A seasonal diary of nature spots and little moments

“The month of May is the gateway to summer.”

-Jean Hersey

Hello May

May, please can I bottle you up? You feel special, bountiful, full of growth. You’re a fluffy green canopy spanning the horizon, chattering hedgerows, baby birds and all the buzz and humdrum that comes once life has burst forth from spring. And yet there are months of abundance still to come, you are a have your cake and eat it kind of month. summer is great but it is followed by the closing down of the year but not May, may still feels like the best of the year is just a step away.

Despite it still being calving time and the farmer not being 100% available for childcare I booked onto Sledmere Spring Faire, and risked that he could handle it for me. Beryl, my trusty old van got me and my hoard of stuff there safely and after moving what felt like an entire house worth of tables and boxes I got set up in the old barn and had a spiffing time chatting to customers and making friends. There’s something about peaking out from my hidy hole and discussing my work with people face to face that boosts the confidence and makes me feel like my work is bringing some joy to the world even if in just a small way.

A tawny owl was sat on a fence post one morning and I got a really good look at him/her. It felt like a moment, I felt lucky that day. I think that’s why I’m drawn so much to nature, every glance of something slightly out of the ordinary makes me feel… what word shall we assign to the feeling? Glee, I think it’s pure glee. A huge waft of gratitude washes over me and I remember that me and my silly thoughts aren’t important in this world. Just like the day this month when spotting some sparrows in a bush I spent a while longer staring and noticed it was a tree sparrow, what a gift it is to have seen this, and what a gift it is to know the difference. I thank my 28 year old self nearly everyday for learning more about nature and the birds. Thank you 2018 Brooke for deciding to learn the local birds, you made 2025 Brookes life so much richer.

Swift - we don’t have them in Fraisthorpe and I have never knowingly seen one until one night in a neighbouring town called Hornsea, a bird who mimicked the flights of swallows and martins but who’s wing shapes seemed different flew in a group over the houses. I realised with elation it was none other than the swift I was looking at. Day made. Nature gives you gifts, you just need to look for them.

May is my birthday month, I’m not one who balks at getting older, my hair is greyer, my figure is fuller, my body more tired and what a privilege that is. I love to get older, it’s another year of loving my family and another year of creating and living and gardening. My mind was blown though realising your birthday is the year you just completed so I am currently working through my 34th year in this world. Want to know what I did for my birthday? I spent the day painting the garden shed, the boys were at my parents for two nights and I just revelled in being responsibility free for just a wee 24 hours. I think I get it from my dad because whenever I have free time my impulse is always to make something, I am at my most happy when busy in the process of making something with my hands and this birthday was spent morning until night in this very process. I painted the shed, made garden shelves and signs and had a jolly wonderful time!

BERYL

Took her out one afternoon to stretch her legs and sit in the sunshine on the airfield, it was far to warm in her though so pulled out the table and worked on my commission in the sunshine. The Cow Parsley in the forgotten wood will always be the thing I enjoy most about May.

IN THE GARDEN
It’s still a full on war with the rabbits, they’ve eaten most of my new plants, everything needs constant baby sitting and it’s exhausting, Maybe herbaceous perennials are just a no in our garden.

BIRDS

5th May - Doves fledged
Juvenile Goldfinches in the garden
Swifts
Tawny Owl

May In Watercolour

Stories from the studio, a little glimpse into my watercolour creations from this month…

What has May been like for you? Have you seen anything out in nature that’s made you smile or just peeked your interest? I would love to know, tell me in the comments below...