Children are back to school, the sun is shining and that gorgeous autumnal light has returned. The berries are ripe for picking, butterflies are everywhere, the bees are busy and the land is showing signs of slowing down for the winter sleep. It is harvest time, foraging time and jam making time. I am holding … Continue reading At summers end
I absolutely love this time of year when natures jewels are ripe and ready for picking. Elderberries, blackberries and rowan mountain ash all grow nearby where I live so I am super lucky to have these to forage. I don’t think I have missed more than a handful of years since being a small child to pick blackberries. It’s almost a ritual. I think perhaps bordering on addictive. Who can resist those juicy black berries. One for me and one for the bucket! Risking brambles and nettles to reach the prize. Continue reading Natures Jewels.
More and more people are looking to what grows wild for an alternative source of teas. The need for a calmer lifestyle away from caffeine enriched drinks and medications is calling people back to the hedgerows. Foraging is re-emerging. As a young child, I remember my grandfather teaching me about the edibles in the woods, fields and lanes. He used to make his own wines and was happy to pass on his knowledge. I am now doing the same for my young grandson. At three and a half, he already knows many names of plants and trees and is aware of the spring growth appearing when we are out and about. This is so important to pass on. This knowledge passed down through generations. I have a Korean friend who always asks when I talk about a plant… Can you make tea with that? Often the answer is yes! Let’s take a look at some of those plants, flowers, trees and leaves. Continue reading Can you make tea with that?
Today is one of those truly magical times after a night of thunder and heavy rain, when the fog is thick, the air is humid and the fairy folk are only just beyond our scope of vision. My 2 year old grandson accompanied me on my morning wander with my camera and said “hello” to many of the little people. It is rare to see so many dew dropped bedecked spider webs as I did today, I was completely in awe of the spectacle. Even the tallest pines were strewn from bottom to top. Continue reading A magical time.
Time just seems to be flying by, weeks disappearing into months. One happening that remains constant are the cycles of life and also natures ability to recover. Back in April, the lady who owns the place we live asked if I would like to build a vegetable garden where some old decking lay. An unusable part of the garden that needed a facelift. One thing I seems to do is bring back old gardens and give them new life wherever I have lived, be it here in Ireland, in Spain and in Morocco. I was up for the challenge. While the space was being cleared and new soil added, it was time to decide on a plan. The property was scoured for reusable resources. old fencing posts, old decking, tree rings, stones etc. Willow twigs were cut to make fences and plants were bought from garden centres. Hopefully my choices will grow into an amazing colourful feature. Continue reading Green fingers…again
Karima Rebecca Powell Artist 