What do these festivals, celebrations, and special days have in common? They all mark the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In the dark and cold and, sometimes, bleak days of winter, marking the halfway point can bring a sense of hope and optimism. We are getting closer every day to spring!
The landscape is white with snow. The branches of the fir and pine trees are draped in a beautiful white blanket. It’s time to bundle up in warm layers and head out to find joy in the creation of snow angels, sculpting of snow beings, discovery of tracks, ice skating, tobogganing, and construction of snow forts!
Every spring there is a day when suddenly the world looks very green again. The slightly green halo of the trees is transformed into pure green wherever you look. The day may be slightly sooner or later than it was last year. It is the day the trees are telling us: summer really is on it’s way! Has that day happened where you live?
In Ontario, the May long weekend is traditionally the opening of outdoor gardening season. Gardeners start many seeds inside ahead of time and have laboured to prepare the garden beds to receive the baby plants. Other seeds can be planted straight into the garden once the risk of a visit from Jack Frost has passed. Do you have a garden you are tending? What plants are growing in your garden?
Day by day the earth awakens a little more. Maybe you have been tending some little seedlings inside your home - waiting for the day you can transfer them to their outside garden home. Maybe you have been keeping an eye on a nest near your home and patiently waiting for the baby chicks to hatch. (One of the nests by my house has four blue eggs in it and the other nest has three blue eggs in it!). Spring is so full of wonder, anticipation, and excitement!
The days and nights are getting warmer. The sun is staying up later in the evening. There is a greenish hue to the branches of the deciduous trees. The birds are busy building nests or caring for freshly hatched chicks. (We have two pairs of robins who have chosen to build nests on the sides of our house!!). The forest is full of sweet scents. It is getting easier to be outside as we shed layers of clothing. Oh - the merry month of May! We welcome you!
May Day, Beltane or Fairy Day - the first of May has always been one of my favourite days of the year! My wonderful neighbour introduced me to the idea of Fairy Day when I was a child. On the 30th of April, every year, my sister, my cousins and I would carefully create a fairy house at the base of my neighbour’s honeysuckle tree. We would craft tables and seats, beds, and a fireplace out of rocks, bark, and bits of wood. Sometimes we would be allowed to take a bit of flour and some spices from our family’s kitchen to make miniature ‘breads’ and ‘soup’ to leave as an offering for the fairies. When we woke up on May Day we would find that the honeysuckle tree had most certainly been visited by fairies!
Celebrate Earth Day with us on April 22! In preparing these resources I have been thinking a lot about reciprocity. Mother Nature provides so much for all of the beings on earth. We benefit daily from the air, water, plants, animals, and minerals all around us. How can we give back? How can we show gratitude for all that we receive? In this post, I will share some ideas for activities that you may want to do with your family as a way of ‘giving back’ and expressing gratitude for all of Nature’s gifts.
This week we invite you to participate in our SPRINGO challenge! To participate you can download and print one of the SPRINGO cards. Keep track of what items you are able to find. You might choose to take photos of some of the items you find and share them with us through the Facebook group - Nature (home)School Support, or write a list. Set a goal for your family: will your goal be to get 5 in a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally)? Or you will you aim to complete a full card?
Welcome to week 3 of our Nature (home)School Support blog posts. We hope that you are finding inspiration and connection in the great outdoors!
Hopefully, the behind-the-scenes peek at how we plan our daily rhythm has helped you and your family to find a rhythm that works for you. We will continue to share resources (songs, stories, Nature Notes, crafts and outdoor connection ideas) for you to weave into your Nature (home)School journey over the next few weeks.
Out my kitchen window this morning, I can see a couple of robins hopping around on the ground. Every so often they stop and tilt their heads towards the ground. They remain still. Then quick as a flash they bob their heads down to the ground and come up with an insect or worm in their beak! I have been looking around my yard to see where they will build their nest this year. When you are outside today, pay attention to what the birds are up to.
“The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”
~ John Muir
