There is nothing like the sound of the alarm at that time in the morning on a Monday after a long weekend. Just thinking about it makes me feel tense. As I hear mine and navigate to turn off, I have a small moment to reflect on the long weekend, Matariki and the beginning of the new (garden) year. Here are a few things that meant the most to me from the weekend.
Friday night :- After a delicious dinner we find ourselves outside with a candlestick. Attached to it are slips of paper with names of those who have passed in the years since we started following our Matariki traditions. I watch the names flutter in the evening wind that has risen as we set alight paper where we have written our wishes for the new year. It’s a real dance of flame and wind and the circular edge of amber that appears on the paper that I am holding seems to add something to the moment. It feels like a line between places. We stood quietly, contemplating those random thoughts that flames at night seem to encourage and wonder where we will be this time next year.
Saturday morning:- Saturday mornings are too short and despite our best efforts it is 9am before we have wrangled humans, dogs, keys and are out the door to head to the market and do dog walks. As we head off we pause for a moment to listen to the most magical sound, a multitude of belle birds sitting in the tree all in chorus. I don’t think I have ever seen so many together at once - let alone singing together. It felt like an auspicious start to the day to see such beauty.
Saturday afternoon:- wrapped up in jumpers and coats we are in the garden scattered to various corners, chopping and mulching - beginning the winter clean up that reveals a tidy bareness that summer tends to hide. Paths are found. Lost plants are found. I have weirdly come to enjoy these moments. The start over, the winter cleanse, as well as the warm work on a cold day. Seeing a tidied garden (well it is still a WIP) and not wishing to plant anything until the soil warms, gives me time to think about what to plant in created gaps. Notes are made of things to be moved and added to the garden and as always the cup of tea after was the best.
Sunday morning:- It has been a while since I have visited the botanical gardens so I picked up the camera and headed for a wander. If I am just starting on my garden tidy then the gardeners there are well on their way. It was a bit of a challenge to find flowers but one I secretly enjoyed as it pushes me look deeper. While it was a short visit I did spend time admiring the newly emerging camellias and hellebore. Autumn colour is hanging on by a thread along with a few of the roses but things like the main flower beds have been cut back and signs of sprouting of new growth hint at the idea of spring, even if it is mirage at the moment. Having a limited number of flowers to photographed did mean I try other things, I hunted out shadows and silhouettes in the ponds and did a spot of light art play.