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Post by potia on May 24, 2010 8:54:16 GMT -1
This year just after the last full moon some of us gathered in Wales. We spent time together and walked to summer pastures as those who used to live in that area once would have done with the herds. But at that time the hawthorn for many of us had still not blossomed and there was still snow on the heights above us. The seasons were in the process of changing but hadn't fully changed. Last week I posted on my blog about hawthorn blossoming in the west end of Glasgow near my work. This weekend has been one of sun and heat across the land. The hawthorn near my home is at last blossoming as are many other trees. This Thursday evening is a full moon (23.07 GMT) and I will be making an offering to Rigantona. This moon I will also be formerly lifting my cup and offering a triple toast in honour Rigantona, of the change from winter into summer and of the tribe. I know that for some Beltane may have come some time ago but if you haven't done anything to mark the change yet and the hawthorn has blossomed where you are then please do join with me wherever you are  |
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Post by Lee on May 24, 2010 9:44:37 GMT -1
i shall be too the hawthorn around this way is weird, im sure the city heat sink effect has a part to play and the spread out nature of the hawthorns themselves. i have taken to going off track a little and using the blossoming of the huge elder tree in next door's garden as an indicator too. i shall be joining Potia with a similar ritual; rigantona, beltane and the tribe. |
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Post by redraven on May 24, 2010 18:58:21 GMT -1
You can count me in, Thursday is good for me!
RR
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Post by Heron on May 24, 2010 19:32:04 GMT -1
Some hawthorn is already out on the coast here, but I was up in the mountains at the weekend, by the beautiful Llyn Glanmerin which is covered in just opening yellow water lilies, haunted by electric-blue damselflies and in the water, whirligigg beetles spinning round in circles and tadpoles in the shallows. Up there the warm weather had brought some large crab-apple trees into glorious blossom, but the hawthorn was just at the point of opening. So I'll be with you too in celebrating the emergence of the May at the Full Moon. I'm hoping that the hawthorn in my garden, where I have a horse's head for dedications, will be in bloom too when I join you in honouring Rigantona.
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Post by dreamguardian on May 24, 2010 20:26:17 GMT -1
Hawthorn in the front garden broke into blossom 2 ago! We're both happy now |
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Post by potia on May 25, 2010 7:42:04 GMT -1
Wonderful - looks like I've picked a good time |
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Post by Francis on May 27, 2010 8:48:44 GMT -1
the hawthorn around this way is weird, im sure the city heat sink effect has a part to play and the spread out nature of the hawthorns themselves. You have to be very careful using hawthorn as any sort of indicator these days. Since the 1950's much of the hawthorn that has been used for hedging in the countryside has been grown from continental european (particularly eastern european) seed sources. Depending on where it's original location is it responds to a combination of daylength and temperature differently in terms when it comes into flower. (Basically there has been natural selection to avoid flowering before the last frosts - predicting this from daylength/temperature in a maritime climate like ours is very different from continental Romania etc. i.e. native british flowers after a different numeber of accumulated day degrees and daylength than Polish hawthorn - there is even variation within a country - but this would only be seen nowadays in plants in remote places...) In towns many hawthorns in gardens are 'selected' varieties that either have more or bigger flowers, have more or bigger fruit that are perhaps redder and held longer in winter or have particularly good autumn leave colour etc. Point being they aren't usually typical British Hawthorns - and their 'choice' of flowering time in response to the coming of summer has not necesarily been shaped by the relationship of its ancestors to the land and climate of Britain. I would suggest any Hawthorn over about 50 and not in a town is your best bet - unless you're very familiar with leave form, branching architecture, gist etc. Always uncomfortable saying that as it implies British origin is of more value - and people instantly equate that with your views on people and that's just a big can of worm pooh! |
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Post by Francis on May 27, 2010 8:53:49 GMT -1
Forgot to say I will be joining you tonight too- down on the valley floor where we camped, and remembering watching the last full moon rising over the trees when some of the tribe was gathered here - I don't suppose anyone took a picture as you were going back to the tents after the fire?
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Post by Lee on May 27, 2010 9:34:04 GMT -1
afraid not, i always find the moon is too small when i take pics of it.
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Post by redraven on May 27, 2010 15:10:11 GMT -1
You have to be very careful using hawthorn as any sort of indicator these days. Could you suggest a more suitable candidate that has not been adapted or imported, thus retaining more of a natural British indicator? RR |
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Post by Heron on May 27, 2010 15:32:32 GMT -1
Rigantona we hold you in the bonds
Of our tribe as the Moon rises
Bring us together in your honour
As we dedicate this time to you
Sovereign Queen of our land. |
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Post by Lee on May 27, 2010 17:16:50 GMT -1
gosh.
love it Heron
i shall be using this tonight
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Post by potia on May 27, 2010 18:01:21 GMT -1
Heron, lovely words thank you. I too will be using these later tonight.
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Post by Francis on May 28, 2010 21:32:11 GMT -1
Could you suggest a more suitable candidate that has not been adapted or imported, thus retaining more of a natural British indicator? Hi RR I still believe Hawthorn is a very good subject for this role - I'm just suggesting that for the reasons I outlined you need to be cautious. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - it requires a bit more thought than just blank recognition of hawthorn, but getting to know hawthorn, to recognise subtle differences in leaf shape, branching pattern etc., its age, to think of the context (back story even) of the particular tree you're looking at was it part of a planted hedge, a victorian enclosure hedge or is it a wilding bird sown and free? Are there cultivated showey flowering forms near by could pollen from them have reached the parents of this tree. Just build a picture then by induction, intuition etc. come to a conclusion. Know the tree! Obviously just my opinion, but it works for me. BTW it's the scent of hawthorn in the early evening on a still day more than the sight of the flowers that is 'my' herald for the arrival of summer proper |
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Post by Heron on May 28, 2010 22:07:07 GMT -1
Not much Moonlight here. Did others fare any better? The night before the Moon had risen from behind the hill shining brightly in a clear sky, but now it was overcast and a few splashes of rain had fallen earlier in the evening. I went out with a cup of honeyed water with some sloe gin in it and drank a toast to Rigantona then poured the rest out for her by my garden altar, speaking the words
Rigantona we hold you in the bonds
Of our tribe as the Moon rises
Bring us together in your honour
As we dedicate this time to you
Sovereign Queen of our land.
There was no sign of the Moon. I stood for some time in the enclosed corner between the holly and the hawthorn tree beneath which I have placed a wooden horse's head. Then I spoke the verse again and thought of the tribe doing the same elsewhere. There was a sound in the far distance, the barely audible call of an owl in the woods on the other side of the valley.For some reason the sheep, several fields away, all started making a noise too. Then I caught a brief glimpse of light on the hillside which I supposed to be the Moon breaking cover for just long enough for a beam to touch the ground for a moment.
I moved to a more open spot where I could see the whole of the slope of the hill and I spoke the verse a third time. Just after this the hillside was again touched by a beam of light, though I saw no sign of the Moon except as a general brightness behind the thinning clouds.They gathered again and I returned to the house.
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Post by Heron on May 28, 2010 22:10:31 GMT -1
BTW it's the scent of hawthorn in the early evening on a still day more than the sight of the flowers that is 'my' herald for the arrival of summer proper Mmmm yes, that is enchanting |
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Post by redraven on May 29, 2010 7:07:25 GMT -1
Hi RR I still believe Hawthorn is a very good subject for this role - I'm just suggesting that for the reasons I outlined you need to be cautious. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - it requires a bit more thought than just blank recognition of hawthorn, but getting to know hawthorn, to recognise subtle differences in leaf shape, branching pattern etc., its age, to think of the context (back story even) of the particular tree you're looking at was it part of a planted hedge, a victorian enclosure hedge or is it a wilding bird sown and free? Are there cultivated showey flowering forms near by could pollen from them have reached the parents of this tree. In late March, I was driving past a hawthorn hedgerow in Sheffield and the hawthorns were not even in bud, yet in the middle of this hedgerow, one tree was out in full bloom, which nearly caused an accident as my attention strayed on it for too long and the van drifted out of lane! BTW it's the scent of hawthorn in the early evening on a still day more than the sight of the flowers that is 'my' herald for the arrival of summer proper You and me both there with that one, sometimes it's the scent that alerts me to the fact that the bloom is out. RR |
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Post by redraven on May 29, 2010 7:15:41 GMT -1
I made my toast probably earlier than most here, because of early morning rising associated with personal dedications and working conditions. So I was out there around 10:15 pm and unlike Heron, the moon was just rising and was full, perfect for what I wanted. I used Heron's well written verse and made the first libation to Rigantona.
The setting was most interesting. Early next morning, whilst walking the dog in the local environment, I had the unusual event of having a wild Heron fly directly over me, which whilst not unheard of, is an unusual event.
RR
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