August's Archives

Ripe berries | finding natural treasures | unknown feathers | perry |

Things seem to change so quickly in nature. Wandering back to the same spot with only a few days in between looks like a noticeably different picture at this time of year.

I had intended to make bramble jelly this year, but as with previous years, the intention was there and the collected jam jars were not. So I’ve been eating the blackberries as plain old fashioned fruit, straight from the bush.

• The pears are getting heavier and heavier and weighing down the branches with their glut. [As a life-long cider drinker, I am embarrassed to say that I have only just found out the difference between perry and pear cider. Not much it turns out. Perry is a type of pear cider that uses perry pears. Other pear ciders use others.]

• I found a really beautiful feather. I’ve been unable to identify it, but I suspect it might be from a water-borne bird. I’ve added it to my collection.

• Squirrels have been at the cobnuts. Even when the shells have been broken into, I still think they look pretty. I keep one for no particular reason.

• I found an old wall, overloaded with over-ripe passion fruit. I’ve never seen them bursting open before. It must have been the intense heat. The pulp and seeds looked like they were from pomegranates.

• What’s left of the elderberries are full and sweet-sour.

• The rowans look perpetually festive, like a kind of summer holly. In folklore it is said that rowans protect against witchcraft and enchantment. They were often planted near gates and doorways to protect against evil spirits and misfortune. Among its more practical aspects, rowan wood is strong and resilient. It’s well-suited for carving and hard enough for tool handles. Rowan’s other name is Mountain Ash.

There are lots of beautiful colours and textures this month. I know autumn is *the* month for jaw-dropping hues, but I love August for it’s slightly faded tones and grainy edges.