Pine Marten Post #27
Hello lovely person!
September splendours include; perky parlour palms, spicy scent, flickering wings, fruity chocolate (but not what you might expect), and simple ways to look after yourself.
Gardening tips for September
Hip, hip, hooray for the glory of indoor plants. And yes, I know, sometimes I overlook them in these wee newsletters.
So, please may I introduce you to Patsy, my desk parlour palm? Bought from Patch Plants (no sponsorship), as are most of my house plants, parlour palms are super low maintenance. Their frondy fern like leaves gracefully fan out over time to make a vivid emerald green splash in your home.
Patsy lives in a bright room, gets watered twice a week at this time of year, and fed once a month. I put her outside (when I remember) if it’s drizzling, so her leaves get a lovely rinse.
Would you like a hand making your garden more fabulous?
Reviews from my lovely garden consultation clients
Fragrant musings from the library of scent: Silphium by Stora Skuggan
Occasionally I’ll get asked (often mischievously) what my favourite perfume house is. And I really don’t have an answer. But I definitely have a top ten, and Stora Skuggan is one of them.
Artistic and weird, without being unwearably conceptual, they’re a rare example of a brand where I’d buy every one of their full sized bottles.
And Silphium might be one of my favourites.
Fresh ginger being grated—juicy and golden and sparkling like a flickering flame. Spears of rosemary, a blast of mint, sprigs of eucalyptus, and a sprinkle of black pepper. Drifts of juniper scattered over everything, and a softly smooth leather and cedar drydown.
Bright, uplifting and intensely invogorating.
Nature notes for September
As I open the kitchen door, a dragonfly whizzes past,
cruising low over the lemony mint leaves of nepeta,
then it nuzzles papery hop flowers, ripening on the warm fence.
So fragile is nature
every iridescent wing
every trembling leaf
every skein of seaweed
What could we nurture today?
Featured bean-to-bar chocolate: Heist Bananas
Mikey makes Heist Chocolate in South Wales. I think he made some of the first bean-to-bar chocolate I ever tasted, and I’ve been a loyal fan since. Sourcing organic, ethically traded, single origin cocoa beans means his delectable bars are pricey, but wait until you try one…
⭐ Look: glossy reddish brown
⭐ Smell: raspberries and redcurrants
⭐ Taste: rich and intense with a tantalising hint of caramelised banana. Not full on foam banana, but a very sophisticated balance of the fruit with the high cocoa milk chocolate.
Wellbeing tips:
7 simple ways to help you cope with this burning world
If you’re struggling right now, please, please know you’re not alone. Just when you think it can’t possibly get worse, another crisis seems to erupt, doesn’t it? Even though most of us here are incredibly privileged, it’s a lot to bear witness to.
How can you find some equilibrium then?
1. Surrounding yourself with friends and like-minded people (online counts too) can help you feel, quite literally, less alone. Could you schedule a chat with a pal so you can share your worries? Try to find a time when you won’t be interrupted so you can really listen to each other.
2. What’s your favourite drink? Could you take a wee bit more time when you make it, and really savour the ritual of making your perfect brew? Focusing on the steam, your cup, the sound of pouring water, and the aromas can all help to steady you and boost your mood.
3. How about some fresh air? Throw open a window and take some deep breaths. Count the clouds, smell the freshly cut grass, and listen to any birdsong. A stroll around the block would be great too, if you can.
4. Could you email your MP or sign a petition? Taking action can help you feel more involved and less helpless. Organisations like 38 Degrees and Organise have had great success with meaningful campaigns recently.
5. Bunk off for the afternoon, if you’re able to. No, really. Taking a few hours out to do something that fills you with joy will help you cope better with stress. And no, it’s not selfish. If you look after yourself, you’ll have more strength and energy to deal with difficult times.
6. What’s one of your favourite smells? Fresh lemon? Peppermint? How about zesting a lemon over your next pasta dish, then using the juice for fragrant drinks? Peppermint sprigs plunged into a glass of water will live happily on your desk for days, then you can rub the leaves when you need a dash of pep.
7. Could you plant something? Salad leaf seeds for growing on your windowsill (autumn sowing works fine). Lavender for a pot on a sunny doorstep. Strawberry plants to tumble out of a hanging basket. All of these plants are very low maintenance, but the act of nurturing them is a powerful one.
And in the words of Charlie Mackesy’s characters:
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Kind”, said the boy.
What’s one of your tips for looking after yourself?
⭐ As ever, all wonky words and photos are by me, Rowan Ambrose. The perfume was paid for by me, but the chocolate was a fabulous present, thank you! ⭐
Bye for now!
On the blog and LinkedIn:
Fancy some flirty fragrances?