by Kay Broome

Fox in Winter (photo: Ray Hennessy)

For wilderness dwellers neither fortunate enough to hibernate or wing it to warmer climes, the search for food and shelter in the depths of winter’s silence becomes a tense, daily struggle.  At this time, animals no doubt deem the conifer trees as their staunch allies, in particular, Juniperus. This humble yet intrepid shrub forays into North America's Boreal and Carolinian forests, as well as the arid southwestern US and northern half of Mexico.  Junipers are often overlooked by the casual observer, but are popular fixtures in both urban and exurban landscapes. This is due mainly to their toughness and ability to withstand both drought and harsh winter weather.

Deer at Juniper Bush (photo: Daniel Bargetze)

An Unassuming Plant

Junipers vary in size, shape and colour. Most junipers are small, scrubby bushes, but the eastern red cedar (J. virginiana) can grow from 20 to 50 feet (7- 17 m) in height.  Other junipers, such as green mound juniper (J. procumbens), are carpet-like, growing only a few inches in height.  Juniper’s foliage is generally rough and spikey, unlike the flat, lacy fronds of its more elegant cousins the Thuja cedars.  The needles are commonly a dull greyish green, but there are popular hybrids with bluish, bright green or golden yellow foliage.  The branches grow thick and dense, providing adequate warmth and shelter for small birds and animals.  Somewhat larger creatures such as porcupines, rabbits and pheasants can find safety beneath the low-growing boughs.  If grabbed roughly, the foliage is quite abrasive to the touch, but does not "bite" if handled with caution and care.

Left: Blue Star Juniper, J.  squamata (photo: Karelj)                                        Right:  Alpine Juniper, J. horizontalis (photo: Lazaregagenidze)     

Berries That Aren't Berries

Although it looks like a blue or greenish berry, the fruit is in fact, a cone. When ripe, juniper berries have the same fleshy appearance of unripe Thuja cedar cones. However they are smoother, with small scales that can barely be seen with the naked eye.  These fruits begin to develop in late summer and through the fall.  Many of them ripen as late as January or February and are very popular with local wildlife. Lowly juniper is very likely responsible for saving numerous animals from starvation in winter.

Juniper Berries in Winter (photo: Aaron Burden)

Juniper the Humble Healer

In both European and First Nations traditions, juniper twigs were used to fumigate homes, livestock pens and sacred spaces.  The berries were dried and used for disinfecting the blood, for healing wounds, and in a soothing bath for women’s issues. In all cultures, juniper was a powerful purifying and cleansing agent. As such the little bush was closely associated with fire and with the sun’s warmth. European myths in particular allude to juniper’s role as protector of children, small birds and animals. In the fairy tale, The Juniper Bush, a young mother asks to be buried under the juniper bush standing in front of her home. She subsequently dies when her son is born.  Her husband later remarries, but the boy's wicked stepmother kills him, serving him up as soup to his unknowing father. The boy’s grieving half-sister buries his bones beneath the juniper, which now houses the spirit of the dead mother.  The boy’s soul transmogrifies into a songbird with a beautiful voice, who sings to various townspeople.  He tells them how his wicked stepmother murdered him and served him up to his father. Local townsmen present the bird with a gold chain, pair of red shoes and a millstone.  The bird then gifts the chain to the father and the shoes to the girl, but drops the millstone on the stepmother, killing her.  While this fairy tale, like many others, has a disheartening way of erasing all permutations of motherhood, there is much worthy symbolism that shows the juniper as a powerful ally to the weak and helpless.  Other myths, both European and native American, reveals juniper as both protector of wild animals and doughty warrior against winter’s cold.

Icy Branches (photo: Chandler Cruttenden)

Juniper is not the only haven in winter.  Other conifers also provide food and shelter, and various deciduous plants such as mountain ash (rowan), barberry, sumac and holly yield fruit even into February.  As humans, there are various methods we can employ to help our wild neighbours make it through the winter. 

If you have a back yard, simple bird feeders can be utilized.  There are a lot of websites that provide information on how to install and use a feeder.  Generally a not too shady or windy area is best, about ten feet above ground and three feet away from windows. (Further away from a window may cause birds to crash into them – at three feet, even if the bird does fly into the window, it’s not moving very fast.) Make sure you have the right food for whichever species you wish to attract and remove seeds, sugar water, etc. a few days afterward to discourage mold and bacterial growth. You should also remove any bird feed lying on the ground to avoid unwanted species.

Chickadee at Bird Feeder (photo: Jody Confer)

In public, dogs should be on leashes except in leash free areas. If they are allowed to roam free on your property, keep your best buddies in an area away from the  bird feeder.  If you have wild animals such as squirrels, deer and raccoons, you may need to get special feeders that keep them from getting into the seed or take the feeders down until the problem goes away. In bear country, only install bird feeders during bear hibernation season.

Waxwing in Winter (Photo: Raimo Lantellankallio)

We all love our kitties, but we must remember that cats are dedicated carnivores and will go after any small creature that moves – this is their hunting instinct and part of their makeup. Your little furball should be kept indoors all year round. This protects him or her from dangers such as cars and predators like coyotes or owls.  If you live in an apartment or other small space and can’t have a “catio” or a penned in balcony for your cat, make sure to have plenty of toys and items such as a cat tower or play tunnel to keep your feline active and boredom free. 

Cat in Safety Window Seat (photo: Samuel Gartmann)

Another way we can help protect wildlife in winter is to grow plants whose fruits are available in that season. Conifers such as pines and spruce, and other bushes like holly and sumac have seeds that wild birds and animals crave in cold weather.  Trees such as crab apples, mountain ash and cranberries often have fruit available into at least mid January. Even the wind-fall beneath the snow is welcome food for deer and other animals.  And of course, many of our most beloved mammals and songbirds such as voles, foxes, waxwings, cardinals and bluebirds feast on the berries of ever-hardy junipers.

At this time, let us also remember the homeless in our communities; those people who dwell always on the razor’s edge, even more so in winter’s cold. If you don’t already donate to food banks or homeless shelters, now is a good time to think about doing so.  Or if you prefer, volunteer at a local soup kitchen or food bank.  Some people who like to crochet or knit make necessary items such as warm mitts, gloves, toques and heavy socks for local shelters.  Clothing in good condition and old appliances that still work well can also go to a homeless shelter.  Habitat for Humanity takes items such as gently used furniture, building materials, appliances and other household items.  The helpful, compassionate energy that Juniper exemplifies is welcome all year round, but is especially needed at the trine of Imbolc in late winter.

Juniper Bushes, West Toronto (photo: Kay Broome)

In the Talking Forest array, the Juniper rune resembles those of Reed and Yew.  All three have triplicate stalks joined at the bottom.  But where Reed has an oval and Yew an arrow tip at the apex of each stem, those of Juniper sport dots, depicting the berry-like cones, each seated in a half circle cup. This suggests the rough spikey branches of juniper protecting the fruit.

This is the sixth rune in the Talking Forest set, appearing in the first of six groves, or groups of seven runes corresponding to the human life cycle. It is appropriate for Juniper to appear in the childhood grove, for this small, humble plant is historically associated in folklore with children and small animals.  In the Talking Forest lexicon, humble Juniper symbolizes faith, trust and humility. Its kenning or occult meaning, nest, nook or cranny, alludes to the bush’s ability to shelter and protect the small and helpless.

Juniper Berries (photo: Ivan Evans)