This time of year the gardens are abundant with food crops to harvest here at the farm.

The Concord Grapes are ready, recently sweetened by both the sun and the fairy folk.

Fairies as you probably already know, are shy folk, and not often spotted in the  gardens they tend. It takes an observant eye and a lot of patience if you want to spot the Fae.

It is believed by some that every human child that believes in the Fae has a kindred fairy reflection, an actual fairy that resembles them in appearance and in heart.

Do you wonder if that’s true?

Tatiana is the Grape Fairy here at Home Place Farm, her mission is to sweeten all of our grape vines with Fairy Dust. In the process the green grapes over time ripen to purple and become oh, so sweet!

Tatiana takes her job seriously and enjoys it immensely, especially when we humans come and harvest these grapes, savoring their fairy sweet goodness with each and every bite.

So next time you are out in your garden take a moment to pause and look about, there ARE Fairy Folk about, it just takes a wanting eye and open heart to see the beauty they instill all around you.

Remember there magic is in every garden, all one has to do is look.

Full August Moon rising over our blueberry barrens in Maine.

Native North American Indian Tribes have different names for the August Full Moon. One of the most popular names is the Full Sturgeon Moon because this large fish is caught in the Great Lakes during this time. Another name is the Full Red Moon because it often appears through a sultry reddish haze. The Dakotah Sioux call the August full moon “The Moon When All Things Ripen”. The Ojibwa tribe of Northern Minnesota and Canada call this the Blueberry Moon, because this is the season when the berries on their lands ripen. Here on the north side of a small mountain in Maine it is blueberry harvesting time. We are thankful for this season’s bountiful harvest and honor the moon and all the fairy folk who helped to sweeten the fruit to ripening. This August full moon is also being called a Super-moon because it occurred when the moon was closet to Earth in it’s orbit.

Here at the farm children dance with fairy folk by the light of the moon.

Fairies by moonlight sparkle and glow, enchanting the barrens where the blueberries grow. Have you ever walked in the evening with the fairy folk? Like little lanterns or fireflies they glimmer and shine, illuminating my pathway as I walk in the silence of a full August Moon. Everywhere I look around myself is peaceful, perfect… as if walking in a dream.

By August the Home Place Fairies and I have been faithfully tending the gardens here at the farm since early spring. Late summer days in Maine can be hot and heavy and traditionally it is a time when I pause from my daily gardening chores to sit or wander soaking in the loveliness and bounty all around me. The fairies are playful little sprites who always find time to play and be merry.

Being fair little beings their fairy skin is tender to the bright sunlight of an August summer day so they tend to the gardens now only at dawns early light or just before the sun sets and a soft gentle chill sets in.

By mid day most of the fairy folk head for the enchanted forest and bask in the shade. Those few who venture out to the gardens take parasols creating their own protective shade.

Delphinia and La Rosa soar through the kiwi arbor as Nightingale approaches  suggesting they return to the forest to wait until the sun sets lower on the horizon.

A breeze picks up and Nightingale joins the other fairies frolicking beneath the shade of the kiwi arbor heavy with fruit. She  cheerfully sprinkles fairy dust everywhere she goes.

Delphinia is next as she glides to a landing.

Last is La Rosa with her wand all a glimmer.

“To the enchanted forest and the shade”,  she says. And so the fairies head to the forest and I am left alone in my garden with visions of fairy folk in my head.

Deep within the heart of a garden

No matter how large or how small

A whole world flourishes; secrets abound and life pulses with color and vibrancy.

This Morning Glory greeted me in the greenhouse at the start of my day. Isn’t she spectacular?

Across the aisle from Glory sat this lovely Fushia and her sweet heart, the most handsome Wax Begonia.

I said hello; then meandered about gathering my daily harvest.

By days end I transformed my lush assortment of veggies into a tasty pot of vegetarian chili.

A very Fairy Fine Chili, the perfect way to end a very fine day.

While out wandering one fine day I met a little Green Fairy dancing all alone in the forest.

Upon seeing me the little fairy politely bowed, curtsied, giggled and twirled.

As I stepped closer she paused and smiled sweetly,

Then snapped her fingers and fled.

Welcome to August, the hottest month of the year in Maine.

Children and Fairy Folk delight in these hot summer days. Our gardens for the time being require less attention as far as weeding goes and sprinklers take care of the necessary watering. Which leaves plenty of time for children and fairies to play in the gardens, meadows and woodlands of our farm. Of course, they still sprinkle fairy dust wherever they go.

Surprises around every corner.

Play, Dance, Sing and be Merry as any Summertime Fairy!

If you are among those fortunate enough to find yourself deep within the heart of a wild garden during the days of August you may encounter Fairy Folk when they are most playful.

Take time to stop; smell flowers and listen to birds as they sing with their entire beings.

There is so much magic in the natural world.

Fairies ask that we take time out each and everyday to notice and contemplate the beauty that surrounds us.

Dream dreamer,

Dream big and dream wide,

Dream often and consciously,

Soon you will be living your own Great Story out loud.

The possibilities are endless…

Creativity, the Fairies encourage it.