“It is only by enlarging the scope of one’s tastes and one’s fantasies, by sacrificing everything to pleasure, that the unfortunate individual called Man, thrown despite himself into this sad world, can succeed in gathering a few roses among life’s thorns” Marquis de Sade “Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns” Miller and Devon IT’S […]
Witch's Garden
A look at plants, ideas, resources, moon gardens, herbalism and how I became the witch's gardener. Gardening with a history.
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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
Monkshood: A deadly poison and essential ingredient in witch’s flying ointments makes its first appearance in the witch’s garden
Monkshood is one of the more deadly plants in the witch’s garden. It was also one of the plants closely associated with the witch’s flying ointment. A look at this diabolical botanical, and how it differs from its cousin, the legendary wolfsbane.
Celebrating the Cowslip on May Day morning in the witch’s garden
Cowslip is a witch’s garden plant which s traditionally found by foraging. Know for its connection to May Day, divination and of course faeries, it’s been celebrated in folklore and by Shakespeare, for its connection to love.
Dearest Éilis: The witch’s gardener mucks into spring 2018
Looking at spring in the witch’s garden, planning the coming year and adapting spaces to changing plans. A look at what survived the winter, what seems to be spreading and what didn’t survive the freeze.
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 task are butterflies, and to attract both, plant a bit of Cleome in your herb garden. Additionally, many beekeepers love Cleome as it is an excellent source of nectar, resulting […]
From the witch’s garden, Meadowsweet, a love potion as well as a balm for aching hearts
A look at Meadowsweet, a wildflower traditionally thought of as an omen of love. But with any love potion, it works best when love is already present from the start.
Laudanum from the Witch’s Garden: The opiate that drove the romantic poets to enlightenment and insanity
Laudanum, from the opium poppy was a drug of choice for the romantic poets. Many thought it brought them closer to enlightenment, but all too often it left them ravaged by addiction. White price are you willing to pay to know the mind of the gods?
A last look around the moon garden and the witch’s garden before the autumn’s chill does its work
Taking a last look around the witch’s garden and the moon garden before the first fall frosts does its work. What to bring inside, what to pluck and what to say goodbye to. A look at what worked this year and didn’t.
Why a moon garden?
A love letter to my witch and to the night. A moon garden is a haven for those of us who are nocturnal, for those who shy from the sun and beam with the moon. What makes a moon garden so intriguing?
Datura unfolding in the witch’s garden
This is my first year for growing Datura. Around here it’s known as Jimson Weed, though I believe what they call that here is a different animal altogether. It’s one of the staples of a witch’s garden, used for poisoning as well as inducing delirious states in whoever takes it. Intentionally or simply because they […]
The first of July, and a nocturnal visit to the witch’s garden
Wild Bergamot in the Witch’s Garden, July 1, 2016 It’s July 1 and the beginning of the heat. The first good crop of weeds are threatening to overtake the witch’s garden. But in betwixt the weeds there are treasures to be found. The wild Bergamot is from a couple of years ago in an overgrown […]
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. There was a single bloom which last four or five days, and as it was dying off the whole trees burst into bloom. The first bloom would […]
