Top: Evening Primrose flowers growing in the fairy section of a witch's garden Thinking of you while out for a ramble Down by a cold frosty … [Read more...] about Primrose flowers in a witch’s garden: A gift to, and protection from fairies, tokens for the dead and Evening Primrose for a moon garden
Witch's Garden Feature
Welcome to a guide to magick herbs and herbalism – witchy plants, white and dark, potions and poisons for the cauldron, as well as goodies for kitchen witches
The Witch’s Garden is a guide to the old ways, old magick and herbal medicine. Learn more about the gardening and gathering practices of our ancestors, be them the wise or cunning women of Europe, or early settlers and Native Americans of the American continent. And follow along with our own zone seven witch’s garden, as I try to nurse a collection of witchy plants through the year.
A notebook of thoughts, ideas, experiments failed and successful in growing a witch’s garden. Since witches are often nocturnal creatures, we also go into moon gardens, and a fair amount of cottage gardening as well.
See what’s blooming in the witch’s garden. Photos and dates for a witch, moon or cottage garden in the U.S. Zone 6
An incomplete as hell herbalist, the science and folklore of the plants, how to grow, how to serve to cure or to kill. Company can be so bothersome, but sure, come in and have a nice cup of tea?
Monkshood: A deadly poison and essential ingredient in witch’s flying ointments comes back in the witch’s garden
This was the second year I’ve had Monkshood in my witch’s garden. I tried growing it from seed with no luck. I have little patience for slow … [Read more...] about Monkshood: A deadly poison and essential ingredient in witch’s flying ointments comes back in the witch’s garden
Celebrating the Cowslip on May Day morning in the witch’s garden
Cowslip is a staple of British folklore, herbalism and literature ... And I serve the Fairy Queen To dew her orbs upon the green. The cowslips tall … [Read more...] about Celebrating the Cowslip on May Day morning in the witch’s garden
Cleome Serrulata: A Native American addition to the witch’s garden and table, and a friend to bees and butterflies
You can't overestimate the importance of bees in a witch's garden, for our stinging friends help to pollinate. Just behind them in usefulness in this … [Read more...] about Cleome Serrulata: A Native American addition to the witch’s garden and table, and a friend to bees and butterflies
From the witch’s garden, Meadowsweet, a love potion as well as a balm for aching hearts
Top: Meadowsweet, right, growing along a path by the river Avon, Barton Country Farm, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. I have a soft spot for Meadowsweet. … [Read more...] about From the witch’s garden, Meadowsweet, a love potion as well as a balm for aching hearts
A last look around the moon garden and the witch’s garden before the autumn’s chill does its work
Top: The last rose of the season Dear Éilis, It’s time again, to start putting away the garden for winter, and I thought you’d like to see how … [Read more...] about A last look around the moon garden and the witch’s garden before the autumn’s chill does its work
Why a moon garden?
Dear Éilis., We are creatures of the night, are we not? It’s like the song says, “the days are okay and the sun can be fun but I live, to see those … [Read more...] about Why a moon garden?
Why a moon garden #3: Brugmansia tree bursts into bloom and lights up the moon garden
I admit I had doubts it would do it. The USDA lists our plant hardiness zone as 6b, which isn't exactly this plant's natural habitat. But it did it. … [Read more...] about Why a moon garden #3: Brugmansia tree bursts into bloom and lights up the moon garden
The Witch’s Garden reborn: Taming the feral beast for a new spring
Dear Éilis, I have essentially four beds. Starting at about nine o’clock from your chair is the first one, a feeble attempt at a cottage garden. It … [Read more...] about The Witch’s Garden reborn: Taming the feral beast for a new spring
Deadly Nightshade: From Witch’s flying potions, to the beauty of the women of Venice, to death from the sweet berries of Atropa Belladonna
Deadly Nightshade ... will you die for love? Will you die for beauty? Will you die for powers beyond your wildest imagination. That's the allure of … [Read more...] about Deadly Nightshade: From Witch’s flying potions, to the beauty of the women of Venice, to death from the sweet berries of Atropa Belladonna
Tanacetum vulgare: Once a necessity for British gardens, Tansy has been used for abortions as well as immortality, and goes good with eggs
And where the marjoram once, and sage, and rue, And balm, and mint, with curl'd-leaf parsley grew, And double marigolds, and silver thyme, And … [Read more...] about Tanacetum vulgare: Once a necessity for British gardens, Tansy has been used for abortions as well as immortality, and goes good with eggs
Foxglove digitalis: From witches’ thimbles to witch’s hats, a flower to lure fairies and whose magic in folklore brings both life and death
It was this song which included Foxglove that gave me the idea to start a witch's garden. It was in the spring of last year when I saw my foxglove was … [Read more...] about Foxglove digitalis: From witches’ thimbles to witch’s hats, a flower to lure fairies and whose magic in folklore brings both life and death
Penstemon digitalis: A Foxglove native to North America
For those in the United States who like to keep their garden stocked with native plants, Beard's Tongue, orPenstemon digitalis is a member of the … [Read more...] about Penstemon digitalis: A Foxglove native to North America
Witchy plants coming back in the spring from a hard winter
This was a surprise ... Last spring I managed to get hold of three Belladonna plants. Two went directly into the ground, the third into a container. … [Read more...] about Witchy plants coming back in the spring from a hard winter
Witchy Garden Experiments: Sewing seeds on the Winter Solstice to avoid cold stratification
One evening I had a friend over for drinks. The friend in question had run afoul of my good graces some time ago, and though I was certain he knew of … [Read more...] about Witchy Garden Experiments: Sewing seeds on the Winter Solstice to avoid cold stratification
Ricinus communis: An ally to dictators and the KGB: Friend to mothers for ages, the bane to moles everywhere, the intriguing tale of the Castor Bean plant
Exiled from his native Bulgaria, Playwright and novelist Georgi Markov had just finished walking across the Thames on Waterloo Bridge. There he waited … [Read more...] about Ricinus communis: An ally to dictators and the KGB: Friend to mothers for ages, the bane to moles everywhere, the intriguing tale of the Castor Bean plant
