The festival of Beltane is celebrated on May 1 in the Celtic tradition. It is marked as the midpoint between spring and summer.  Starting the night before, fires were lit and it was a time of celebration, with dancing around the fire, invoking this as a time for renewing fertility and abundance, as crops were planted.

When I listen to Loreena McKennitt, I can envision the ancients dancing around the fire to music much like this:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Enjoy…

Last Spring I put together this DIY Bird Station in my perrenial garden…

I took an old chair that I found at a thrift store that was missing it’s seat and attached an in-expensive pagoda shaped bird feeder to the chair with jute twine. The top of the bird feeder has a little twist on and off action which prevents squirrels from getting it open.

I used the jute twine to weave a bit of a platform for the bird feeder in the seat area of the chair and added branches to help keep the bird feeder securely on the chair and provide perches for the birds.

It was a popular hang out for the birds last Spring and Summer. The jute twine and branches have been refreshed for the season and I’ve added a piece of slate on the ground under the chair to keep stray bird seed from my garden.

The best part of the DIY Bird Station is that I can see it from my desk.

A few weeks ago, I took the old bird bath in the backyard and had it moved to the front, under one of the windows at my desk. I found a good sturdy branch among the downed branches in the yard and propped it up behind the bird bath as a perch. Last year I had a Cat Bird that enjoyed the metal tub I used as a bird bath, we’ll see how this does this year…

(Photos: c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

“Acceptance, tolerance and understanding are pivotal to any and all relationships. Today, I will practice these three skills towards everyone whom I meet and come in contact with. Today, I will acknowledge that it is not my job to fix or change anyone. Today, I will acknowledge that everyone is perfect, just the way they are.” ~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: Summer in the Secret Garden ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

Word Press ate my thoughts… I had rambled about being in the “still” and added a photo and when I hit publish all I had was a title.

I have been reflective of late…

Thinking about the process of weeding…

(Photos: In The Secret Garden, Newburyport, MA ~~ © Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

The Secret Garden is in full summer bloom right now and looks so enchanting…
 

(Photos: In The Secret Garden, Newburyport, MA ~~ © Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

I’ve had great success this summer with my first perennial garden as I mentioned in a post below. Yesterday I spent time weeding, dead heading and watering in preparation for the heat wave heading our way. I’m so happy to live in apartment with a lovely yard that I can garden in…

During my 19 years living in Los Angeles I was limited to potted plants outside of my apartment door on the walkway. Although they were all beautiful, it just wasn’t the same as creating a little garden paradise that is lush with the beauty of summer…

(Photo: Blackeyed Susans ~~ © Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

It’s no Secret Garden… but it’s mine…

This is my first perennial garden and I am enjoying the flowers of my labor.

(Photo: Pamela’s Perennial Garden On The River © Pamela J. Leavey)

It’s another hot day on the river… This is the place to be…

Day lillies…

Photo: Red Day Lily ~~ © Pamela J. Leavey 2011