Catkins

Tree Folk children have a lot of chores, and one of Catkins’ chores is to collect lavender. Tree people use dried herbs and flowers with a strong scent to keep moths and other bugs away from their homes. Catkins loves lavender, so this is one of the chores she actually enjoys very much. There’s a little sunny glade near to their family tree. Lavender, rosemary, foxglove and woodruff can be found there, and Catkins spends as much time as possible there. It’s one of her favorite spots. She knows she needs to be careful around the foxglove – it’s poisonous even to Tree Folk. But she loves it’s bright colors.

Catkins and Willow made friends with a couple of rabbits. They asked them to eat the weeds around their favorite plants to give them more light and space to grow. Willow is Catkins’ favorite brother, and the two of them like to go hunting and foraging together.

Catkins always carries her little bag with her, just in case she finds something interesting. She would bring a lot more findings home if there was more space to store them, but she found some small holes and crevices to hide her treasures. Pretty snail shells, beautiful blue striped jay feathers, tiny glittering quartz stones – all those things are stored safely in many secret places. The first thing Catkins and Willow do when winter is over and the snow melts is to check if they are still there. And if they aren’t, the two of them try to find new treasures to replace the lost ones. With all the chores and the foraging they still have free time, and this is one of their favorite ways to spend it.

Catkins is good at sewing and mending clothes, and she recently tried her hands on embroidery. Her first finished work is the embroidery on her little bag.