Imbolc, St Brigid's Day, and the arrival of spring

The first daffodil of the season bloomed this morning

Imbolc (1 February) is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring and is held on 1 February, which is about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Historically, its traditions were widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. #folklore 

It is one of four seasonal festivals in Gaelic Ireland along with Beltane (1 May), Lughnasadh (1 August) and Samhain (1 November). One of the focal points of the agricultural year in Ireland, Imbolc represents the starting point of preparations for the spring sowing. Technically, it's not the 1 Feb, but rather from dusk on 1 Feb to dusk on the 2 Feb. Naturally, the Christians took it over and adopted the Celtic Goddess Brigid as well, when Imbolc became Saint Brigid's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Bríde; Scottish Gaelic: Là Fhèill Brìghde; Manx: Laa'l Breeshey). 

The traditions from Celtic pagan times are not that well preserved. On St Brigid's Eve, Brigid was said to visit virtuous households and bless the inhabitants. They would make crosses out of reeds and prepare a bed for her. Last night was St Brigid's eve so I left a  scarf outside to be blessed by the saint (or pagan) as she passed. Known as a 'Bratog Bride' in Irish folklore, this blessed garment can be used as a cure for headaches or sore throats. Let's hope I don't need it but my sister-in-law has Covid and so I might just need its medicinal properties.

In Ireland, a spring cleaning was also customary around the time of St Brigid's Day and Holy wells were visited. I think I'll skip that part for now. It's a miserable day, with drizzle on and off. Oh well. 

Happy Imbolc! 

The first cut of the season

 

Lawn mowing

Today, the last day of January, Alex mowed the vineyard while I mowed the lawn for the first time this year. It really needed it. It's been such a mild winter that the grass has been growing rather steadily. As tomorrow is Imbolc or St Brigit's Day, it was fitting to prepare for the new season today. 

I have not finished pruning the orchard but I made significant progress. Last summer, we had a terrible problem with leaf curl in the orchard, which included the peach in the greenhouse. And as I noted that the peach tree in the polytunnel is beginning to leaf, I made up a batch of Winter Tree Wash and sprayed the affected trees in the orchard and the polytunnel peach. I coated the cherry trees, the peach, and the crabapple but not the apples or pears. I should probably have done the plum. I can get that after I prune it some more. It's not easy to spray all the bark when there are a lot of branches. 

Polytunnel Peach (PP)

It was the perfect day for this. It was dry, cloudy and relatively still. I used the 2-litre sprayer that I use for applying fulvic acid. It delivers a narrow stream that worked reasonably well on the thinner branches. Leaf curl can usually be controlled satisfactorily by a spray of a suitable registered fungicide at any stage of dormancy. Most effective control is achieved by spraying when the buds are swelling but before they have opened. It's not possible to control the fungus once it's entered the leaf. I hope I was not too late for the PP. 

Winter Tree Wash is a blend of natural plant and fish oils for the control of insect and aphid eggs on fruit trees and bushes during the dormant season. Suitable for organic gardening, it can be used on both edible and ornamental crops. Apparently, this tree wash seals the bark so the fungus can't get in and insects cannot lay their eggs. I hope it works. I'm really hopeful that between the fulvic acid, which strengthens cell structure and the winter wash, I will be successful in controlling the fungal invasion. The fulvic acid seems to be working in the polytunnel. 

Slowly, the chores are getting done. Next, I will be starting my seeds. So many to plant. 

Orchard and vineyard beyond

Daybreak this morning