the plot. The beds are ready for direct sowing which I hope to undertake within the next few weeks and I wait for Yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) and Bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) to germinate. I also hope to get the shed painted, install a water conserving system and build a bigger greenhouse sometime in the future.

While I am looking forward to the new growing season to begin in earnest I am also mindful to enjoy this moment; to stop, observe, reflect and plan and allowing nature to dictate the speed when things need to begin.

Aubergine and Chilli seedlings
Kale seedlings
Tithonia, Scabious and White clover seedlings (Trifolium repens)