Book of Shadows

Lammas has come and gone, marking the beginning of the end of summer. Cicadas hum in the trees, butterflies and dragonflies make their way quickly from flower to flower, and hummingbirds frantically buzz around the feeders. My garden is in bloom, although since the recent move, there aren’t as many blooms as there will be years to come. I have many other plants in bloom right now, and will be adding more to my “See My Garden” page.

I bought more roses this year, and finally planted the last one yesterday. Sunsprite Hybrid Tea Rose (very top)… High Society Climbing Rose (above)… and Fragrant Wave Floribunda rose (below)… Roses bring peace, luck, and love to your home. It can help empower you, encouraging self-love and acceptance. (Roses have so many other magical purposes, they deserve a whole blog on their own…)

They say  “hot house” Hibiscus generally don’t bloom (or at least it’s hard to get them to bloom) after the first season. This red Hibiscus (above) has been blooming every summer for the past three years. Hibiscus are often used in love spells. During meditation, hold a Hibiscus in your hands. It will help you relax, let go of your fears, and help give you insight into the future.

I have found a variety of plants I didn’t plant popping up all over the garden…ok, they’re really weeds, but some of them have beautiful flowers…like this lavender Datura (below). Although lovely, the Datura is very poisonous if ingested, so don’t leave it in your garden if you have pets or small children. Other names for Datura include Jimson weed, Mad Apple, Ghost flower, and Devil’s Apple. Despite it’s sinister reputation, Datura was considered to be very sacred by the Aztecs. If it grows in your garden, it protects your home from evil spirits, banishes fear, and removes negative spells.

Native to Mexico, Tuberoses (below) are highly regarded for their strong rose-like scent. It is often called “Queen of the Night” or “Scent of the Night”, as the scent is strongest at night. Tuberoses bring peace and harmony to your home and garden and is often used during love spells.

The afternoons are not so hot now and the evenings and mornings are delightfully pleasant. Get out and enjoy what is left of this season, savor the summer’s night and stop to smell the roses.

Gather ye roses while ye may
Old Time is still a-flyin’;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dyin’…
-Robert Hendricks

Do you feel the magic when a butterfly walks on your arm, or a hummingbird flies so close to you that you can feel its little wings beating, or a toad peers out at you from underneath the leaves? I’ve always seen the presence of butterflies, fireflies, toads, and other (plant friendly) critters as a blessing in my garden. So here are some of the critters who visited my garden last summer and early this spring.

Last summer, I saw at least a dozen different butterfly varieties in the garden: black swallowtails (above), of course, and the common Buckeye (below), and a variety of swallowtail I’d never seen before…the Scarce Swallowtail (very top). Butterflies are a symbol of joy and change. It reminds us that the change doesn’t have to be traumatic, but is inevitable. It is said that the presence of butterflies, fireflies, and toads mean the fairies in your garden are quite happy.

I’m not sure what this little brown moth (below) is called, but it sure is pretty.

Just the other day, I found a baby turtle (below) in the garden…I believe he was a painted turtle. Now, how he got up into my garden, I have no idea (perhaps this little fellow was going to be lunch for a bird but was dropped…) The turtle is an ancient symbol for the earth. It teaches us to slow down and be patient. Focus and ground yourself…you will reach your goal.

The humble ladybug (below) is one of the most useful insects you can have in your garden because they eat aphids and other scale insect pests. If you have an aphid infestation, it might be a good idea to buy a ladybug farm to help control the problem. Ladybugs are a symbol of luck and protection. It also encourages us to let go of our fears and allow change to happen.

(I know…no spider photos…I seem to have lost them…) Spiders are another very useful “critter” to have in your garden (so if you’re out there spraying spiders, stop it!!! Instead, spray peppermint oil around your home. This will keep them away without killing them). They eat pretty much anything that gets caught in its web. Spiders are nocturnal, so if you want to watch one spinning its web, your best bet is to go out to the garden at dusk to find them at work. Spiders are a symbol of creativity and balance, of strength and gentleness. It is a spinner of dreams and a link between the past and the future.

Alright, so the photo of this male goldfinch (below) is a little out of focus, but I was taking it through a glass door…what can I say… Growing thistles or coneflowers will attract goldfinches to your garden. During the winter months, the goldfinch will lose it’s color (especially the males) and turn dark olive. In the spring, it turns bright yellow again. Goldfinches helps us understand the power of our own voice, and encourages harmony with others. They are connected with fairies and spirits in nature.