First signs ?
i've been hunting out the first signs of spring the trees are starting to bud & some of the Birch & Willow have got catkins so not long now, here's some Elder in leaf & Honeysuckle.
The Anglo-Saxons thought that elders represented both good and evil – that if you cut an elder down, a witch would manifest in its place, but also that it would keep witches at bay (they were planted near wells and at the door of newly weds). If you fell asleep under the heavy scent of an elder in full bloom, you would be carried off to the world of the fairies and be protected from snakes and evil spirits.
The word "elder" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "æld" meaning fire, probably due to the hollowed out stems being used to blow up the fire.Inside the stem is a thick soft pith which can easily be hollowed out & can used as TINDER, forming hollow tubes. These used to be used to make whistles and pipes,
the wood itself makes a poor fuel, and the structure of the wood and its sap makes it scream and spit whilst burning. The belief that it was the Devil spitting from the heat of the fire further reinforced the taboo against burning the wood.
The leaves, bruised, if worn in the hat or rubbed on the face, prevent flies settling on the person. In order to safeguard the skin from the attacks of mosquitoes, midges and other troublesome flies, an infusion of the leaves may be dabbed on with advantage. Gather a few fresh leaves from the elder, tear them from their stalks and place them in a jug, pouring boiling water on them and covering them at once, leaving for a few hours. When the infusion is cold, it is fit for use and should be at once poured off into a bottle and kept tightly corked. It is desirable to make a fresh infusion often. The leaves are said to be valued by the farmer for driving mice away from granaries and moles from their usual haunts.
If you do need to cut yourself some wood from the tree, approach the tree with respect; ask first, and listen with an open heart. Don't cut if you get a strong intuition not to. Some people like to leave a small gift of some kind - something practical like untangling ivy, clearing up around the trunk, watering in dry weather or tidying up rubbish from around the tree. An attitude of gratitude and thanks to the tree is a positive act which all of nature responds well to. Others say it matters not to the tree, but the very act of thanking opens up something in us which is very healthy and necessary for our spirits. For this reason it is important to state your thanks simply, and from the heart, each time you take nature's gifts. I also find that it builds up a bond with a tree, a friendship of great power and wisdom. The Elder, of all the trees, has much to teach us, through direct contact, communication and reconnection to past uses and country lore.
Honeysuckle
According to an old superstition, if honeysuckle is taken into a house then a wedding will follow. If a girl places this fragrant flower in her bedroom, she will dream of love,
it was believed that if honeysuckle grows around the entrance to the home it would prevent a witch from entering. In other places it's believed that grown around the doors it will bring good luck. If it grows well in your garden, then you will be protected from evil. Bringing the flowers into the house will bring money with them.
The leaves and flowers of the honeysuckle are rich in salicylic acid, so may be used to relieve headaches, colds, flu, fever, aches, pains, arthritis and rheumatism. The leaves have anti-inflammatory properties and contain anti-biotics active against staphylococci and coli bacilli. Honeysuckle flowers and flower buds are used in various infusions and tinctures to treat coughs, catarrh, asthma, headaches and food poisoning.
The flowers can be used for making teas, vinegars, jams, jellies and add interest to fruit curd. Try making quince and honeysuckle or peach and honeysuckle curd. The flowers can also be used for decorating cakes and desserts and for making country wine.
Please note that honeysuckle berries are highly toxic and should NEVER be used on any count.
Weekend Work
Spent alot of the weekend in Swanholme Lakes Nature Reserve just burning off & clearing more Rhododendron, the weather was sunny & cold but round the fire with proper coffee it was just about bearable !! the sunsets over the Lakes Friday & Saturday were Awesome & i managed to see Mars near the Moon Some celestial spectacle or other.
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