Category: Seasons

May Day

Beltane is the second principal Celtic festival (the other being Samhain). Celebrated approximately halfway between Vernal (spring) equinox and the midsummer (Summer Solstice). Beltane traditionally marked the arrival if summer in ancient times.

At Beltane the Pleiades star cluster rises just before sunrise on the morning horizon, whereas winter (Samhain) begins when the Pleiades rises at sunset. The Pleiades is a cluster of seven closely placed stars, the seven sisters, in the constellation of Taurus, near his shoulder. When looking for the Pleiades with the naked eye, remember it looks like a tiny dipper-shaped pattern of six moderately bright stars (the seventh can be seen on very dark nights) in the constellation of Taurus. It stands very low in the east-northeast sky for just a few minutes before sunrise.

Beltane, and its counterpart Samhain, divide the year into its two primary seasons, winter (Dark Part) and summer (Light Part). As Samhain is about honoring Death, Beltane, its counter part, is about honoring Life. It is the time when the sun is fully released from his bondage of winter and able to rule over summer and life once again. (from witchvox.com)

The beginning of May was a very popular feast time for the Romans. It was devoted primarily to the worship of Flora, the goddess of flowers. It was in her honor a five day celebration, called the Floralia, was held. The five day festival would start from April 28 and end on May 2. The Romans brought in the rituals of the Floralia festival in the British Isles. And gradually the rituals of the Floralia were added to those of the Beltane. And many of today’s customs on the May Day bear a stark similarity with those combined traditions. (from theholidayspot.com)

Here are the flowers for Flora. Sorry, not up to a photograph of the Pleiades (if I could even do that). I am a prisoner in my own cottage, playing nursemaid to my dog.

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Redbud & Blue

Redbud & Blue, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

In honor of Earth Day, as I was a little preoccupied yesterday.

I planted this amazing redbud in the corner of my garden. I babied it for years, as they usually like more water. But, over the years, it has gradually become very drought tolerant.

Here, it is pictured in its between time, when it still has the buds, but is beginning to leaf out.

All things Great and Small

 

All things Great and Small, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

What can I say, that Mother Nature hasn’t said better?

And more wildflowers

I tried. I really tried to narrow down my wildflower photos, but darn, they are just going off, right now. Particularly the blue bonnet lupine – you know the short little ones that are so bright, they almost hurt one’s eyes? Yeah, those ones. I still haven’t finished posting my others, and here I am with new ones!!

Lupines & Sea blue

Oh, you see a lowly poppy here, as well as the popcorn flower (I really must learn its botanical name) as well as the lovely legume, vetch. Yup, that is the ocean in the background.

You’ll probably be tired of bright blue lupines (aka blue bonnets) when I am finished with this post. Probably, but not me. They are around such a relatively short time, and this way, we can look at them all year!

dsc_1988It used to take me only 1/2 an hour to get down to the highway. I cannot do it in less than an hour, now-a-days. Gee, I wonder why?

dsc_20291Isn’t that one of the most gorgeous things you’ve ever seen? And why are we surprised that all the city folk want to come here? Where else can they see something like this? Now, if we could teach them that those fields they want to tear up with their 4×4 when there are no flowers  could all look like this if they stayed on the road, we’d make some progress! This one used to get torn up, but the USFS set up a ditch and a berm to prevent off-roading, which is not allowed up here.

dsc_2040Okay, I have more, but I guess I will change hues. Don’t want you getting bored. Here is some clover, not owl’s clover, which I’ve seen, but not much of.

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Some of these are not as clear as they could be, as it was a VERY windy day when I took these. They were in a relatively sheltered area, or none of them would have been clear. 

Okay, and how about the lovely Flannel Bush? Yellow goes well with blue, don’t you think? This one is located at Pacific Valley School, in Gail’s front garden. I’ve asked for seeds, but, as I recall (I’ll have to look it up) this may be one of the seeds that I have to put in a tray and set fire too for it to germinate. See, fire does play a roll.

dsc_2009I think that is all for tonight. Tomorrow, I have off. I am meeting friends for a variety of activities throughout the day. This weekend, I’ll be putting up “No trespassing” signs so that people can have fun tearing them down. It’s what they do, up here in the wilds of Big Sur. I guess they think nobody has the right to be as lucky as I am.

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Sorry, I could not help myself. I so love these lupines! Promise, this is the last one, at least, today.

Happy Easter …

… to you and your families. Beautiful weather up here, a great spring day.

Look for a random Big Sur photograph sometime this week.

Baby Blue Eyes

baby blue eyesThis field of baby blue eyes shows the scorched area of the Chalk Fire.  That is Cone Peak in the background.

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These are the baby blue eyes, a little closer up. I have one more hillside of baby blues to add to this post later tonight, if possible.

*Poppies, field

*Poppies, field, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

Chalk Fire burn area, taken on Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd.

What I learned today …

Never buy ice cream when the wildflowers are going OFF! It will be a gooey mess when one gets home. 

Photos of the wildflowers later. The gooey mess I am trying to salvage in the freezer.

Before one of today’s wildflower shots, this from NOAA’s discussion: ” RAIN SHOWERS STILL APPEAR A GOOD BET MONDAY

 INTO TUESDAY WITH TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW NORMAL. POTENTIAL TO PICK
 UP SOME BENEFICIAL LATE SEASON RAIN WITH LOW SNOW LEVELS IN THE
 SIERRAS."

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*Poppies, close-up

*Poppies, close-up, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

This is dedicated to long-time Big Sur local, Paul Vieregge, who passed over yesterday at home at the age of 87. Blessings to you, Paul, from the beloved hills of home. My heart goes out to Penny and Josh.

Chalk Fire Burn Area, 2

So much difference in the various areas — severe damage and great restoration. I did not get a photo, but the Madrones are coming back from the roots of the burned trees. It will be years before the Madrone forests are as thick as they were, but they will recover. Some of the burned redwoods have sprouts coming out all up and down the blackened trunks. It is amazing to see.

I have some general photos of different aspects of the fire’s aftermath, and the recovery that I have been trying to upload tonight, but alas, the internet is not cooperating. When I can …

dsc_19161This is a creek that runs under Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. It has become all silted up, and overflowed the road, at some point.

dsc_1878In the background one can see several emerald areas where the retardant was dropped. In the foreground one can see the California Poppies, red maid, and popcorn flowers. In the distance is Cone Peak.

More photos tomorrow, when I am not so frustrated with the unreliability of my internet connection. I have general photos showing the aftermath, as well as more wildflower photos — fields of Indian Warrior, Poppies, and Baby Blue Eyes, as well as a mixture of all sorts of wildflowers. Until then … sleep well, and have a great day.