Lichenwood Rambles

Co-creation on the Solstice

Buffy felt the need to participate in flower essence co-creation this morning.  Summer Solstice has been a quintessential New England Summer day with temperatures in the high seventies, bright skies and soft breezes.  Walking through the garden this morning it seemed that every plant spirit was calling out to me.  It was a very high energy morning.

This is the Apothecary's Rose, one of the oldest Roses, and the standard medicinal rose.  Click on the link to read all about the history of this wonderful flower.  This was one of the flower essences that was co-created today.  The plant spirit has already told me to use the essence to awaken the healer within.  What was expressed was that it would function in a similar way to Prunella vulgaris, or Self Heal, but with a more heart centered focus.  Apothecary's Rose will help with bringing courage to heal our own issues and also with bringing the confidence to practitioners to use their knowledge and skills when working with clients. 

As I walked the land during ritual, I asperged the entire garden area with the flower essence of Oriental Poppy that I had made specifically for this purpose.  I was instructed to do this weeks ago by the plant spirit of Oriental Poppy.  I was told that performing this action would facilitate interaction between humans and the nature spirits here.  As I was walking, blessing the land with Oriental Poppy shaken from branches of Holly and Oak, I saw more Prunella vulgaris (Self Heal) than I have ever seen in the "lawn".  Evidentally the Apothecary's Rose spirit has been in deep discussion with the Self Heal deva.  A combination essence may happen at some future time.

Roses are traditional parts of the Summer Solstice ritual, so it is no surprise that the second bowl set out for co-creative purposes was dedicated to the Royal Amber Rose.  I would love to be able to capture the delicious scent of this Rose.  It is extremely sensuous and its form, when at the peak of bloom, so beautifully ruffled.  I will need to spend time meditating with this essence before I can share any of its attributes.

The final essence that came into being on this Solstice day is Sundrop or Missouri Primrose.  There is a large colony of these bright yellow beauties in the garden at the front of the house.

This essence will help people to develop a sense of worthiness and self-esteem. 

Blessings to all on this longest day of the year!

Catnipped

Such an innocent looking little fur face peeking out from the arm of the garden bench!  Buffy T. Cat lives in a virtual kitty paradise at Lichenwood, going in and out at will, chasing critters, and sampling the garden offerings.

Yesterday I planted a fine young Nepeta cataria near the goldfish pond.  Today when I took my morning garden walk, this is what I found:

It doesn't take a great detective to figure out who the culprit is!  Especially when she's caught in the act!

Here's a shout out to Celeste of Sparkling Lotusland who has found a far more civilized and ladylike way to enjoy her kitty dope.

Further Adventures of Buffy

Our Buffy is well named.  Daryl and Hollynn named her for the Vampire Slayer during the first season of said television show back in 1997.  Watching the adventures of Buffy Summers and her friends at Sunnydale High was father/daughter bonding time.  I didn't catch on to the fun of this quirky show until watching it during mother/daughter bonding time on DVD.

Feline Buffy is as much a slayer as science fiction Buffy.  She is a daily huntress on the prowl for mice, voles, snakes, and chipmunks.  She has a special fondness for chipmunks and nearly always releases them after catching and playing with them for awhile.  Mice and Voles are brought to the door for display, while snakes are promptly eviscerated and then left disdainfully on the grass.  Thankfully the bounty of prey on the ground distracts Buffy from stalking songbirds.   

This morning I got up before Daryl and went downstairs to make coffee and let the cat out.  I stood at the window scanning the woods for deer or turkeys and seeing none, turned to go about my business.  Passing the deck doors, I noticed that Buffy was crouching, in a posture that could be labeled "on point" if she were a dog.  Looking into the forest, at first I couldn't see anything.  Then Buffy moved quickly off the deck, across the yard, and stationed herself at a rock by the woods path entrance.  Then I saw the object of her interest.  At first I thought it was a very large black cat, but as it moved further into my view, I realized that it was a quite large fisher cat!  Then, imagine my shock when Buffy decided to attack it!  She took off like a shot and the fisher took off even faster!  My little fluffy Buffy chased that black beast right up tall pine tree!  I still cannot figure out why the fisher didn't turn on her and eat her right up.  Many a neighborhood cat has met their demise in the jaws of a fisher cat.

   

In fear that the fisher would come to his senses, claw his way back down the tree and breakfast on our pet, I raised the family alarm and got Daryl to run out barefoot onto the frosty grass, gripping his shirt and shoes.  Buffy was sitting under the tree, but we could not spy the fisher.  As soon as shoes and shirt were on, Daryl sprinted into the woods to scoop her up.  This both insulted and infuriated the huntress who leaped over the stonewall and disappeared into the forests of Lichenwood.  No amount of calling and cajoling could lure her back.  She sauntered back on her own a half hour later.  This cat is too brave for her own good!

For information on fisher cats visit the New Hampshire Fish and Game website.

Felines of the Fall

Even the Japanese Maple, perennially deep red, is finally losing it leaves.  They are some of a just a few colorful spots left in the garden in early November.  We haven't had a true killing frost yet.

The Birthday Girl Rose is a little droopy, but still quite beautiful and creating more buds and more blooms.  I'm grateful for that small remembrance of warmer Summer weather.  In reality, Summer is long gone, but the scent of a rose and warm weather such as we experienced today can bring happy garden memories flooding back.

Out and about in my travels today, delivering flower essences to Misty Meadows, I saw that I was not the only one enjoying the unseasonal temperatures.

This is the resident Misty Meadows kitty, Chamomile taking a rest in the warm sunshine near the driveway entrance.  Back at home, Buffy T. Cat was wasting no time soaking up the sun.  Here she is searching for chipmunks, moles and voles.

Buffy is usually quite successful in her hunts.  For the most part she believes in the "catch and release" theory of hunting.  She does like to show off her prizes by releasing them right at the sliding doors.

The upcoming Full Moon this weekend is sometimes called the "Blood Moon".  Hunters of all kinds, both feline and human, are pursuing their prey.  This is one reason that I do not go deep into the woods in November.

One final kitty picture will appear now.  This is the season of remembrance, for animal friends as well as ancestors.  A year ago our Hannah cat was failing, but she still enjoyed a good nap on our bed.  Now she lives in happy memory.  Blessed Be Hannah!