Cowslip is staple of British folklore, herbalism and literature ... And I serve the Fairy Queen To dew her orbs upon the green. The cowslips tall her pensioners be. In their gold coats spots you see; Those be rubies, fairy favours; In those freckles live their savours. I must go seek … [Read more...] about Celebrating the Cowslip on May Day morning in the witch’s garden
A Witch's Garden Grimoire
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.
Dearest H: The witch’s gardener mucks into spring
It was a cold, cold winter, and it ended with the rains which are carrying on still. As I’m due to travel next week, I thought it time I got your witch's garden ready for the spring, so I can return to find things well on their way. I've decided to scale back the vegetable garden … [Read more...] about Dearest H: The witch’s gardener mucks into spring
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. Standing in a field of it along the river Avon one July some years ago, trying to rekindle a dying love, I do believe it showed that there is more … [Read more...] about From the witch’s garden, Meadowsweet, a love potion as well as a balm for aching hearts
Laudanum from the Witch’s Garden: The opiate that drove the romantic poets to enlightenment and insanity
Top: Poppy Field by Cate Davies. Click here to view larger or purchase a print. I’m standing in the Tate Gallery, years ago, staring at the painting by Sir John Everett Millais of Ophelia. I know the story, and the story of the model, Elizabeth Siddal. It was the Pre-Raphelite movement in painting, … [Read more...] about Laudanum from the Witch’s Garden: The opiate that drove the romantic poets to enlightenment and insanity
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 H., It’s time again, to start putting away the garden for winter. It’s been a couple of months since you left, and I thought you’d like to see how things turned out. The kid and I were in a shop and came upon Halloween decorations. There was a skull that … [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 H., 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 rays, slip away.” A moon garden is a spot where we can watch as these spirits come to life in our own little corner of the world. Spring, summer, fall … [Read more...] about Why a moon garden?
The Witch’s Garden reborn: Taming the feral beast for a new spring
Dear H., I was sitting in the garden part of the garden this evening, and I remembered I had a couple of these little bottles of absinthe. It was getting late and I was feeling tired. The absinthe reminded me of you, and how at a moment like that we’d come alive. Those were some of our most … [Read more...] about The Witch’s Garden reborn: Taming the feral beast for a new spring
Year two: Tips for starting a witch’s garden from scratch
This is my second year of growing a witch's garden, and I look back at the first year as an experiment. Perhaps my biggest problem with last year's garden was that each plant lived in isolation. There's nothing more dull than a beautiful plant with a background of mulch. A secondary consideration … [Read more...] about Year two: Tips for starting a witch’s garden from scratch
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. The two in the ground certainly outperformed the container one, but I didn't have a lot of hope that those two would make it through the cold season. … [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 my displeasure, he acknowledged it not. Now this man, let's call him Orlando for the purposes of this story, is quite knowledgable about witchy … [Read more...] about Witchy Garden Experiments: Sewing seeds on the Winter Solstice to avoid cold stratification
