I took these rowan berries in the garden of Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital this week. The rowan berries are plentiful in Scotland this year. Folklore has it that lots of rowan berries mean it’s going to be a hard winter. Scientists say, of course, that this isn’t true, and it seems these days that Scotland doesn’t have seem to have distinct seasons, only loads of weather!
The other piece of folklore about the rowan tree is that it was used to make magician’s wands, dowser’s wands and druid’s staves. It had a reputation for being able to protect you from witches and enchantment.
Heroes Not Zombies 
I actually knew the folklore about the rowan tree being able to protect from witches and enchantments, and was glad I knew that when I read Anne Rice’s The Witching Hour. The main character was named, not coincidentally, Rowan. Since then, I’ve thought it a lovely name for a girl (though I have a little trouble getting past Rowan Atkinson…) Grin!