Monday 4 April 2011

A Wakeful Green

Forests have seasons all of their own. Today, wandering through the forest I listened to the call of the sparrowhawk, I heard the wind rustling through the trees and watched the tall slender saplings bending and swaying to a rythmic dance.

My two favourite seasons are Spring and Autumn and today I felt I was walking with each side by side. Gold and rust coloured leaves littered the floor and my eyes rested upon the russet hues of last years bracken while all the while leaves are unfurling, the brambles are tentatively marking out their territory and ferns are still enchanting with their fossil like curls. So much is happening.

I miss this forest feel. I spent so much time gazing at the dreamcatcher/medicine wheel like patterns to the log rings whilst my friend could not help noticing the runic symbols scattering the forest floor. Newborough Forest lies at the other side of the Island to me and I get the impression that large forests are not natural to the isle of Anglesey. Anglesey is essentially a small island known for its farming history and 200 miles of magnificent coastline. I am blessed with miles of hedgerows, gorse and heather lined fields and coastal paths, wildflowers and alpines unique to Anglesey with unusual healing properties.

Having so much outdoor beauty to focus on I find that I have not been creating art or pieces of felt but instead have been occupied with creating willow domes, tending to my garden, going on long walks and getting inspired by foraging. I have been adding gorse flowers o my salads and have made the gorse flower cordial, which is delicious, and dyed wool in gorse. I have plans to flower pound gorse flowers through a stencil. I quite like the idea of making a CND stencil to pound through, and later in the year if i am feeling more adventurous I think making stencils of peace symbols with a rainbow of different pounded flowers.

Next, I think I will be making a study of heather. I am going to help my aunt and uncle create a heather thatch roof for their pagoda, I think I'll make a heather besom, some heather tea for my mam to use as offerings at her Buddhist Centre, some heather wine and of course use heather as a natural dye.

I'll keep you posted with lots of pictures. Until then enjoy your spring and thanks for sticking with me during my silent unproductive months xJ

18 comments:

Barb said...

Yes, I, too, love strolling out in nature and wondering what the message of the moment is. Great post.

ArtSparker said...

Yup, edfinitely interested in seeing how the pagoda develops. We're having some lovely Spring weather here,too.

Tammie Lee said...

yesterday, as I walked in the forest I thought the same thing, a mix of spring and autumn were around me...

lovely photos
lovely nature
nurturing
thank you.

Valerianna said...

Nice strolling in the forest with you. I love that your friend saw runes on the ground. I thought of Spring/Autumn this weekend while out journeying, too. Transition months really are quite spectacular!

Healing Woman said...

Ahhh. I like this post. I feel so intuned to nature just by reading it. I was about to comment and ask how your mother was doing and lo and behold..you mentioned her. Two peas in a pod you are. Her love of the Buddist way of life and your love of nature..they are the same.

Róisín said...

Just thought I'd call over and say thanks for following my blog. I'm so glad you did since it led me here, I love your page! Looking forward to your future posts,
Roisin x

Janine said...

Oh your photos make me want to be there! Thanks for sharing! Thank you for visiting my blog and for your comment!

Leena said...

You put in words how I feel about nature and spring, too. This is my favourite time of year (in a little while, after all the snow melts away here).

Forthvalley scribe said...

Nice to see you back, Jasmine!

Suzi Smith said...

mmm... tis lovely to be out n about in it all, things are changing so fast at this time of year... love the textures in your photos! ikwym about the forest feel... however beautiful anywhere else is.

SarahA said...

Beautiful pictures. Am loving that I can 'feel' the textures through my eyes.
The blue bells are growing here in the woods now. I too am loving this time of year. New life. New growth. New hope.

Martine said...

your lovely foto's are always worth whaiting for............
XXXm

xxx said...

I'm sitting here envying your walks and activities.... it sounds like a glorious way to be spending time.

No Spring here.... we are very slowly sliding into Autumn.

Autumn and Spring are my favourites too.

Karin Bartimole said...

so beautiful Jasmine - words feel inadequate. the energy of life, growth, nature, beauty fills this post and your world so fully. thank you for sharing all that with us! xoxox K

Yvette said...

under your feet autumn above you spring...can it be better?
heather?

love you

Theresa MacNaughton said...

There is nothing finer than walking in nature. There are so many gifts to behold. Thank you for taking me on a walk through the forest with you. Theresa

Janine said...

Hi Jasmine, thanks for stopping by my blog and yes the peapod is felted. I have a bunch of felting wool, and needles I felted a few years back.

Barb Forrister said...

Jasmine, I think you are creating art and in a truly spiritual way! Each willow dome and garden has your imprint and they are most beautiful!