welcome September ~ National Wattle Day

"To the native born Australian, the wattle stands for home, country, kindred, sunshine, and love - every instinct that the heart most deeply enshrines."

Sydney Morning Herald, September 1, 1910

yes, here in Australia, September 1st, the first official day of Spring, we celebrate National Wattle Day.
National Wattle Day is celebrated throughout Australia on the 1st September each year. The day was originally conceived as a day to demonstrate patriotism for the new nation of Australia by wearing a sprig of wattle. The day now has wider significance as a day to celebrate our natural environment, our flora, our rainforests and bushland, our coastal heathlands and desert dunes. The sprig of wattle should encourage us to preserve our fragile environment, so that future generations will experience the joy of seeing our bushland light up each spring with golden bloom.
the message of Wattle day is: Just as Wattles rise from the ash of bushfires, Australians have always shown a determination to succeed and rise above any disasters, showing the spirit that has made us a great nation.

however, due to my hayfever, I need to stay away from the glorious golden blooms, which are heavily laden with pollen. I will leave it all for the bees!
today has dawned a glorious spring day - Mother Nature has not disappointed me. So I can spend my whole day in my garden. I have some more potatoes to plant and I am off to Todarellos this morning to buy some more lucerne mulch as well as potting mix. I need to repot all my pot plants. I am hoping to pick up some herbs as well.
During September, we honour the trooping faeries:

"Pixies: These are small, winged creatures with heads too large for their bodies. They have small pointed ears and noses and arched eyebrows. Their wings are shiny and translucent, and are seen wearing seasonal colors and flora. They are friendly but capricious and are given to non-malicious mischief. They wear caps of foxglove and toadstools, plants they hold sacred. There is no gender differentiation. They are most active in the spring and are found in flower gardens, in wildflower preserves, and in the spring of Faeryland. They are often seen around Beltaine. Their queen is said to be a tiny woman of sublime beauty who has created a spring world in Faeryland. They hate human laziness and also detest iron which will kill them on contact. They are trooping faeries who love dancing, playing, and music. They have gatherings known as Pixie Fairs in Northern England. Pixie dust is a sparkling material seen wherever these faeries have walked. It is a silvery gold material left by their footprints. If you wish to contact them approach with caution and let them know you wish to befriend them. They may respond with mischief. They will not accept invitations to your circle."

and some lore for your Book of Shadows for September:
Herbs: Copal, Fennel, Rye, Wheat, Valerian and Skullcap
Flowers: Narcissus and Lily
Trees: Hazel, Larch and Bay
Birds: Ibis and Sparrow

*~* I hope your day is filled with butterflies, magick, colour & fripperies! ~*~