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The Celtic Tree Calendar
By Lotti Brown
A gentle journey through the meanings, seasons, and symbolism of the trees
A different way of moving through the year...
There are many ways to mark time - calendars, clocks, dates - all useful, all necessary. But there is another way too - one that unfolds more quietly...
A way of noticing the year through trees - through subtle changes in light, leaf, bud, and branch, through moments that are easy to miss - unless you pause.
In 2020, shortly after lockdown started here in the UK, I decided to follow the next 12 months through the calendar of the trees - and this section was born of that year of connecting with the trees, gently, as the year turned and the seasons changed...
What is the Celtic Tree Calendar?
The Celtic Tree Calendar is a way of following the year through thirteen trees, each associated with a particular time and a particular kind of energy.
Whether or not it was used historically in this exact form, it offers something meaningful:
- a gentle rhythm
- a reason to notice
- a way to reconnect
How to explore the calendar
You can approach this in whatever way feels right to you:
- by reading the folklore of each tree
- by noticing them in the landscape
- by exploring the artwork
- or by following the journey through journaling
There is no right order - only an invitation...
Celtic Tree Calendar Meanings
The Celtic Tree Calendar meanings are rooted in folklore, symbolism, and seasonal change. Each tree carries its own character - from the quiet beginnings of birch to the reflective stillness of elder - offering a different way of understanding the turning year and our place within it.
Let's explore them all in turn, below...
The trees of the year
Birch
Rowan
21 January – 17 February
A tree of protection, awareness, and quiet strength.
Ash
18 February – 17 March
A tree of balance and connection - linking worlds.
Alder
18 March – 14 April
A tree of intuition, reflection, and the edge between worlds.
Willow
15 April – 12 May
A tree of flow, softness, and emotional awareness.
Hawthorn
13 May – 9 June
A tree of thresholds, blossom, and the turning toward summer.
Oak
10 June – 7 July
A tree of strength, grounding, and quiet presence.
Holly
8 July – 4 August
A tree of resilience, structure, and enduring life.
Hazel
5 August – 1 September
A tree of wisdom, creativity, and insight.
Vine/Bramble
2 September – 29 September
A season of abundance, growth, and gathering.
Ivy
30 September – 27 October
A time of connection, persistence, and weaving together.
Reed/Fern
28 October – 23 November
A quieter season of reflection, subtlety, and inward focus.
Elder
24 November – 23 December
A tree of endings, transformation, and quiet completion.
The artwork
Hawthorn
Birch
RowanAlongside exploring each tree, I’ve created a series of hand-drawn artworks inspired by their symbolism, structure, and presence.
These pieces grew slowly over time - part observation, part imagination - and form a visual interpretation of the calendar.
A Journaling Journey Through the Celtic Tree Calendar
A Year of Trees - nature journaling course inspired by the Celtic Tree CalendarIf you'd like to go a little deeper, I've created a gentle nature journaling journey inspired by the Celtic Tree Calendar.
Each tree becomes a point of focus for its Celtic Tree Calendar month - a way of noticing the season, observing more closely, connecting with the meaning of each tree, and building a quiet creative practice across the year.
Through short, simple prompts and seasonal inspiration, you'll be invited to slow down and connect with both the natural world and your own observations and personal reflections.
You can begin anywhere and move through the trees at your own pace, whether you choose to explore the full wheel of the year or simply spend time with a single tree that calls to you at any time of the year.
A gentle way back to noticing
This isn’t about following rules or completing something perfectly.
It’s simply:
- stepping outside
- noticing a tree
- and allowing that to be enough
You might also like
You might also enjoy my Celtic nature & wildlife art - find that here... - or all my art, here...
Or exploring more folklore in my Folklore of Nature Hub here...
Or if you love nature, you might enjoy browsing through my nature journal pages - you can also find out about starting your own nature journal, too, if you'd like to do that.
Celtic hare art
Shall we stay in touch..?
Each month, I share stories from my own nature journal, new art from my studio, and simple seasonal inspiration to help you feel more connected with the turning year - if you'd like to stay updated, please sign up with your email address below...
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Lotti Brown is a self-taught nature artist and nature journaling educator whose hand-drawn work is inspired by wildlife, folklore, and close observation. With 18 years in creative fields and 10 years creating nature art, she brings deep practical experience to her work. Trained by the Wild Wonder Foundation, she shares nature journaling courses and guides online. Her artwork has been licensed internationally and exhibited at Goole Museum and Bridlington Spa in the East Riding of Yorkshire, UK.
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