Living Magically in Spring

Welcome to the latest edition of Living Magically where I am celebrating the arrival of spring and looking forward to getting out into nature, this edition has an outdoor theme because I find Spring particularly reassuring;  we can always rely on the natural world to burst into life , even when other aspects of life can feel very uncertain.

As the wheel of the year gathers momentum the next wiccan Sabbat is Ostara on March 21 , also known as the Spring Equinox , Ostara is named after the Germanic goddess Eostre or Ostara, who symbolises fertility, new beginnings, and the awakening. Ostara is a celebration of light's triumph over darkness, as daylight grows and winter begins to feel like a distant memory.

Ostara is a good time to sow seeds both in your garden as well as seeds of intention. It’s a good opportunity to engage in the tradition of decorating eggs, symbolising rebirth and fertility, also a good time to freshen up your home and life. 

Take time to do some spring cleaning which isn't just limited to your home. You can declutter and clean up areas where you spend a lot of time, your car, your phone and computer (delete those old messages and emails!) or your work office. Some people embrace the equinox by observing the sunrise or sunset or by undertaking rituals which may be as simple as lighting a candle, meditating, or being present with the changing light.

Things to do in the garden during spring

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer gardeners will be busy sowing seeds and preparing flower borders and vegetable patches. Once the soil is warm enough you can start planting potatoes and onions and sowing hardy vegetables, including broad beans, cabbages, carrots, radishes, lettuce, rocket and spinach.

March and April are good months to plant perennials, sow hardy annuals like marigolds and plant summer-flowering bulbs like lilies and gladioli. Weeding and mulching - Spring is an important time for getting on top of weeds before they take light and water from the plants you want. You can also mulch your borders in early spring, provided the soil is moist, and there is still space to get in between the plants.

Look out for wildlife - When you’re gardening in spring, take care not to disturb nesting birds and always check carefully for them before pruning hedges or shrubs. When you tidy and cut back winter growth in spring, remember there may be insects and amphibians living there or even a hedgehog hibernating.

Leaving the lawn for pollinators - Spring is the time when we usually start mowing lawns regularly but you may decide to join the growing trend of leaving all or parts of it uncut for a few weeks at a time. This will allow clover, daisies and other species to flower and provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. You can get closer to your local wildlife by making your back garden a safe haven for nature.

There are things you can do in your garden to help birds, insects and animals.

Let the grass grow - Long grass is one of the rarest garden habitats and by letting some or all of your lawn grow you will make space for many plant and insect species. Mowing the lawn only once every four weeks gives ‘short-grass’ plants like daisies and white clover a chance to flower in profusion, boosting nectar production tenfold.

Bird box and feeding - Birds are an important part your garden's ecosystem. Help them thrive by planting trees like rowan and wild cherry, creating bird boxes and putting out bird food (not bread) in winter. Situate boxes and feeders well out of reach of cats and keep feeders clean.

Plant climbers - Climbers are great way of covering walls and fences to hiding and nesting places for wildlife. Ivy is especially useful as the autumn flowers are sources of pollen for insects and the winter berries are loved by birds. Honeysuckle is also good for wildlife and very attractive.

Build an insect hotel - Leave piles of rocks, twigs and rotting wood in your garden. These will provide shelter for all sorts of important insects, such as beetles and spiders. Dead and rotting wood is a habitat which is in very short supply.

Create a pond- A pond is a real boost for wildlife. It doesn’t have to be huge – a large plant saucer or a shallow trough is suitable. If you do want a big pond however, always make sure there are sloping sides to help wildlife get in and out. A pond is best filled with unchlorinated rainwater from a water butt and planted with some native species.

Compost - A compost heap is a way of turning waste into compost which will naturally enrich your soil, plus it may also provide a warm hiding place for many creatures including slow-worms.

To avoid attracting rats, never add bread or other cooked food.

Leave a gap in your fence - Don’t lock out hedgehogs and frogs. Make sure your garden fences have some gaps at the bottom that can allow wildlife to move through from plot to plot. This will help link different habitats together.

Grow flowers - Flowers look beautiful and bring colour and scent into your garden. They also provide food for many insects. Grow as many varieties as possible to ensure pollen and nectar almost all year round. Choose single-flowered varieties and native species if possible.

Have a break from weeding - Learn to relax about weeds. The leaves of plants such as nettles, dandelions, groundsel and even brambles are important sources of food for the larvae of many insects, including butterflies and moths. Some ‘weeds’ also flower for a long time, whatever the weather, so can provide nectar and pollen when other sources might be absent. If you don’t have a garden of your own to immerse yourself in , there are a number of local gardens to visit, here are some of the best picks.

Beth Chatto is an amazing garden, started from scratch more than 50 years ago. They have got so much to look at, and they’ve got plants to buy, a shop, and a cafe. 7.5 acres of garden, based on ecological planting: the right plant for the right place. Created by award-winning gardener, author and lecturer Beth Chatto OBE VMH, who won 10 gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, in the 70s and 80s. https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/ 

Green Island Gardens is 20 acres of private gardens, open for the public to visit in Ardleigh near Colchester, Essex. Professionally designed by its owner Fiona Edmond as a series of structured gardens displaying a huge range of unusual trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs.

Green Island Gardens has been honoured with becoming a RHS partner garden in 2023! https://www.greenislandgardens.co.uk/

Moverons Garden  is a special and unique place hidden away and looking out over the River Colne Estuary. The owners have been developing the garden steadily. It is open for the National Gardens Scheme on selected dates but visits can also be made by arrangement during May to September for groups in excess of 10 people only. https://www.moverons.co.uk /

Audley End has spacious grounds with one of England’s grandest mansions. There’s plenty for families to do, with a playground, working stables, hands-on fun in the Victorian nursery and action-packed special events held throughout the year. https://youtu.be/cEQsFSrFF0I 

Markshall Estate is open to visitors and strives to advance knowledge of the natural environment . The project aims to be a leaders in conservation, education, research and climate action. https://www.markshall.org.uk/about-us/

 Full Moon - The next full moon will be on Saturday March 23rd . See below for the coming year

Monday, April 22, 2024	Pink Moon
Tuesday, May 21, 2024	Flower Moon
Thursday, June 20, 2024	Strawberry Moon
Friday, July 19, 2024	Buck Moon
Sunday, August 18, 2024	Sturgeon Moon
Monday, September 16, 2024	Harvest Moon (Corn Moon)
Tuesday, October 15, 2024	Hunter's Moon
Thursday, November 14, 2024	Beaver Moon
Friday, December 13, 2024	Cold Moon

 BLESSED BE XXX LOU