Spring Equinox 2024
“Spring hangs her infant blossoms on the trees, Rock’d in the cradle of the western breeze. William Cowper.
Are you ready to welcome spring with open arms? It’s time to put away those winter coats and enjoy the outdoors! And what better way to do that than by exploring the wonderful nature in your local area?
But before we set off, let’s take a quick peek at the calendar.
Did you know that for our ancestors, the start of spring was marked by the vernal equinox? This Latin word comes from ‘ver’, which means ‘spring’, and ‘nox’, which means ‘night’. This equinox occurs twice a year, in spring and autumn, when the sun is exactly above the equator and the day and night are equal.
In 2024, we have a leap year, which means that while some parts of the world celebrate the spring equinox on 19th March, here in the UK, it will be at 3.06 am on 20th March.
Due to the earth’s tilted axis, the equinoxes can vary from March 19th through to the 21st of September each year. Interestingly, we haven’t had an equinox on the 21st of March this century and won’t have another until 2101.
But wait, there’s more! According to medieval birdwatchers, spring begins on the 14th of February, when birds start to mate, and plants begin to grow. So, we can indeed say that spring is here! It’s time to head to your local ‘wild outside’ and feast your eyes on the good green stuff.
And while you’re outside, why not watch for some of the fantastic wildlife that comes out to play during this season?
There’s so much to see and explore, from colourful butterflies to singing birds. So, take a deep breath of fresh air, and let’s welcome spring together!
Wild Garlic
Green spears amid meditative browns are the wild garlic leaves, the foliage that loves summer shelter and winter light.
Have you noticed the pungent aroma of garlic wafting through the woods lately? That’s the wild garlic popping up in the woodlands and under hedgerows! You can often smell it before seeing it – it’s that intense with its beguiling, heady aroma.
But before you start foraging for wild garlic, remember some simple rules. Firstly, make sure you have identified it correctly before eating it. Secondly, only take what you need and leave at least 80% of the plants or mushrooms you may find. It’s important to remember that some plants must flower and produce seeds yearly; wildlife also depends on them as a food source.
Wild garlic, also known as bear garlic in the US and Canada, was believed to be eaten by bears after a long winter sleep to regain their strength. In many parts of Europe, people refer to it as Ransomes or Rampion.
According to magic and folklore, wild garlic has the power to ward off evil creatures, including vampires. Some cultures believed that chewing the plant could help athletes win races. In addition, early Christians used the flowers of wild garlic to adorn churches during the feast day of St Alphege.
One of my favourite recipes is wild garlic and nettle pakora – a delicious vegan treat. So, why give it a try?
You can see the recipe from Rachel Lambert here:
Nettles
“When the nettle is young, the leaves make excellent greens; when it grows old, it has filaments and fibres like hemp and flax. Victor Hugo
Have you been searching for a way to take your diet to the next level? Well, look no further than the humble nettle. Not only are they super easy to identify, but they’re also an absolute powerhouse in the kitchen.
Did you know that the young leaves contain vitamins A, C, and some B vitamins? And that’s not all – fresh nettles also contain 670 mg of potassium, 590 mg of calcium, 18 mcg of chromium, 270 mcg of copper, 86 mg of magnesium, and 4.4 mg of iron per 100g.
But nettle’s value goes way beyond just cooking. This versatile plant has a fascinating history steeped in nature folklore.
According to legend, nettles could cure toothaches, break spells and curses, and even promote good health in livestock. Plus, they were believed to have aphrodisiac properties and were used in love potions and spells.
And let’s remember their role in traditional British cuisine. These plants have been a staple in British cooking for centuries, from nettle soup to nettle tea and even nettle beer.
If you’re feeling adventurous, why try brewing some nettle tea? You only need fresh nettle leaves, water, and agave or maple syrup for sweetness.
Give nettles a try and see how they can spice up your culinary adventures and boost your health simultaneously.
Hare
Another symbol of spring is one of my favourite wild animals—the beautiful, majestic Hare.
Scotland is the only habitat for the Mountain Hare, whereas the Irish Hare is indigenous to Ireland. The Romans introduced the Brown Hares to England. Fossil records of Irish Hares, dating back to 28,000 BC, have been found in Ireland.
Druids would catch hares and release them to interpret their escape path for prophecy.
Harming a hare was once believed to bring terrible consequences.
In folklore, people often associated hares with shapeshifting and tricksters because they are deeply connected to the moon and Fairies. One can access the magical world of Fairies by travelling underground.
Depending on where you were, seeing a hare was either a bad omen, a messenger from the Otherworld, or the old lady next door who you thought might be a witch! In Ireland, the hare was even considered a witch in disguise, as it was mythically associated with the Cailleach, a witch-like being.
Today, we talk about the “Mad March Hare” – a saying based on the hare’s behaviour. During March – although it can be as early as December- hares chase each other in the fields before standing on their rear legs and boxing with their front legs.
This behaviour isn’t madness. This “Boxing” is often believed to be between two males battling over a female, but it’s an unresponsive female fighting off a male’s advances.
Oak and Ash Trees
“Oak before ash, in for a splash Ash before oak, in for a soak” – An Old folk saying
When you wander through the woodlands, take a moment to observe the buds and leaves on the trees.
The timing of the trees’ leafing can provide valuable information about the weather in the woodlands. Although the weather predictions based on old folk sayings may only be semi-reliable, the behaviour of the oak and ash trees can give us some clues.
Typically, oak and ash trees start to leaf around the same time. However, the timing of the oak tree’s leafing is more influenced by temperature, whereas ash trees are more affected by the duration of daylight.
If the temperatures are high during February and March, oak trees will likely start leafing earlier. But if it remains cold until April, ash trees will likely leaf first.
This provides an exciting insight into the impact of climate change on our trees and its effect on our woodlands. Due to warmer springs, oak trees are beginning to get an advantage in the competition for canopy space.
Unfortunately, this means that ash trees lose out, and even worse for the Ash trees, they are already struggling against the fungal Ash die-back disease.
Lesser Celandine
“There’s a flower that shall be mine, ’tis the little celandine” – Wordsworth
For centuries in Britain, the swallows and celandine have been revered as the first harbingers of spring. Even today, these tiny plants hold a special place in our hearts as they signal the arrival of a new season.
Sensitive to sunlight, these plants have a unique characteristic of opening at dawn and closing at dusk. They appear to have an uncanny ability to predict the weather and hide away before a rain shower.
Interestingly, the old Celtic name for celandine, ‘grian’, means ‘sun’, reflecting its dependence on sunlight for growth and vitality.
The plant lesser celandine has traditionally been associated with happiness and the promise of better weather to come. People have given it a variety of colourful folk names, such as ‘yellow spit’, ‘nipplewort’, and ‘wartwort’. The juice from the plant is corrosive.
However, my favourite is ‘pilewort’, which is most likely named because the plant’s root resembles a bundle of grapes or haemorrhoids!
Lesser celandine was once used to forecast the weather, as it can shut its petals before the arrival of raindrops. The leaves of the plant are also high in vitamin C, making it a valuable remedy to prevent scurvy.
Woodpeckers
“If only, if only, the woodpecker sighs; the tree bark was as soft as the skies…” Louis Sachar.
Hearing the sound of a drumming woodpecker in your local woodland is usually one of the first signs that spring is approaching.
Great and lesser-spotted woodpeckers start drumming to establish their territories in February, and I’ve heard them in my local patch recently.
The hammering activity is to develop nesting holes. While mainly male woodpeckers drum, the females will assist with the nest building, reaching its crescendo in March and early April.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is widespread in Britain and has recently colonised Ireland. Compared to the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, it has a louder drum that fades at the end.
The drumming of the scarce and declining Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is quieter, and this species frequently advertises for a mate by using its distinctive call.
The Green Woodpecker is absent from Ireland, rarely drums, and is most often identified by its familiar ‘yaffle’ call.
Woodpeckers are fascinating, especially when it comes to folklore.
In Norse mythology, they are linked with Thor, possibly because their hammering can be associated with his hammer, “Mjolnir”.
According to legend, the red-headed Thor got his hair colour from the male woodpecker. The Celts believed that when a woodpecker screeched, it was a sign of imminent rain.
If your birth falls between June 21st and July 21st, the woodpecker is your birth totem according to the Native American zodiac. People born under this totem are known for their kind-hearted nature and their ability to take good care of their family and loved ones.
Cherry Blossom
The cherry blossoms bloom, and their beauty reminds us to find strength in the fleeting moments of life.” – Unknown
Cherry trees represent the freshness and exhilaration of spring and are one of the earliest trees to blossom. In the UK, two main types of cherries are ‘wild’ or sour cherries and ‘bird’ cherries.
Cherry trees are hermaphrodites, meaning the male and female reproductive parts are in the same flower. Their flowers appear in April and are white and cup-shaped, with five petals. These flowers hang in clusters of two to six.
Bees rely on the nectar and pollen provided by the spring flowers, while birds like the blackbird and song thrush, and mammals such as the badger, wood mouse, yellow-necked mouse, and dormouse feed on the cherries.
The foliage of cherry trees is the main food plant for caterpillars of many moth species, such as the cherry fruit and cherry bark moths, the orchard ermine, brimstone, and short-cloaked moth.
Superstitious beliefs in Scotland referred to the wild cherry as ‘Hagberry’ and considered it a witch’s tree. However, people used to place pieces of bark from the tree at the entrance to their homes in order to ward off the plague.
The Bird cherry tree is a stunning and fragrant tree that serves as a showstopper. During spring, animals that love nectar gather around this beautiful tree for its almond-scented blossoms.
The Bird Cherry tree clusters its flowers along short stalks and possesses hermaphrodite flowers, which means that each flower has both male and female parts. The flowers are heavily scented and consist of five white petals. They bloom in April.
After being pollinated by insects, the flowers develop into reddish-black, bitter cherries eaten by birds and mammals. Unlike the wild cherry, the Bird cherry does not produce root suckers.
Bees use the spring flowers of the wild cherry tree as an early source of nectar and pollen. Caterpillars of many moth species, including the orchard ermine, brimstone, and short-cloaked moth, eat the tree’s foliage. However, livestock, particularly goats, cannot consume the tree as it is toxic to them.
There are many other plants you will see now that have links to the Spring Equinox, which are beneficial for wildlife and a rich folklore tradition.
Daffodils and tulips are common flowers and plants that people associate with spring. Wild crocuses symbolize rebirth and renewal, while the primrose, my favorite spring plant, represents youth and new beginnings. Pussy willows signify fertility and growth, and forsythia symbolizes transformation and change.
Shamrocks are associated with luck and good fortune, lilacs represent rebirth and new beginnings, and peonies symbolise prosperity and good luck.
Abundance and prosperity are often associated with mint, while remembrance and fidelity are represented by rosemary, and courage and strength are linked to thyme. And let’s not forget the humble yet remarkable dandelion, which symbolises the realization of wishes and dreams.
Now you have been out and discovered some of nature’s early spring gifts to us all, don’t just come home and stay in.
Spending time in nature, taking walks, and observing the seasonal changes are all great for your well-being and were recognised by our ancestors long ago.
The Pagans celebrated the Spring Equinox as Ostara. Now is the time to acknowledge and appreciate the beauty and power of nature in its spring form by participating in rituals and ceremonies that connect one with nature’s energy and life force.
Try sowing seeds of vegetables and flowers, planting and tending to your gardens by pruning bush and climbing roses, and planting your garlic, onions and shallots. Don’t forget to plant the summer flowering bulbs and prune your apple trees.
Being out in nature or working in the garden is the best way of practising mindfulness and gratitude towards the Earth.
Whatever you choose to do this Ostara, I hope you enjoy your newfound energies and use them to benefit your mental and physical well-being and for the benefit of wildlife and nature.
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