Monthly what to look out for Thread.

[Boddie]

I have frogs in my car park. Big ones too. Never seen them any other month

[Earth Hart]

Now is the time for Orion to rise, on a clear night see if you can see his sword. His Moon, the Hunter's Moon, will be Full on Sunday 5th. November, at 12:59hrs. Get ready for Samhain 31st.Oct. Gather Old Man's Beard, nuts & berries, Autumn leaves & fungi to decorate the home. At dinner on Samhain, lay an extra place for those who have gone on.

Watch out if walking in the woods at night, the Wild Hunt is abroard. Honour their space & place, for at Samhain (pronounced sow-wen) the veil between the worlds is very thin. It is the time of the Ancestors, may they sit at your table in peace & be with you in spirit. Those of you who have lost friends & relations, may you find cheer in being with them on this night. Feel their spirit about you & enjoy their company. Remember their love with happiness & may that love carry you through the turning of the year. For Samhain is also the Celtic New Year.

[Paul mabbott]

This is a good idea as long as the weather an wildlife do what they're supposed! With spring plants flowering in autumn &c ......
Thing to look out for, of course, is the hallowe'en beetle - Harmonia axyridis the 'harlequin' ladybird - comes into houses for shelter at this time of year ....

[Owl-Light]

Originally Posted by Earth Hart

Now is the time for Orion to rise, on a clear night see if you can see his sword. His Moon, the Hunter's Moon, will be Full on Sunday 5th. November, at 12:59hrs. Get ready for Samhain 31st.Oct. Gather Old Man's Beard, nuts & berries, Autumn leaves & fungi to decorate the home. At dinner on Samhain, lay an extra place for those who have gone on.

Watch out if walking in the woods at night, the Wild Hunt is abroard. Honour their space & place, for at Samhain (pronounced sow-wen) the veil between the worlds is very thin. It is the time of the Ancestors, may they sit at your table in peace & be with you in spirit. Those of you who have lost friends & relations, may you find cheer in being with them on this night. Feel their spirit about you & enjoy their company. Remember their love with happiness & may that love carry you through the turning of the year. For Samhain is also the Celtic New Year.

The Anglo Saxons believed that the ancestors are always with you, guiding and assisting you all the time and as you say that the veil is at its thinest at around this time of year. Time was not a linear concept as modern society in the west sees it but cyclical. They are our ancestors now and it gives me a little tingle imagining them as still with us in some way.

Am I right that the Celts viewed Samhain (thanks for the pronpounciation tip by the way, I certainly had it wrong) as the new year because the circle of life begins not so much with the blossoming of nature in the spring but as the seeds begin to germinate in the dark soil of Autumn?

On the Naturalist front its Fungi time! Can anyone add a little info on what we should be looking for in terms of Wildlife right now, that we might not so easily see at other times of the year? Particularly in view of the very long Indian Summer we've just had and how mild it still is even now.

[Earth Hart]

Originally Posted by Owl-Light

The Anglo Saxons believed that the ancestors are always with you, guiding and assisting you all the time and as you say that the veil is at its thinest at around this time of year. Time was not a linear concept as modern society in the west sees it but cyclical. They are our ancestors now and it gives me a little tingle imagining them as still with us in some way.

Am I right that the Celts viewed Samhain (thanks for the pronpounciation tip by the way, I certainly had it wrong) as the new year because the circle of life begins not so much with the blossoming of nature in the spring but as the seeds begin to germinate in the dark soil of Autumn?

On the Naturalist front its Fungi time! Can anyone add a little info on what we should be looking for in terms of Wildlife right now, that we might not so easily see at other times of the year? Particularly in view of the very long Indian Summer we've just had and how mild it still is even now.

It gives me a tingle as well. Yes, Autumn was the time of germination/gestation in the dark earth, to be covered by Winter's blanket of snow to keep the earth warm, then comes Imbolc & the first flush of Spring. Oh how I wish we lived by the Seasons.

I'm puting a piece together on Samhain & will post it nearer the time.

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

This is a good idea as long as the weather an wildlife do what they're supposed! With spring plants flowering in autumn &c ....

Yes, the most important thing of all is to look out for the unexpected!

[Owl-Light]

Originally Posted by Earth Hart

It gives me a tingle as well. Yes, Autumn was the time of germination/gestation in the dark earth, to be covered by Winter's blanket of snow to keep the earth warm, then comes Imbolc & the first flush of Spring. Oh how I wish we lived by the Seasons.

It sounds to me as if you already do, Will. Great isn't it ? It makes one so much more aware of whats going on all around us and so much more connected with it again. I can't imagine thinking in linear time terms anymore

Originally Posted by Earth Hart

I'm puting a piece together on Samhain & will post it nearer the time.

I'll look out for it.

[Earth Hart]

Originally Posted by Owl-Light

It sounds to me as if you already do, Will. Great isn't it ? It makes one so much more aware of whats going on all around us and so much more connected with it again. I can't imagine thinking in linear time terms anymore

I'll look out for it.

I try to, but it's those out there who farm the land that dont anymore. They seem to work against the seasons. They never give the Land a rest these days, it's all 'plant & harvest, plant & harvest' throughout the year. No wonder the earth needs so much fertiliser, she never has a chance to draw breath.

[Owl-Light]

Originally Posted by Earth Hart

I try to, but it's those out there who farm the land that dont anymore. They seem to work against the seasons. They never give the Land a rest these days, it's all 'plant & harvest, plant & harvest' throughout the year. No wonder the earth needs so much fertiliser, she never has a chance to draw breath.

Farming is 'business', sadly a great many farmers have lost the connection with the land these days and are only interested in what they can get out of it. It doesn't mean we have to follow suit though. And, I'm sure there must be organic farmers out there with a greater sensitivity. I'd hope so anyway.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Owl-Light

Farming is 'business', sadly a great many farmers have lost the connection with the land these days and are only interested in what they can get out of it. It doesn't mean we have to follow suit though. And, I'm sure there must be organic farmers out there with a greater sensitivity. I'd hope so anyway.

I've been here and it's amazing
Sheepdrove Organic Farm

a big large-scale organic farm producing free range meat and honey - it is rather meat orientated which isn't so good for you veggies but it does show that animals can be raised kindly and still meet a mass market. They even slaughter chickens at the farm (shame it can't be all animals bet there's red tape that means they can't) so there's no stress or fear loading into lorries, and all waste is composted on site and re-used on the land it's pure genius. How many farms do you reckon take the care to play a cd of farm sounds to chicks still in the nursery to prepare them for life outdoors!

[Owl-Light]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I've been here and it's amazing
Sheepdrove Organic Farm

a big large-scale organic farm producing free range meat and honey - it is rather meat orientated which isn't so good for you veggies but it does show that animals can be raised kindly and still meet a mass market. They even slaughter chickens at the farm (shame it can't be all animals bet there's red tape that means they can't) so there's no stress or fear loading into lorries, and all waste is composted on site and re-used on the land it's pure genius. How many farms do you reckon take the care to play a cd of farm sounds to chicks still in the nursery to prepare them for life outdoors!

It's certainly a good step in the right direction and proves it can be done. Obviously as you say I'd pefer plain old veggie farming but I am a realist

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Owl-Light

It's certainly a good step in the right direction and proves it can be done. Obviously as you say I'd pefer plain old veggie farming but I am a realist

I went there for a barn owl symposium thing, (which was very good) and they served us home made soup and ryebread, they make their own organic honey and produce their own bottled water from a spring on the farm. I was thoroughly impressed, sad only that the farm isn't open to the public (though they have open days and conference facilities).
Sheepdrove Organic Farm - Open days and Events

[carlj]

Still seeing Dragonflies at the moment, 2 common darters, and a hawker - quite green so possibly an Emperor. Butterflies still on wing in reduced numbers too.

[mrs fish]

Yesterday I saw darters and an emperor, the sun is very warm still.
The emperor was skimming over the surface of the wet road just after a rain shower, there are alot of tiny insects in the air, the garden spider webs are full of them.

[Deer Stalker]

Fallow Deer rut is well underway, lots of calling & fighting. Dark Bushcrickets still chirping, Speckled Bushcrickets still about & loads of Wood Dor beetles.

[Paul mabbott]

Last weekend on Woodhouse Washland between Sheffield and Rotherham in a herd of highland cattle, most of the beasts were locking horns and running at each other - is this a sort of annual ritual hanging on in their ancestral memory or do they do it all the time?

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

Fallow Deer rut is well underway, lots of calling & fighting. Dark Bushcrickets still chirping, Speckled Bushcrickets still about & loads of Wood Dor beetles.

[Deer Stalker]

I have absolutely no idea about cattle Paul so I dont know. I do know someone who owns some Highland cattle that run on the New Forest, these arent bulls (bulls are not allowed on the Forest possibly for this reason) & Ive never seen such behavior from them. I will ask him when I see him next.

[Paul mabbott]

Thanks, shall be interested.
As you can see from this picture they weren't too aggressive - seem to have a referee:
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...p?i=21378&c=61

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

I have absolutely no idea about cattle Paul so I dont know. I do know someone who owns some Highland cattle that run on the New Forest, these arent bulls (bulls are not allowed on the Forest possibly for this reason) & Ive never seen such behavior from them. I will ask him when I see him next.