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The Spring Harvests

 

Last of the Berries on the Quicken-Tree The First Blooms of Spring as the Mistletoe Flowers on the Quicken-Tree.  Frost Ripened Sorb-Apples.  Both are a Delight to returning bees and birds.   The Fourth Month and the Beginning of Thaw and Spring Luis is said to be metaphorical for rowan.  In the tree-ogham series, luis stands for "l", being represented by two strokes to one side of a trunk-line.  Luis is the second in the tree-ogham series.   The Quicken-Tree In Irish luis essentially means, the one who is quick.  Though somewhat archaic, one meaning of quick is alive, living, animate, as opposed to inanimate.  In Irish lus is one word for an herb, a plant.  In Early Irish luss is a word for an herb.    The quicken or rowan tree belongs to the family Rosaceae, the rose family.  The rowan tree is also in the sub-family Maloideae, and is genus Sorbus.  One well known European species is Sorbus aucuparia. Another North American species is Sorbus americana.  There are even some relatively unknown species of rowan in western North America, such as Sorbus sitchensis and Sorbus californica.    Mistletoe likes to grow on all the trees of the Rose family, but mistletoe grows best on the trees of the sub-family of Maloideae, the Apple sub-family.  Mistletoe, indeed, grows easily and in abundance on many quicken-trees. All wild Roaceae have five petaled flowers.    By the time the ice begins to melt from the rowanberries they have ceased to be sour and are almost unbearably sweet to the taste. They are red skinned and have a grainy white texture on the inside. At this time, if any are left, the birds will devour the berries. Rowans are perennial bushes or trees, and are an excellent resource of food for birds in the very early spring.  At this time few other food sources are left, and planting rowans will help ensure early visits from birds.   If it is said that song-birds bring Spring back north with them, then it must also be said that the rowan trees cause the song-birds to return to the north.  Song-birds flock from rowan to rowan when they return in the Spring, and soon there are no rowan-berries left.   Rowans trees are also known by several other names, such as, quicken, quickbeam, sorb-tree, sorb-apple, mountain-ash and whitebeam.  Regardless of what name you choose to refer to the quicken tree, the quicken's sap rises and flows early; as a result, it is one of the first trees to leaf out.   When the ice and snow begin to melt, the thaw of Spring begins.  It is at this quickening time of the year that the mistletoe begins to flower, before all other flowers bloom.  Mistletoe can grow abundantly upon quicken-trees.  Mistletoe flowers are the first flowers of spring, but they often go unnoticed by all creatures who do not dwell in and amoungst tree tops.  These very early flowers give waiting bees their first chance at nectar and pollen.  The numerous berries born, even on a small mistletoe bush, give proof of their blossom's value to hungry honeybees.   The leaf buds of the rowan are bronze colored at first, like young leaves on rose-bushes.  Then the leaves turn light green, and finally dark green in Summer.  The five-petalled white flowers cover the tree when they bloom, and the red berries cover the tree in fall and through winter.  The leaves turn lemon yellow in fall.  All-in-all, the rowan is a very nice tree to have in the garden.   People have also utilized rowanberries, usually called sorb apples, to make jelly that is rich in iron and Vitamin C. The grainy white pulp of the rowanberries is quite edible, sour in fall and very sweet in late winter/early spring. The white pulp of sorb apples is rich in sorbitol, the very same low-calorie, powerful sweetener found in some diet foods. Sorb apples are the natural source for sorbitol. If you are going to pick rowan berries and use them for food in some way, it is important to know the tiny rowanberry seeds are poisonous if they are completely chewed up in large quantity, just as all seeds from the Family Rosaceae. The seeds are bitter and don't taste good in any case.   If you wish, one can remove the tiny sorb-seeds by taking a large quantity of ripe sorb-apples, boil them in water for a time, mash them softly with water until you make a slurry, and then separate the pulp from the seeds by straining or some other similar method. When birds eat the berries, they digest the fruits without chewing them and the seeds just pass right through them. The seeds become etched by stomach acid, allowing early roots and stems to escape later.  This is actually necessary for abundant propagation of rowan seeds. The Sorbonne in France gets its name from the sorb-apples of the rowan tree, and the people called the Serbians in Eastern Europe also get their name from sorbs. Sorbs-apples are also made into sorb-apple wine. A wine with a particular flawor all its own, it is made in Europe, but is little known in North America. It is fascinating to notice that the quickening of mistletoe flowers,  in sweet red/white-berried quickbeam-trees, comes almost exactly on the time of the modern Gregorian-calendar holiday of Valentine's Day.  It makes one wonder if the kissing of Valentine's Day is related to kissing under blooming mistletoe.  Sweet-nothings whispered to young lovers as they trade red and white love-letters seem to relate as well.   Other Snowflowers Since the Medieval days and up to the modern days, the bloom of different bulbs out of snowy ground has become an anticipated event. After the dreary skies and cold of the winter, the first tentative blooms that push through the snow in early spring are a welcome sight. Aconites, Crocus, Hellebores, and Snowdrops are all very early bloomers, but the Snowdrop has become the symbol of the first glimmerings of spring. Snowdrops, Genus Galanthus, are hardy perennial bulbs, originally from Eastern Europe and Turkey. When they finally bloom, people in cooler temperate climates where it snows know that the short, cold days are passing. Then they know that lengthening days are coming.  Lent, some places called Lenct or Lengt, undoubtedly comes from the shortening of the name The Lengthening days of the Sun, or Lengtheningtide.  One old name for this month is Solmonth.

Vernal Equinox - Alder Bough and Uncurling Fern-Head Harvest The Fifth Month Fern is the Early Irish word for alder tree, and coincidentally the English word for fiddleheads and bracken.  Perhaps this is a subtle hint written into The Ogham Tract.  In the tree-ogham series, f is for fern, being represented by three strokes to one side of a trunk-line.    Fern is the third letter in the tree-ogham series.   Fearn and fearnóg are Irish for alder.  Early Irish words for alder are fern and fernog.   Again, coincidently fern is also a word in English.  The English word fern derives from the Old English word fearn.  This originally derived from the Sanskrit word parna, meaning wing, feather.   The use of the word fern by the authors of The Ogham Tract might be a subtle hint that perennial ferns growing from a rhizome are also representational for f in the ogham series.  On first glance, this idea does seem to be a stretch of the imagination, but the seasonal correspondence of ferns uncurling growth with Vernal Equinox calls for examination.  Also, keep in mind that the lowly fern bush was highly esteemed by the ancient-Druids The Irish words for fern are raithneach or raith.  Since neach in Irish means person, individual, any person, then it follows that raithneach means raith-person.  In Irish the word ráithe means a quarter of the year.  A quarter of the year in Middle Irish is raithe.  These words are cognate with the the word ratio, and apparently derive from the Sanskrit word ratu, which means season of the year, appointed time for worship.   So then, raithneach translates to quarter of the year person, or perhaps might even be taken to mean appointed time of worship person.  This is, indeed, a suspicious name, suspicious because, in snowy climates, the leafy growth of ferns spiral-outward at the time when the Vernal Equinox has arrived.  The quarter of the year called the Vernal Equinox has been a time of worship for many cultures, for many ages, around the globe.   Certain types of ferns, such as the ostrich fern, and other varieties, are picked in spring when the young fronds are in the form of fiddleheads.  This is part of a seasonal harvest celebration in Japan.  The fiddleheads are cooked and served, or they are pickled, much like asparagus.  This practice has a long tradition in Canada, the United States, Siberia, China, Japan and Europe.   It is written in one section of The Ogham Tract, "Airinach Fian, i.e., shield of warrior bands, i.e., shield for fern, f, with him owing to their redness in the same respect: or because the alder, the material of the shield was from fernae1 given to the Ogham letter which has taken a name from it.  Airenach Fian, i.e., shield, that is fern, f, with him." It is fascinating to note that the shield fern, Dryopteris dilatata, also has edible fiddleheads.  The shield fern is native, not only to England and Ireland, but also to North America, Northern Asia and the rest of Europe. Both alder-cones and fern-heads evidence spirals, showing the outward spiraling of the seasons as the Sun's light becomes stronger.   1 A diocese now called Ferns, County Wexford, Ireland   Alder Trees At this time of year the alders begin to leaf out, budding in the growing light of spring.  Many people in Europe, for years uncounted, have used the budding of the alders as a sign that it is time to plant seeds in the garden.  The flowers of the alder trees also begin to open at this time.  Breezes send periodic showers of yellow pollen into the air, to pollinate the little cones of other alder trees.  As usual, the catkins are male and the cones are female.   Once the leaves have grown enough, it is possible to harvest boughs of alder, and strew them down upon the floor, inside the house.  If the alder boughs are harvested with the morning dew upon them, any fleas that are in the house should jump into the boughs, as they would into grass.  In doing this, the fleas will be trapped, since the alder leaves become sticky when they are damp.  When the leaves have laid on the floor for a few hours and have dried, they can be thrown outside, far from the house.  This was once a part of the spring cleaning.    Fern Lituus The fronds of perennial fern plants used to be cut in great quantity by pastoral people, to be dried and used for down, that is, bedding, for barn-animals.  So wide-spread was this practice, that many farmers in Ireland once paid their taxes by providing a quantity of dried fern to the local leaders of the area.   Ferns grow up from perennial rhizomes, which can spread for many yards.  They are found on every continent on the Earth, being one of the more ancient and hardy plants.  They grow where ever there is sufficient moisture, since their reproductive system relies the presence of water pooling on the soil.   Every year, ferns uncurl in the shape of springs, or in the shape of crosiers, at the time of the Vernal Equinox..  This is the time when the sheep are led back out into the fields to graze.  The outward spiraling of the fern is a sign to pastoral herds-people that the Sun is spiraling higher in the sky, and that the energy of other living things is spiraling higher as well.   Shepard's crooks are made in the shape of an uncurling fern head.  Druids staffs are also said to have been curved at the top.  It is probably no mistake that early Christian Bishops frequently carried Sheppard's crooks, as a symbol of authority.  Considering the implications of this, I have begun to look differently at the mention of Sheppards and characters carrying curved or crooked staves, in ancient stories and texts.  I have begun to suspect that Sheppard may be metaphorical for Druid in old and ancient texts.   Surely a Sheppard, herding sheep or goats on a mountain-top in the middle of Spring, would have plenty of time to sit and watch nature moving around her.  She could watch the daily and seasonal behavior of birds, of furred-animals, of smaller plants, of larger trees, of clouds, stars, the Moon, and the Sun.  It reminds me a bit of the guru sitting upon the mountain top, or in a cave, and yet the capacity of a Sheppard is active.   All over Europe, in different regions and in different religions, there is mention or depiction of the "lituus" as a religious tool.  Littus is simply Etruscan for crooked, in other words, a Sheppard's crook.  There are Breton coins showing a Druid holding a lituus in one hand and looking up at a dangling ball held in the other.  Roman Coins show a lituus behind the head of important leaders.  Roman leaders were almost always religious figures, in addition to their secular positions. Lituus are also depicted, with three other symbols of religious implements, on the sides of the four-sided altars of Greeks and Romans.   In some parts of the world, that is, in Europe, North America and Japan, the seasonal harvest of edible fern-fiddleheads is an anticipated event.  Only certain fiddleheads can be eaten, and apparently, only a few should be eaten in any case.  Bracken especially is not edible.  But some, as in ostrich-ferns found in Canada, are eaten like asparagus in the middle of Spring.   However, the most striking thing about the unspiraling ferns is the way they symbolize the outward spiraling of the Sun during Spring.  The resemblance of Sheppard's crooks, and other lituus, to young fern-heads is eyebrow raising.  One might even suppose they are one of the inspirations for Sun-spiral symbols, seen in almost ever culture on the Earth.

Ash Key and Nettle Harvest The Sixth Month and the Last Month of Spring Weather Nin or nion is said to be metaphorical for the ash-tree, but the ogham-series also mentions nettles for the letter "n" in one passage.  In the tree-ogham series, nin stands for "n", being represented by five strokes to one side of a trunk-line.  Nin is the fifth letter in the tree-ogham series.   Uinnseann is the name of the ash tree in Scottish Gaelic and in Irish.  In Old Irish the ash tree is called, ind-huinnius.  In Welsh the name for ash-tree is, on or onen, while earlier in Welsh it was onn or onnen.  In Breton the ash is called ounnenn.  In Cornish Gaelic ash-tree is onnen.   There is one Gaelic phase that might correspond directly with the ash tree.  Since the pronoun n- can mean the or of the, the phrase n-onn could be taken to mean the ash tree or of the ash tree. On the other hand, neanntóg is the Irish word for nettles.  The Middle Irish word for nettles is nenntóg, Early Irish for nettles is, nenntai or nenaid.   In Scottish Gaelic a word for courageous is, niata.  In Irish a word for a champion is, nia; conjugated to the possessive form nia is, niadh.  Irish for valor is thus, niadhas.  The Early Irish word for brave is, nia; so conjugated to the possessive form Early Irish nia is, níath.  In Sanskrit, the word for mock is, nind.   Neanntóg might derive from nia, which means champion and brave.  For instance, Bratóg means "the mantled one" and it is a name for a furry little catepillar.  Brat means mantle or furred-cloak, and óg or tóg apparently means the ... one.  In the same way, "the brave one" could be formed by the word niatóg.   The Irish word for stinging nettles, Neanntóg, might thus derive from an Irish phrase, "the brave one", metaphorical for the protective stings of the seemingly defenseless little nettle plants.   It is interesting to note that ash boughs and nettle boughs look remarkably similar.  Both have been used as scourges, to get cold blood moving.  However, one is more easily eaten than the other.   Ash trees are known for being the last trees to leaf out.  "Black as ash buds in April" is an old saying, the source of which I will have to relocate, like so many of the other sources that I will have to gradually recollect.  Depending on which temperate climate you dwell in, at this time of year the ash trees will be experiencing anything from their first moments of flowering, to the ripening of their fruits which are known as ash-keys.   It is also at this time that the ancient practice of "beating the bounds" occurs.  There are some villages in Europe that still practice this, though it is associated with the church and has mostly become a quaint tourist event.  The traditional tool with which to beat the bounds is a staff or rod of new and white ash-wood.  A peeled branch of ash makes a very efficient and resilient rod.   As the ash trees leaf out, the ground is showing signs of becoming dry.  It is at this time that people all over Europe used to collect their strong lads and ladies and go out to "beat the bounds"  The villagers would proceed to the "marches", which is an old word for "boundaries".  Actually, one might say that they marched to the marches in March, but that would be a bit early.  Beating the bounds is more concordant with the Gregorian month of april.  This beating of the bounds would proceed from border-mark to border-mark, that is, from mark to mark.  These border-marks could be anything from a large rock, a well known tree or a marker stone that had been planted in the ground.  Thus, the villagers would proceed from tree to rock, rock to tree, knocking with their batons and staves on each of the marks.  In this way, the boundaries of the village area were reinforced and taught each year to the younger generations.    Ostensibly, another real purpose for the beating of the bounds was that of making the first patrol of the marches for the year.  Since the ground would soon dry and become firm, there was the real possibility, not only of squatters, but of camping bandits or raiders.  Marshalling the youths and strong people of the village at this time of year would also serve to remind people that defensive actions soon might become necessary.   There is one other fascinating and picturesque possibility that might result from many villages going out to beat the bound, more or less simultaneously.  There might even be a little inter-village coordination.  If different village territories shared some of the same border-marks, and assuming that the marchers of all villages would take a sun-wise course over the land, around the boundary-marks, the bounds-beaters of different villagers would very likely meet each other, on opposite sides of their boundaries.  Since the beating of the bounds was an all day affair, accompanied by eating, drinking and merrymaking, it is quite likely this would happen.  In addition, it is very likely all village bounds-beaters would have insisted on traveling in a sun-wise direction.   When the opposing bounds beaters met, they would hear and see each other approaching first.  There would be some anticipation and doubt as to whether these people were friend or foe, and so, excitement would mount.  It is likely that challenges would be shouted and that some would run ahead to see who the strangers were.  I can only surmise that boughts would be fought by champions alongside the marks of the village boundaries.  The new ash-staves of one villages challenger would be brought to bear against the stave of a neighboring villages challenger.  Obviously, by this time, the doubt as to whether this group was an unknown foe or a known group of neighbors would be resolved.  But once started, the challenge between several youths would doubtless continue.  In the end, whoever won might receive some special recognition, the two groups boundaries would be reinforced, and they would likely combine and mix revelries for a time.  Then it would be off to beating the bounds again, perhaps to eventually meet yet another neighboring village group.   While it is true that the ash-keys are on the tree at this time, as a food source they leave something to be desired.  They are extremely bitter after the third key is eaten.  Culpepper's Herbal says it is possible to pickle ash-keys like capers; I have yet to see the recipe.  Once this is done, however, they are said to carminative, that is, they are said to be able to reduce and expel gas, which is a good thing.   On the other hand, while the ash trees are budding, nettles are ready for picking.  They can be gathered in abundance at this time, provided you wear thick leather gloves and long sleeve shirts while scything them.  To make them edible, they can be boiled in hot water for a time.  Once this is done all their sting will be gone.  After this, an excellent late spring green porridge can be made of the boiled-stinging-nettles.  To make this porridge the boiled nettles are strained through a colander, or a cloth, or some other sieve.  In Scotland this is a traditional food, and bits of carrot and meat are added for extra flavor and color.   It is said the nutrients in boiled nettle porridge are extremely good for the hair, nails and skin, making them grow elastic and strong.  I can personally attest that even a hair-tonic derived from nettles has made my hair very silky and strong.  This hair tonic was made in Switzerland and it is really nothing more than a tincture.  It is a cold press of nettle leaf and root, preserved in alcohol.  When nettles are not seasonally available, this hair tonic is a very nice resource.   Nettles are only edible from about Vernal Equinox to Summer Solstice.  Before the Vernal Equinox they have usually not sprouted, and after the Summer Solstice stinging nettles develop many crystals of silica, which is irritating to the digestive system.   The time of year when the ash trees are leafing out is also the best season to collect stinging nettles for herbal uses.  Collected in sufficient amounts, they are hung in a storage area to dry.  In this way some of the beneficial effects of nettles can be had year round.  The leaves are sometimes made into tea.   Nettle seeds, if one goes to the trouble of gathering them, are said to be more nutritious than seed cake for horses.  The horse, thus fed, will put on weight quickly, and her coat will become glossy.  But the nettles plants themselves seem like less work, and herd animals can eat nettles as fodder if the stinging nettles are cut and let hang to dry for three days to a week.    Nettles were once used extensively in Europe to make cloth, until the flax plant replaced the use of nettle fibers, circa 1500 C.E.  Flax plants are the origin of linen.  However, before the introduction of flax, nettles were collected in large quantities for the purposes of weaving fibers, on the loom.  The nettle stalks were harvested, allowed to soak and soften in tubs of water, then drawn through thin spikes to separate the plant material from the white fibers.  Then the long, soft nettle fibers were spun into thread.  After that the white thread was strung on the weaver's beams, and woven by several women, the white maw of the woven cloth opening and closing in the process.

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Copyright © J. G. Jones