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Rocky Knoll &
The Dragon Tree I began by walking over to Rocky Knoll. It was my first visit since I had arrived here this trip. There was a tingley anticipatory feeling as I wondered what I would find over there this time. It was almost a different season now and much changes in six weeks. I hadn't meant to leave it that long to visit.
The first tree on the way across the hill has many small branches on the ground around it. They will serve well as firewood and will save cutting too much of the larger timber around the land which will be better used for building. I could clear it all in a day - less if I can get the wagon up past the tractor. Underneath would be a good place to grow Yarrows & Chamomiles and Thymes. The land levels out around the tree, which lies between the two tracks across to Sheepskin Road. The Dragon Tree is surrounded by tall soft grasses which Rabbit
and Sheep have left pathways through. I follow them to the side
of the fallen tree and walked under the Dragon's Belly. The head
is turned to the right. When I stand behind and line up my view
with the direction the head is pointing, I see that the Dragon
is looking straight at the Top Dam.
Between the Dragon Tree and Rocky Knoll lies a swathe of grass with old wheel marks cutting a pathway down from the Top Track to the Bottom Track. Horehound growns down either side and forming a border along Tree and Knoll. I will encourage the Horehound to fill the space between so that it becomes a small crop for tincturing into medicine. Around the side of Rocky Knoll now, and the Prickly Bush has changed... many of the inner branches have now completed their last cycle and hang naked of leaves from their parent branches, many of which have also died and dried out. To cut them out would give new life to the Prickly Bush which is probably not what we want, but it will also allow movement under and around them, without the danger of being barbed while passing. In time, they will be replaced, unless we find some information about them which suggests their presence is of benefit to the Land. They must first be identified - until then, they remain Prickly Bush. The Bees are very busy around the opening of the Hive. First
we will make the Hive more accessible to the Bees, which at the
moment have to fight their way through a grass jungle to reach
the opening of the Hive at the bottom of the box. I climbed further into Rocky Knoll this time than I had before.
I think the contrast of the new green grass & the browning
vines are revealing a different part of, a different entry into,
the Centre. I stood in front of the Standing Stone and saw all
the deep cracks in it. One day, it will fall and so Rocky Knoll
will see another change. But it's biggest change will be done slowly and gently, so that
it will evolve rather than change. Slowly Pathways will form around
and over The Knoll. Shaded stones will offer seats to look out
over the Creek below and the Mountain beyond. A Circle of Oak
will grow around it, in it's time. And all manner of bulbs and
flowers and herbs will gather and spread between the rocks and
the bushes. Here I will plant Comfrey, and Tansy. Here Yarrow
can spread, and Melissa surround the Bees. Here where the Prickly
Bush grows will I plant Hops and Roses to scramble and ramble
and form a thicket over it. And when they have grown thick enough,
then be it time to cut out the Prickly Bush from underneath the
new growth. And so each will leave an arbour in time, under which
rocks can be set for sitting on and contemplating the beauty therearound. |
