October almanac

1st Yom Kippur Jewish Day of atonement – holiest day of the year. The literal translation of kippurim is cleansing. Yom Kippur is a Jewish day to atone for misdeeds and become cleansed and purified from them. 20th Diwali – a Hindhu/ Sikh/Jain Festival of Lights 23rd Stow horse fair – Autumn gypsy/Roma gathering 25th Apple day Read more about October almanac[…]

Autumn

Shadows lengthen, leaves begin to turn & fall, fruits, nuts & berries ripen for harvest. Birds migrate from & fro, owls duet & deer rut. Mushrooms pop, winds swirl until first frosts descend. Because the early Roman year began in March rather than January, the final four months of our year—September, October, November and December—were Read more about Autumn[…]

August

Worts & weeds Nuts & Berries Goldfinches chattering on thistles  & Swallows preparing to leave August brings the best bounty of the season—ripened tomatoes, beans, peas and corn. THE MONTH OF AUGUST August was named to honor the first Roman emperor (and grandnephew of Julius Caesar), Augustus Caesar (63 b.c.–a.d. 14). Find out the origin of each month’s name. Read more about August[…]

July Bloom & Wild

A messy riot, Purple Knapweed, Yellow wagtails, red hot Pokers of Rosebay Willowherb & Puffs of Meadowsweet against a backdrop of Thunderous skies & the smell of cool woodlands 3rd The Dog days of summer – the Time of searing heat 7th Chinese season of Xiǎo shǔ – Slight heat 14th New moon in Cancer Read more about July Bloom & Wild[…]

Midsummer

Pollination – Declare and Share – Union Purple and Orangealchemy & devilment. Here is midsummer.The time of purple and orange.Out of a Jurassic forest of foliage rise the polemonium spears.holding aloft their beautiful-blue purple flower clusters.While pink-purple rockets burst forth on the buddleia bush.And Orange hawkbit waft their devil’s paintbrushes highamong the tall spears of Read more about Midsummer[…]

February

Lichen on bare branches, winds howl, birdsong builds, daffodils spear & leafbuds fatten Love is in the air, on the song of courting birds. February comes from the word februum (purification) and februa, the rites or instruments used for purification. Time to spring clean, out with the old, to make space for the new. Lent Read more about February[…]