Cats in the Kitchen, Flora in the Garden

I am thinking a lot about Autumn today,next monday is our late Summer bank holiday in England. I always think of it as the last day of Summer, and tend to draw a line underneath Summer on that day. This is just a personal thing, and Autumn, to me, always begins on the Tuesday, even if it isn't quite September. I look forward then to some wonderful mild autumn days, with the trees beginning to turn and the hedgerows and lanes full of berries ripe for the picking. A time to go and search for autumn treasures, pine cones, acorns, seedheads and grasses to dry to use in decorations for both Autumn and Christmas. Although I love Summer and tending my garden, what can be better than walking along kicking at piles of crunchy Autumn leaves and the delight of coming home to warm room and a cup of hot chocolate. Although, I have to admit that is a late Autumn activity. I am showing two photographs, the one to the right and the one below left, that my husband took last year, just as a foretaste of what is to come. They are of the village church looming out of the Autumn trees.



I will take every opportunity from next week, whenever the sun shines, to jealously steal time to sit in the garden with my cup of coffee, drinking in the late Summer fragrance of the flowers. I love my garden at this time of year, it's a quiet time, a time to relish what I have achieved in the Summer, a lull before the time comes to uproot the annual bedding plants,after collecting their seeds, cut back the perennials and begin planting bulbs for Spring. Also a time to note where plants are and to workout what will stay where it is and what I will move next Spring, and to think of additions I want to make. Every morning I walk around my garden and see if anything new is happening. This morning a beautiful deep purple dahlia was opening, one I had only planted earlier this year. I think this dahlia is the last of my plants that has to bloom. There had been a heavy dew and by the time I walked around the paths my skirt was damp with brushing against plants laden with dew. Late this evening I went into the garden and I could smell woodsmoke from a bonfire a neighbour had had earlier and the most wonderful earthy smell was eminating from the ground. As the moon begins to wax in a day or two I know this time the full moon will be a rich harvest moon.



Thinking of a harvest moon hanging full and fertile in the sky a rich golden orange colour, such a magical moon, makes me think of one of my favourite painter's Samuel Palmer, an English visionary from the 1800's. His paintings of cornfields, people leaving church under the moon's gaze after evening song, and tired rustics wending their way home always make me think of Autumn. It also reminds me of how modern agricultural methods have changed the times of harvest. Harvest time used to be any time in August until near the end of September, but nowadays with modern crops it can be early July. I love the idea of the old time harvest supper after the last crops have been carted home and everyone sits in the twilight to celebrate the bringing in of the harvest, drinking cider and eating a harvest home meal. I know it is a romantic vision and I have probably being reading too much Thomas Hardy, but the quintessential idea of a harvest supper is the one in 'Far from the Madding Crowd' both the book and the film.



Thinking about harvests and cornfields also reminds me of my favourite wild animal, whom I have great respect for, the hare. In Ancient Britain the hare was sacred to the moon goddess Andraste and for the Celts the hare was symbolic of the goddess Cerridwen. I love my moon gazing hare that I have in my garden, a photograph of which I posted a few posts back. There is a custom in some parts of Britain, when reaping the harvest of calling the last sheaf left standing 'the hare' and the cutting of it is called 'killing the hare'. Sometimes the reapers would throw their sickles at the last sheaf before cutting it down.

I am always looking out for myths and stories about hares, so if anyone knows any please let me know. I think I have loved hares since I was a child and read 'Little Grey Rabbit' books by Alision Utterly, if anyone knows them. I have a little grey rabbit ornament on my kitchen dresser, she was the ultimate country lady to me with her herbs, potions, May day customs and kissing balls.

I think I have now made myself realise that Summer is almost over for another year and geared my self up to enjoy Autumn, if its Autumn or Fall in your part of the world enjoy, whilst our friends on the other side of the world are heading towards Spring, so let them enjoy their season too.