Friday Flowers Club #48~October
Hello Friends.
"No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace As I have seen in one Autumnal face." — John Donne
As the days shorten and the landscape turns to gold, we find ourselves poised between Mabon and Samhain on the Wheel of the Year. This transition period has long inspired rural communities to look closely at the natural world for clues about what lies ahead. October weather folklore blends keen observations of animals, plants, storms, and lunar cycles to forecast the severity of the coming winter. Modern science may take a different view, but these seasonal sayings remain a culturally rich part of our agricultural heritage.
Much of this lore is rooted in the Christian calendar, where key saint days served as benchmarks for seasonal weather pattern predictions, such at St Denis Day on 9th October. Across northern Europe, a clear, sunny St. Denis Day was historically read as an omen of a harsh, bitter winter to come. Or St Calixtus’ Day on the 14th, where country tradition held that if the day brought dry, windy conditions, a wet winter was in store. Conversely, soft rain and still air promised a bountiful harvest the following year.
Even everyday proverbs offered simple, memorable rules for predicting the months ahead based on current conditions. “Warm October, Cold February”, or “Much Rain in October, Much Wind in December” were commonly used and trusted.
Fauna provided some of the most valued indicators for early rural communities. The behaviour and physical changes of local wildlife were watched intently as October progressed. Fat birds and badgers observed late in the month were taken as a sure sign of a freezing winter ahead, as animals bulked up to survive the cold. Local deer populations moving into lower valleys or growing noticeably thicker coats in October signalled that severe weather was close at hand.
Whether predicting deep snow from thick onion skins or mild months from a stormy autumn, October folklore reflects a deep, enduring human connection to the rhythm of the changing seasons.
Interestingly in Old English, October was historically referred to as Winmonath (wine month), but make of that what you will!
This Weeks’s Flowers will bring in the autumn tones of golden leaves and orange, with a nod to the seasonal pumpkin workshop I am hosting this week.
Usual channels for ordering nicola@nicolagreenbotanica.com or 07714025618 to join my Friday Flowers Club WhatsApp group.
Have a lovely week and as always, “Bringing the Outdoors In”.
Nicola