May 2025 - Drought?
...and my empathy with plants...
It’s probably not ‘news’ to most of you that the month was freakishly hot and dry, by local standards. Everywhere I went, I met happy people enjoying the sunshine. It wasn’t such a good time for growers, though. The local water reserves are quite low after the relatively dry winter so a ‘hosepipe ban’ is technically still in effect. That meant that, even with saving water from showers & baths, we still had to ration water. May is a key month for many plants, and the extended dry spell meant that many got off to a poor start. Weak plants attract predators, and as the numbers of aphids, etc, rose, and flowers appeared and went to seed early (a ‘panic’ response) I could feel myself physically sympathising with them. I realised that if the plants were not happy, then neither could I be. I had no energy for social media posting, or anything ‘extra’. Finally, the warm spell broke and the rain fell and filled up our water butts. The soil is still quite dry, but the plants are much happier, and so am I! It must be to do with growing up on a farm in Ireland and the life or death (not to be too dramatic) effect of adverse weather. Continuous sunshine didn’t bother me when I lived in California - it’s normal there and the local plants and animals are not affected to the same extent.
Anyhow, enough about that, we’ve had plenty of rain for the past while, and everything is thriving. Plants are happy and I’m able for whatever comes.
Early in the month we managed an overnight visit to the tree farm. Brian did some work with his scythe, but I just lounged around and read and snacked. Lots of nature to see! Happy to see (hear, small) native bluebells, birds, butterflies, bees.
And here’s Brian having a go at some brambles.
The following weekend we spent a lovely few days in Pure Space in Clare - a bit more scything there for Brian, and more resting, reading and snacking for me. And admiring wild flowers.
We did a bit of kayaking on the Shannon estuary, and were delighted when we spotted a pair of otters frolicking in the water and checking us out.
But lest you think I have developed a lazy streak, I have more than made up for those two lazy weekends since then!
June Workshops - in case you don’t have time to read to the end:
Crafty Yellowship workshops in Mullingar.
Cruinniú na nÓg - (Free) flower crown workshop (ages 9-18) and making percussion instruments in Water St, June 7th.
Food waste week June 1-7 - All events are free. Tickets for these are moving fast, so here’s the booking links.
Seasonal Activities
Once the dry weather finished it was time to do lots of planting out. Annuals that had been planted in April, and perennials that I was bringing along in pots. Lots of flowers to be picked - for subscription bouquets, for orders and for workshops.
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I planted some early potatoes in styrofoam boxes in the tunnel in February. Harvested some in late May - delicious. Surly son even acknowledged the freshness. All this from 2 seed potatoes in one styrofoam box with homemade compost.
Coole Meadow
Our comfrey was huge, so Brian scythed some, and I used it to mulch the garlic, and added some to the potato towers.
The potato plot is looking great - John has earthed up some with some topsoil that arrived from the build. (Does it seem like I’m obsessed with potatoes?)
The trees are looking large and leafy. Our Miyawaki plot is looking heathly but difficult to photograph. The willow is also thriving, and we are mulching regularly with cut grass.
Finally, just to show you what lunchtime looks like - the house where we used to cook and eat at is undergoing a major renovation, so the Kelly kettle is proving most useful for the lunchtime tea.
Workshops
A lot of workshops to tell you about!
Back making worm homes - this time in Longford on May 7th - in EDI centre Longford, as part of the ECCO project run by the rediscovery centre.
The Crafty Yellowship carried on with Let’s go Bananas at Water St in mid May - a lovely night of chat, cake and creativity. Mascarpone icing was a big hit.
‘Lets go Bananas’ comes to Moate and Athlone soon - as part of Food Waste week. Moate is booking up quickly, there are a good few spaces left in Athlone - book your place here - it’s free!
A Seed Saving workshop in Swords castle for Fingal Libraries gave me a chance to do some Irish veg shopping in the monthly market there - still working through some of my haul!
Biodiversity week was May 16th to 25th - I ran some events with family resource centres in Athlone and Ballynacargy. A great time had by all - here’s some photos.
And I was delighted to be present for the opening Streamstown pollinator trail on May 23rd. It was lovely to meet people in person that I had worked with throughout the project. Kate from NBDC spoke clearly and engagingly with the local schoolchildren, so a great day out for them.
Flower Farming
With the exception of a bit of planting out, weeding and cutting, this month has been all about Bord Bia Bloom. I’ll be there on Sunday 1st June, speaking in the Botanical Hub Demo Space at 12:30pm, and I’ll be back on Monday 2nd, selling bouquets and plants. Come by stand 17 in the Nursery Village and say hi!
We had a lovely get together for Westmeath Flower Farmers - ostensibly to take a photo for a Bloom related press release, but of course there was time for drinks, and flowery chats! I’m so happy that there are (such fun) flower farmers close by to collaborate with!
Learning
Submitted my portfolio for my ceramics class - it was a throwback to the 1980s, lots of cutting and gluing - I’m hoping to do level 5 in September - I’ll be sure to make a digital portfolio for that one! Don’t know yet if I passed, it certainly wasn’t my A game, but it’s a pass/fail mark, so fingers crossed.
Upcoming events
Loads coming up in June!
The Crafty Yellowship project has three events in June -
Home Sweet Home - in the Refill mill - June 12th. We will be making some sculptural pollinator homes. All materials provided.
Get the Flax is in Cuige - June 16th- creative textile upcycling. No experience necessary. Bring a loved clothing item that needs some TLC and we’ll help you get started.
Going Underground is in the Refill Mill - June 25th. We’ll be taking about below ground life, and making some sustainable home decor with raffia and other organic materials. A lovely crafty evening.
And of course tea, cake, chat at all of them.
Get your tickets now - these will sell out fast.
Cruinniú na nÓg will be coming up in early June - I’m running a flower crown workshop (ages 9-18) in Water St, and my delightful collaborator Bertille is running workshop looking at making percussion instruments out of recycled materials. It should be a lovely day for the community - there will be a lunch for participants and opportunities to socialise for all.
The first week in June is Food waste week - a topic dear to my heart. I’m teaching an edible flowers and herbs workshop in Mullingar library - Wed 4th June 10-12. That afternoon Nadia Pickersgill is in Castlepolard teaching fermentation. On Thursday 5th Bertille and I are taking ‘Lets Go Bananas’ to Moate and Athlone. All events are free. Tickets for these are moving fast, so here’s the booking link.
Headed to Cavan in July for a Kombucha workshop in P3 cafe. Lisa who runs the cafe reached out to me earlier in the month, and I’m delighted to collaborate with her on this, and to reach a new audience in Cavan. Wish I lived closer, I’d be dropping in to the cafe for yummies on a regular basis!
I’ll be teaching Soapmaking in November in Coolamber Gardens - quite the posh venue and a wonderful day out if you wanted to treat yourself or a friend.
Mullingar Gathers x Water St collaboration for the Solstice tickets here -
Links
A section for stuff I read or watched that I think is worth sharing - but this month, nothing to share (though a few links below in the music section)! There has been a lot of outside time…this section may be on hiatus till September - we’ll see how June goes. Those bright evenings are hard to resist. I have, however, been thinking a lot about (de)colonisation and conflict free flowers, hopefully I will have some things to share with you soon!
Music
This month I want to share a piece of music that makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. This was recommended by my amazing cousin Sheila Flynn, who is currently living in Australia. Previously she lived in South Africa, and was instrumental in setting up this Community Trust. I hope that you enjoy it too!
Always love reading your newsletters which contain so much interesting info. I don't know where you find the time in your busy schedule. Looking forward to going to one of the food waste workshops next week, probably Wednesday in Mullingar library. Best of luck in Bloom this weekend.