Storms make trees take deeper roots
As Storm Isha hands the baton to Jocelyn, it’s time to batten down the hatches again. The great gusts have been crashing into the crib overnight, then a break of calmness in the afternoon and the sun glows bright. Back to double digits and more spring bulbs emerge at the base of the rowan, and amelanchier. Snowdrop snouts and daffodil tufts spread across the spring garden.
Thankfully no storm damage so far. In strong winds the row of beech along the field-side wall often lose some of its branches. The mighty Empress tree also fractures easily. The mighty oak is one of the strongest trees, rarely shedding branches. After a big storm we walk the land and collect debris for the dead hedge.
When trees sway in the wind, they develop extra muscle to withstand the force. Trees are created to withstand typical weather events, but extreme forces of wind or heavy ice and snow can overpower trees, no matter how strong and stable they are.
Similarly in our lives, the storms we experience can make us grow stronger. We can learn from events that challenge us or excite us, through the bitter depths of our winters when we feel low, to the brightest joyful days of summer. Yet sometimes when the force is just too much we can break. We fracture. It can take time to heal. We can lay dormant, we can rest and reset through the harshest of seasons. Sometimes we need support, but we continue to grow.
We can learn a lot from trees x
The dead hedge we began last year
January is the perfect time to sort out seeds. Looking forward to the scent of sweet peas on a balmy summer afternoon. Our pal Jane at The Wild Potager who makes our handsoaps has some lovely seeds in her online shop. A few little gems were recently added to our basket.
A big thank you if you’ve bought a copy of our 2024 calendar. Now at half price and there are a few copies left so make the most of January’s wonderful snowdrops on your wall. Follow the link below 🤍 along with many reduced lines from our studio & store x
Take care whilst we weather these storms x
