Garden Witchery (7 page)

Charles Dudley Warner

Flowering Herbs of the Magickal Garden

So far, we have covered floral color correspondences and looked at the flowers of the month. Now we return to your backyard gardens, or front yard gardens, as the case may be. I have listed plants that I feel are fairly uncomplicated to grow and easy to obtain from your local nurseries. If you are new to gardening, give yourself a break and start small. You can always expand the garden and grow more varieties in a few seasons. Remember that gardening isn't learned in one summer. It takes years. You are probably going to lose a few plants (I have) and make some mistakes.

Perennials take about three seasons to become mature. Keep that in mind when you plant that little baby perennial in your garden. If the identification tag says plant them eighteen inches apart, do so. It's going to grow. If you mess up and plant them too close together, you can always move them farther apart later if you have to. You'll learn as you go along, just like the rest of us gardeners.

The following is a list of a witch's dozen (that's thirteen) easy-to-grow magickal flowering herbs for most gardens. The common name is followed by the botanical name, which appears in italics. The plant's magickal correspondence is given immediately afterward.

I have also included something that is missing from most magickal texts: practical tips, the plant's growth habits, soil conditions, and approximate bloom times. In general, I have noticed that perennials that bloom prior to the summer solstice have a shorter bloom period than those that bloom after the solstice. The reason? Once the length of the sunlight hours has peaked, the growing cycle loses its urgency and flowering lasts for a longer period of time.

A Witch's Dozen of Flowering Magickal Herbs

Bergamot or Bee Balm
(
Monarda
) is used for prosperity and success. This orangy-mint scent is clean and refreshing. The flowers may be used in floral arrangements, either fresh or dried. This aromatic herb's leaves and blooms are used both in potpourri and teas. Cultivated in sun or shade, this aggressive perennial is attractive to butterflies and bees. To keep it under control, divide the plant at least every third year, discarding the dead center. Zones 4–9.

Coneflowers
(
Echinacea
) strengthen spells. This perennial is a good choice for a beginning gardener. Coneflowers grow over three feet tall in full sun. They will also grow successfully in part shade, but they will not reach the same height as those grown in the sun. Coneflowers are native plants to most of the Midwest. They tolerate drought conditions, poor soils, multiply readily, and transplant well. Plan on dividing these every third year. Coneflowers make superb cut flowers. Birds and butterflies love them. Butterflies will use them as landing pads. Goldfinches raid them in the fall for the thistle, when the blooms have all faded and the thistles have dried. So don't cut them back, let the birds have them. Available in purple and white varieties, a popular white variety is called White Swan. In zone 5, where I live, the coneflower starts to bloom in late June and continues through October. Zones 3–9.

Cinquefoil
(
Potentilla
), also known as five-finger grass—the five points of the leaves stand for love, riches, good health, power, and knowledge. This herb is most often employed in money spells. Cinquefoil grows in sun to part shade and isn't too finicky about soils. It is a compact plant that blooms in June and July. The height of the plant depends on the variety. A tough, non-fussy variety that I grow in my garden has peachy-coral colored blooms. This variety is called Miss Willmott and grows eighteen inches tall. When the blooms fade, dead-head them and enjoy the foliage that stays in neat green mounds. Zones 4–8.

Feverfew
(
Chrysanthemum parthenium
). A flower known to herbalists for centuries, who use it for health, protection, and to guard against accidents. Eating a few leaves of fresh feverfew every day—for example, on a sandwich—is supposed to alleviate migraine headaches. Feverfew grows well in the sun and likes drier soil conditions. Bloom time is around midsummer. The blooms of the feverfew are the bonus of growing this herb. The small, open clusters of tiny, daisylike flowers make great filler for arrangements.

Don't be afraid to clip a lot of blooms for yourself to enjoy, after the plant is established. If you do not dead-head this herb, those seeds will scatter and you'll have it everywhere. (Hooray! Free plants!) If you choose to dry feverfew, be careful handling those blooms when they dry, as they are fragile. After this plant establishes itself in your garden, probably in its second or third growing season, divide it up in autumn. Zones 4–7.

Hens and Chicks
(
Sempervivum tectorum
), a.k.a. houseleek. Ancient Romans grew this plant, which was rumored to be a gift from the God Jupiter. Legend says the plant prevents your home from being struck by lightning. This herb bestows protection and it guards against fire—sort of a magickal fire insurance policy. It keeps away evil spirits and repels black magick. Hens and chicks prefer sunny gardens and dry, well-drained soil. They also grow well in strawberry pots and containers on a sunny patio. Hens and chicks send off small rosettes that develop roots and become separate plants. Grown for its succulent type of foliage, this plant was once used as a first-aid plant, much as we use aloe vera today. If grown in the garden, it will survive most winters. If, however, your winter temperatures are extreme and you have hens and chicks planted in a container, move them indoors as a houseplant. Zones 4–8.

Hyssop
(
Hyssopus officinalis
). This herb is used for cleansings. Harvest the flowering tops and newer leaves. These may be added into a ritual bath or used in charm bags tucked around the house to protect your home. Hyssop is a fragrant herb and may be added to potpourri mixtures. Hyssop prefers light, well-drained, alkaline soils. It may grow eighteen inches to three feet tall, depending on the variety, and likes full sun. Zones 5–9.

Larkspur
(
Delphinium
) has the magical correspondences of health and protection. Larkspur is a tall border plant available in white and different shades of blue. They can be grown as an annual or perennial. These pretty flowers are great for arrangements and add color in potpourri mixes. Larkspur grows anywhere from two to four feet tall and usually needs to be staked as it grows. It prefers moist, fertile soil and likes full sun. Bloom time is usually late spring to early summer. Perennial larkspur grows best in milder summer climates. Zones 3–7.

I have a love-hate relationship with larkspur. I adore those blue flowers but I have a tough time growing larkspur successfully in my garden. So, I grow it as an annual . . . a short-lived annual. As soon as the heat and humidity of a Missouri summer hits, mine dies.

Lavender
(
Lavandula angustifolia
) is used in love spells, calming charm bags, and dream pillows. The scent of lavender is cleansing, peaceful, and may be employed to calm headaches. A few fresh stems of blooming lavender or a drop or two of the essential oil in your bath water will help you wind down after a tough day. Perennial Munstead lavender grows twelve to eighteen inches tall. It is drought tolerant and appreciates sandy soil (zones 5–9). Lavender thrives in sunny, hot conditions, like along a sidewalk or a driveway. Harvest lavender as the blooms just start to open. If you dead-head your lavender, it will bloom several times throughout the growing season. There are many varieties of lavender. Make sure when you choose one that you are buying a variety that will winter over in your climate. (Check the tags for zone information; look for the word “perennial.” If it says “tender perennial,” then I would say it wouldn't survive cold winter climates.)

Peony
(
Paeonia officinalis
). Used for its protective abilities, the peony bloom may be worn for this reason. Arrange the blooms in a vase in your home to prevent nightmares. Plant the shrub in the garden to protect your property. Peonies come in a wide variety of colors, including yellow. Peonies take a few years to become established, but they are well worth the wait. A fragrant May bloomer, it reminds me of old-style cabbage roses. Peonies like their soil enriched with compost and are happy growing in full sun. The shrubs grow two to three feet tall and need to be staked as they grow. Zones 3–8.

A good trick is to take old tomato cages and, as the peonies break the ground in the spring, train the shoots to grow up inside of the cages. Plan on two to three cages per peony bush. As the foliage fills out, the cages become invisible. Dead-head the faded blooms and, later in autumn, cut the withered and brown foliage back to an inch or two from the ground. Store the cages away for next year.

Sunflower
(
Helianthus annuus
). This annual flower, cultivated by the Native Americans thousands of years ago, has always been honored as a symbol of the sun. Magickal uses are truth, fertility, and wishes. Sleeping with a sunflower beneath your pillow will tell you the truth of any matter. These plants require full sun and are easily started from seed. Sunflowers are heavy feeders, meaning they need lots of fertilizer. The height of sunflowers can vary, depending on the variety, from two feet to ten feet tall, and they are now available in many colors and bloom times. Check your seed packet for variety-specific bloom times, usually late July through September. Sunflowers will not winter over, but you may save some of the seeds and plant them again next season if you wish.

Birds love sunflowers. If you grow the large-headed variety, save a seed head or two and put it out in the winter for the birds to snack on.

Tansy
(
Tanacetum vulgare
). Tansy's magickal uses are for health and a long life. It is a faery plant that has the folk name of buttons. Tansy grows anywhere, in just about any type of soil. A variety that I have is fern leaf tansy. It grows two feet tall and is aggressive. (That's a nice way for gardeners to say it spreads like crazy!) They bloom in late summer to early fall and the foliage is strongly scented. The blooms look like little golden buttons, hence the folk name. The dried flowers hold their color fairly well. You may try growing tansy near fruit trees to repel insects. The flowers are used to make yellow dye. Zones 5–8.

Wooly Betony
(
Stachys byzantina
), a.k.a. lamb's ears. Magickal uses for lamb's ears include protection, to repel nightmares, for healing, and for use in children's magick. Dried and crumbled lamb's ears sprinkled around the parameter of your home forms a protective barrier that no negativity or evil can pass. Lamb's ears are easy to grow. This is a perennial that can grow even in poor soils, sun or shade. A lovely, soft, fuzzy border plant grown for its silver foliage, it's a great plant for a children's garden. Kids love to pet lamb's ears. Bloom time is July—the blooms are a rich purple and the bloom stalks grow about two feet tall. If you want to keep them as only a border plant, cut off the bloom stalks as they appear. I happen to like the blooms. After the blooms have faded, I usually start to control the size of the plant by dividing it, as it is very aggressive.

With one plant that I bought seven years ago I now have lamb's ears in all of my beds—and in my neighbors' too! (I gave lots of it away.) Don't be afraid to pull this one up if it gets too big. Pull up unwanted sections (it spreads by underground shoots) until you have a size you can live with. Transplant those around your yard or pot it up and share it with your neighbors. Remember, it will expand out again next year, that's what makes it fun. Zones 4–8.

Yarrow
(
Achillea
). An all-purpose magickal herb, often called the witch's herb, yarrow instills courage, strength, love, and friendship, and banishes evil. It is a faery plant. Yarrow is one of my favorite perennial herbs. A variety that I grow in my gardens is Moonshine, a golden-yellow yarrow that dries beautifully. Yarrow is great for fresh arrangements. It is available in white, yellow, and shades of red and pink.

Harvest these blooms when they are looking their best. Band them together, cover with a brown paper bag, and hang them upside down to dry in a non-humid, well-ventilated room. See chapter 8 for a yarrow love charm. Yarrow prefers full sun and likes rich, moist soil. The bloom time starts in late May to early June. The blooms last on the plants for almost six weeks. If you dead-head them after they have faded, you will be rewarded with another small batch of flowers in late summer. Zones 4–8.

[contents]

Come forth into the light of things,

let nature be your teacher.

William Wordsworth

4

Florigraphy and Flower Folklore

T
he magick and folklore of flowers is a fascinating subject. An old term once used to describe the secret knowledge of the magickal properties of herbs, plants, and flowers is wort-cunning. “Wort” is an old English word for herb, and “cunning” is a synonym for craft. Therefore, the meaning of wort-cunning becomes crystal clear: herb craft.

The wisewomen and cunning men of the past knew the ways of spellweaving and herbal magicks, the correct time to plant and harvest the crops, the interpretations of weather signs, and the omens of animals in the wilderness around them. In an age where your family could live or die depending on how well your crops grew and how successfully you hunted and gathered, this was essential information.

This earthy wisdom was doubtless handed down through the family, from mother to daughter and father to son. Their inheritance is fruitful indeed. This practical knowledge of herbal magick and agricultural information was filtered down throughout the years as plant folklore, innocent charms, weather lore, home remedies, and country superstitions.

Enter the modern witch. You just know that the real earth magick and herbal knowledge is out there somewhere, if only you could find someone to teach you. Wait a minute. Try looking a little closer to home. Have you tried your grandparents? Ask them about old superstitions, cures, and home remedies that their parents used.

If you have an experienced gardener in the family, go make nice. Some of the best practical advice for gardening, along with plant folklore, that I have ever learned came innocently enough from a senior citizen. Go join a garden club or attend a free lecture, and sit and absorb some useful garden information. Behave yourself, now, and don't scare the hell out of anyone by dropping your magickal interests into the conversation or by whipping out your latest Craft book. Not only is that bad manners, it won't get you anywhere at all. Be discreet.

You are going to have to dig deep and do your homework. A good place to start is by taking a long, hard look at old superstitions and folklore. Hit the library and see what you can find. A clever little trick is to start by researching mythology, plant folklore, and florigraphy.

Florigraphy is known as the language of flowers. During the Victorian era, people often utilized flowers to declare their feelings. A romantic and “secret” way to communicate with members of the opposite sex, this custom developed into a language of flowers. This floral language was based on the traditions of older mythology and folklore.

There are many different modern versions of florigraphy to choose from. However, I wanted something with a little history. While researching this subject I came across several lists, all of which had been published in the late 1800s. By far, my most interesting find was an antique, massive “floral vocabulary” that was noted in the back of a modern-day gardening book, published about ten years ago. The modern author credited his source as belonging to a Miss Mary M. Griffin, from her book
Drops from Flora's Cup
. My curiosity was piqued.

The full title of the book is
Drops from Flora's Cup, or the Poetry of Flowers
. Published in Boston by G. W. Cottrell and Company, in the year 1845, Miss Griffin's book is considered rare by both the author who perpetuated her work and the main branch of the St. Louis Public Library. As of the spring of 2001, there were no copies of it available within Missouri's library systems. They could confirm that the book did indeed exist and that at one time the library did have a copy of it. Unfortunately, that might have been as long as over one hundred years ago.

This sent me on a quest for other antique “language of the flowers” lists. But where to find them? I contacted the Missouri Botanical Garden's library and hit paydirt. The gracious ladies who work there informed me that they had at least thirteen books on the subject, many dating from Victorian times. The books were not available to check out, however they did have a copy machine. Was I interested? I assured them that I was. As soon as our work schedules permitted, my husband and I coordinated our days off and drove into the city to see what we could find.

We spent some interesting hours at the botanical library. You'd be amazed at what you discover when you look hard enough. There is older information on folklore and magick. Contrary to what you may have been told, you
can
uncover interesting magickal folklore that was published before the 1980s. Yes, sometimes it is over-romanticized or prejudiced, but it is there. I feel that a good-natured warning is appropriate here. When searching through antique books, you need to keep your sense of humor handy. You will need it.

During the time period of the mid to late 1800s, the Druids, it seems, were looked upon as noble, romantic figures, while witches were considered thoroughly evil. (No big surprise there.) When I found an entire chapter dedicated to plants used by witches in their “cruel sorcery,” not to mention their “nefarious trade,” I grumbled and hissed.

Nefarious trade?
Oh, please . . . My husband just grinned at me, quietly made a rude remark, and made me laugh. Still, we kept researching. I took many notes and found some interesting information on faeries, weather lore, and floral love charms.

Many of the flower folklore books at the botanical library were indeed over 120 years old and fragile. Filled with the fanciful style of poetry that was popular at the time and some beautiful color plates of botanical drawings, what I would have given for a color copier! A few of the books that had floral languages matched up word for word with Mary Griffin's. It is interesting to note that these books had been published approximately twenty to forty years
later
than Griffin's.

I believe that Miss Griffin's work deserves to see the light of day once again. Her original floral vocabulary is immense, and many of the plants are difficult to find. Listed below are some highlights of the more familiar plants. From Mary M. Griffin's
Drops from Flora's Cup,
in the language of the period (1845).

Miss Mary's Floral Vocabulary

Allysum:
Worth beyond beauty

Angelica:
Inspiration

Aster:
Beauty in retirement

Bachelor's Button:
Hope in misery

Betony (Lamb's Ear)
:
Surprise

Bluebell:
Constancy

Buttercup:
Ingratitude

Chamomile:
Energy in adversity

Chrysanthemum:
Cheerfulness

Clematis:
Mental beauty

Columbine:
Folly

Coreopsis:
Ever cheerful

Daffodil:
Delusive hope

Daisy:
Innocence

Dahlia:
Dignity and elegance

Dandelion:
Oracle

Dogwood:
Durability

Elder:
Compassion

Elm:
Dignity

Fern:
Symmetry

Fennel:
Strength

Forget-Me-Not:
True love

Foxglove:
I am ambitious for your sake

Fuchsia:
Confiding love

Geranium, Rose:
Preference

Geranium, Scarlet:
Consolation

Heartsease (Pansy)
: Think of me

Heliotrope:
Devotion

Honeysuckle:
Bonds of love

Ice Plant:
Your looks freeze me

Iris:
A message for you

Ivy:
Friendship

Jasmine, White:
Amiability

Jasmine, Yellow:
Elegant gracefulness

Larkspur:
Fickleness

Lavender:
Acknowledgment

Lilac:
First emotion of love

Lily of the Valley:
Return of happiness

Lily, White:
Purity and modesty

Love-in-a-mist:
Perplexity

Magnolia:
Love of nature

Marigold:
Inquietude

Mimosa:
Sensitiveness

Peony:
Ostentation

Periwinkle:
Sweet remembrances

Phlox:
We are united

Primrose, Pink:
I am more onstant than thou

Rosemary:
Remembrance

Rose:
Beauty

Sage:
Domestic virtues

Snapdragon:
Presumption

Tansy:
Resistance

Thistle:
I will never forget thee

Thyme:
Activity

Tulip:
Declaration of love

Verbana:
Sensibility

Violet, Blue:
Modesty

Violet, White:
Candor

Witch Hazel:
A spell

Yarrow:
Thou alone canst cure

Zinnia:
Absence

A kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

Dorothy Frances Gurney

Cottage Flower Folklore

Old cottage gardens were thickly planted with flowers and herbs, not only for their appearance but for their magickal properties. Part of the tradition and mystique of the wisewoman was her cottage garden stuffed full of aromatic and mysterious herbs and plants. Oldfashioned, romantic, and a reminder of less-complicated times, cottage-style gardens are once again becoming popular.

Forget the slick, modern, and formal garden. A cottage garden places the emphasis on comfort and easy maintenance. There are no hard and fast rules on plant arrangement and color combinations in cottage gardening. Do you like orange marigolds and purple petunias together? Go ahead. Plant some silvery betony (lamb's ears) with them as a neutral blending color and enjoy. A cottage garden offers a miscellany of plants, all with different heights, colors, textures, and bloom times. Vegetables, flowers, and herbs may be grown together in a whimsical arrangement. The more the merrier!

A cottage garden can be any size and shape. Think of an enchanted garden, complete with ivied walls and old clay pots overflowing with flowers . . . rustic privacy fences for seclusion or charming white picket fences to frame the garden . . . trellises and arbors that support climbing roses, clematis, and morning glories . . . a bird bath for the songbirds to splash about in, and . . . oops! Sorry, I got carried away. Back to cottage garden flowers.

When choosing plants for your new cottage garden, or for pumping up your established garden, look for easy-to-grow varieties. Be sure to add wildflowers that are native to your area, such as California poppies for the West Coast or purple coneflowers for the Midwest.

Roses in cottage gardens are traditional. If you're leery of growing roses, consider English or Rugosa roses for a low-maintenance rose. Usually disease resistant, they require no spraying and are more cold hardy than fussier hybrid teas. Rugosa and some varieties of English roses may only bloom once per season; however, they are carefree and their blooms are very old-fashioned.

The symbolism of cottage garden flowers can be a useful tool for the garden witch. Growing a magickal garden is easy if we know something of the old flower folklore. Refer to this list of blooming shrubs, garden plants, and flowers as you design spells of your own creation. You may care to coordinate these flowers with color magick for an extra boost. This fragrant vocabulary may include the following nostalgic favorites.

“We can talk,” said the Tiger-lily,
“when there's anybody worth talking to.”

Lewis Carroll,
Through the Looking Glass (1871)