I have a rowan tree in the front & back gardens. This is because the rowan tree in Celtic mythology is the Tree of Life, symbolising courage, wisdom & protection, and its meant to keep witches out. Twigs tied together with red string to form a cross used to be sewn into garments as protection for the wearer. The wood must not be cut with a knife. The berries also carry symbols of magic as their base have a little pentagonal star.

I have hung some bird feeders in my rowan tree at the back as its branches are at convenient heights. When the berries are on the trees though it is only a matter of time before the blackbirds ignore the suet & strip the berries. I have in the past taken the berries for myself to make rowan jelly, the traditional accompaniment to venison.

Rowan trees had an important role in Norse mythology too as the first woman was made of its wood - this makes entire sense to me as rowan wood is strong & resilient. Thor had his life saved by a rowan tree when he clung to one of its branches when drowning in the fast flowing waters of the river leading to the Underworld. Rowan trees that grow out of crevices & clefts in rock have the strongest magic associated with them.

In Greek mythology the goddess of youth, Hebe, dispensed rejuvenating ambrosia from a chalice. When demons took the chalice the gods sent an eagle to retrieve it. The eagle was hurt in the fight although ultimately successful, but the blood & feathers that reached the ground sprang into life as the rowan hence its leaves look like feathers.