Ivy: strength, connection, friendship Hedera: Ivy is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to Europe, parts of Asia, Northern Africa and Macronesia. The scientific name Hedera is the classical Latin name for the plant. Old British names, include "Bindwood" and "Lovestone" the former for its ability to cling and grow over everything, even stones and bricks and the latter likely due its unrelenting nature to do so. Common ivy (hedera helix) can grow 20–30 m high wherever suitable surfaces (trees, cliffs, walls) are available, though it can also grow as groundcover where there are no vertical surfaces. Hedera helix generally thrives in moist, shady locations and avoids exposure to direct sunlight, the latter promoting drying out in winter. The nectar rich flowers are produced from late summer until late autumn, providing an important late autumn food source for bees and other insects. In late winter, Ivy also produces berries in purple-black to orange-yellow, each of the berries contains up to 5 seeds which are dispersed after being eaten by birds. Note: great food for birds, poison for humans! Ivies are of major ecological importance for their nectar and fruit production, both produced at times of the year when few other nectar or fruit sources are available. There is even an ivy bee that is totally dependant on the plant and times its whole life around the ivy flowering season. Many birds such as the thrush and wood pigeon along with butterflies and moths (with wonderful names such as scalloped hazel, swallow-tailed moth and willow beauty) also rely heavily on ivy during the months of flower famine. Littlebird likes them too : ) And so it is that 2017 is here; though the days pass much in the same way that they did weeks ago, we are now in fact in a whole New Year. Life as i know it is normal; I've been running and walking and taking photos and cooking and doing yoga and thinking and internetting and hoping. Hoping hoping hoping. For this to be the year i make my life what i hope it can be. I've missed writing about specfic plants and telling their unique story. It was under that premise that I began writing this; i hoped to structure my thoughts and align them with a corresponding bloom. Not so easy though, especially as its winter now and flowers are few and far between. There’s not a lot of choice really and all the dead brown twigs are not exactly evocative of positivity: they look as i often feel- weary and in need of sunshine. Ivy though, is a constant. Coiling around tree trunks, sprouting from walls, poking out of hedges. Long whispy vines, shiny five pointed leaves in bright and pale greens, variegated varieties and some with purple tinged edges too. I love that the leaves are arranged in size ascending order from the top to the tip. Some ivy displays funky berry clusters with curled leaves and some areas are so dense that they cover whole trees, as if adorning them with leafy jewelery. Ivy is a shape shifter and unrelenting grower. Their ablity to grow abundantly on any surface available, yet still flourish and grow equally well along the ground, is an inspiraton to plant and human alike! Take advantage of what is there but dont rely on it; everything you need is already in your wee body. Nature knows best. There is a quiet joy and reassurance in watching the seasons change, in seeing the different plants that come and go. As a photographer, having a deep love for nature is very helpful; my eyes are fully open to the tiniest of changes. What I enjoy most about photography is the need to look look deeper. It urges us to search for a new angle, an interesting view point/ subject. These months dont gift much colour but when you really look it is there. Bright yellow forsythia, berries in orange, red, pink, white and yellow, purple hued ivy seeds, tiny white petals poking through the green hebe and the majestic neon mahonia looking very tropical indeed amongst the grey skies and brown leaves. I miss gardens in bloom. When i do get my own flower garden i have no idea how i’ll decide what to grow, i love so many flowers. All the flowers really. Astrantia, scabious, ammi majus, cosmo, snap dragons, lysimachia, coreopsis, sweet peas...to name but a few. The thought of planting the precious seeds in a cosy greenhouse, of nurturing them until they are strong enough to be moved outside, is a vivid and hopeful dream for my future. So back to ivy.
Ivy is rich with symbolism and mystic. The druids long associated it as symbol of vibrancy due to the bright green leaves. Often, sprigs of ivy would be woven into necklaces or decoartive head pieces to represent clarity of thought, while celebrating the wonder of nature surrounding them. Ivy is also a symbol of survival and determination, the strong vines are resilient and will often re-grow even after being cut back or severely damaged. This quality can act as a reminder of the strength of our own spirits and our ability to carry on regardless of obstacles and setbacks. It's strong, binding nature is likely the reason that in The Language of Flowers, it is representative of marriage, fidelity and friendship. The vines really are seriously strong! I like to add tendrils to bouquets, often i try to simply pull a stray vine as i pass it, to no avail, It will not be pulled, scissors are required. Respect to the mighty ivy that shalt not be pulled by mortal hand. As a big fan of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, i cant help but recall that 4 certain hobbits are gifted identical brooches by Galariel, a mystical elf of the woodland realm, in the form of ivy leaves. To bond them together and unite them in their seperate but entwined journeys. The leaves of some ivy species have 5 points; Celtic symbology curtails that this characteristic unites the five elements (of water, earth, fire, air, space) in harmony and provides protection. One would certainly need as much protection as possible on a journey to Mordor. They did all make it so, must have been the magical ivy leaves to thank. Or the triumph of good over evil, who knows. I do believe that little emblems have huge power; i carry a guardian angel stone with me whenever i feel scared or anxious; it does make me feel better. The belief that you have something helping and protecting you is a true comfort. There is great power in belief. Meanings and symbols and stories. Giving importance and substance to seemingly futile things. January is a strange month. Our hopes and dreams for the new year are still fragile, more like whispers and rough sketches right now. We need the year to progress a little before we really take flight. Well i do. I've spoken of things i miss; flowers and stories. The definition of to miss is: to fail to hit, reach, or come into contact with (something). Just because you have stopped seeing things the way you are used to them is not the same as missing it; some things though are never actually gone, they have changed but are still definitely there. Find a new angle, look a little harder. Stories are ours to write, there are no rules to adhere to. I wanted to write about something that correlated directly to my life right now, sadly there was no entry in the Language of Flowers about frustration or feeling lost. The Victorians lived simpler lives than we do now; less choices, less opportunities, lots of heartache. And the plague. But, ivy had other stories attached to it, discovering its role as a symbol of strength and protection to the Druids, ivy wove its way into my own personal story. To be able to re-grow regardless of what life has thrown your way is a truly hopeful and uplifting thought. I have been rather enamoured by ivy lately, perhaps im drawn to its optimistic virtues. Maybe i cant quite relate to the strong binds of marriage or even friendship right now; that was only ever one side of the story. Not my side. Flowers will return; in a few months the daffodills, snowbells and tulips will appear once more and Spring will be upon on us. Winter will be gone and with it the glittering frosts, crimson berries and shorter days. I’ll miss them too. Things come and go and change but if we stand here with both feet firmly planted to the earth and our minds fully here in this present moment, we experience life exactly as we are meant to. Connnected to the earth, bound to the days, commited to ourselves.
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