February
In the Field
Dandelions! The first of the year. I spot one, then another and before I know it my eyes are flitting from one to the next. Dandelions, Taraxacum officinale are such an overlooked plant; they offer medicine in the form of antioxidants and vitamins. More than that, they are such a happy site, preferring cooler weather, Dandelions are one of the first wild flowers to bloom in Spring. Over a cup of Dandelion tea, my dear friend Charlotte commented the other day, “this year, I must grow more dandelions!”, I wholeheartedly agree.
In the Woods
I have felt a little detached from the woods lately. As the sun now sets later, I have preferred to walk through fields after work. That said, watching the buds on trees swell has greatly lifted my spirits and given me that excited butterfly feeling, knowing dormancy is over and Spring is on its way.
I have never seen catkins look more beautiful. Hazel catkins in particular. When they are in pollen I can’t help but brush my fingertips through the dangling tails to leave a trail of green powder floating behind.
In the Garden
The garden is waking, snowdrops and crocus’ greeting us first. More than flowers, this month I have been aware of the return of birdsong . A colleague at work is very knowledgeable on birds, in fact, I always know where she is in the garden by following the trail of bird seed she leaves behind. I am moved by how she cares for these birds and can recognise their song. Sometimes I wonder if it is the same garden birds I see each day. In the rose garden there is a Thrush with the most beautiful speckled jacket, it is very distinctive and so I have come to believe he is the same Thrush that has decided to make the rose garden his home. If I were a bird, I think I might choose a rose garden to be my home too.
In the Dye Pot
This month, I have felt more than ever before a deep desire to plant dye. This time, the feeling is not so much an urgent, rushed feeling, but more of a calm and nourishing pull to connect to plants through this ancient practise. I feel inspired to deepen my practise and work harder to learn more and perfect what I already know.
I am finding myself slowing down on walks to gather dye material and noticing more dye opportunities in the garden at work. I feel confident to experiment with different material without the pressure of having to create the perfect colour. This change of pace has encouraged me to respect and connect to the fibre with which I work, in this case, silk. This month, I have taken my time to hand roll-hem each silk scarf I dye, sometimes this can take 1-2 hours. I am not usually one to sit still for too long, but hand hemming these scarves has become a form of mediation and presented itself as an unexpected gift. I am going through some change in my life at the moment, emerging from Winter with new dreams and ideas, I have had to let go to make room. I don’t like uncertainty or change but in this instance I feel a deep sense of calm in trusting it is all for the best. I have finally allowed my body to soften and slow down after months of racing along, I guess the hand hemming is a reflection of this.
Inspiration
I love this section in my journal. I feel lucky to be regularly inspired, by plants, weather and people. There is always so much I could talk about here!
However, this month I would like to say thank you to those at the garden I work, for continually providing me with inspiration. I started working at Sissinghurst when I was 22, straight out of university and I admit, a little bit out of my depth. Two years later, my life and understanding of gardening has expanded in so many ways. I owe this to the people I work with. I don’t know if any of them actually read this (don’t blame them!) but thank you for supporting, inspiring and encouraging me on my journey. I am actually leaving Sissinghurst at the end of this month to embark on my own journey, but, I know I will take the memories from the past two years with me and draw on them often.
