Taexalia

wild.life

Celandine Sun Worship

Yesterday we found more signs of Spring in a secluded corner by an old wall. The yellow flowers of Lesser Celandine were dotted against a backdrop of dark green, heart-shaped leaves that resemble ivy - amongst the browns and russets of dead undergrowth and rotting leaves.

Lesser Celandine seems to have little folkore attached to it, which is disappointing given it is sometimes called the "Spring ... read more

Is It Spring?

I'm hearing this question all over the place as people wish the moments away looking for something better. I look for signs of new life emerging - the snowdrops and winter aconite shine their carpets of hope amongst the decaying humus of the woodland floor, the owls and foxes make eerie night noise as they mark territory and call for mates, buds on trees seem to swell a little more and my flowering redcurrant is uncurling leaves... The wheel is turning, but the Carlin/Cailleach has not ... read more

Highland Spring

The days between Imbolc and Ostara are, for me, the time I feel the Quickening. Tempestuous and unpredictable weather matched by the rampant behaviour of animals and birds, and the persistent appearance of plants like the snowdrops and crocuses. Always, the long dark days of Winter ebb seemingly too slowly into the shorter days of Spring and we find ourselves always seeking definitive signs that Spring has arrived. This is something that has been with us for thousands of years and something ... read more

Glimpsing Spring

I've covered a fare bit of ground over the past week really. My folks took us over to Lomond Shores which is basically a shopping centre at one end of Loch Lomond. It wasn't as awful as it might sound, but since I'm not a stuff buying addict I was more interested in the scenery. I'm also still trying to forget the cloying stench of perfume that permeated the air - I hate perfume and can't see the attraction of a) perfume shops and b) walking around with a chemical cloud for an aura. We ... read more

Blooming Colour

The sunshine was hot and the colours are everywhere. Each year this tree just explodes with blossoms and I love the colour, especially the way it contrasts against today's blue sky. I wonder if I can find yarn in those shades...In Holyrood Park there was much colour to be found and we walked up to Dunsapie Loch, around Dunsapie Crag and then meandered our way down through the woods...My eye was caught by the colour and texture of these larch leaves. It's good to see the larch trees going green ... read more

Dreaming the Quickening

I really am done with this cold now. It took me ages to get to sleep last night because of the tickling cough that is the new addition to this bug. It's a beautiful day out there and I just feel like tying a duvet around me and putting up blackout curtains. I have loads of things to do and I can't even be bothered making a cup of coffee...In my dream I was walking in a forest and I came upon what appeared to be a croft nestled in a clearing. It was run down and no-one lived there, but the small ... read more