Author: Laura P
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Herb of the Month- November: Soapwort
Saponaria officinalis At the close of the year, energies are drawn inwards towards the earth. For herbs, this means directing resources to their roots, storing nutrients to fortify through the dormant season and ensure energy for new growth in Spring. For herbalists, this means Autumn is the time to carefully harvest roots, when they are…
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Logs to Burn
There is art in creating a good fire. The kind that brings convivial warmth along with its physical heat. A blaze to gaze at, lost in the simple entertainment of watching embers glow, smoke curl and the occasional spark fly. Some see wayward sparks as playful sprites, other characterise them as a flurry of people…
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Herb in a Vase – November: Teasel
I have a love-hate relationship with teasel. Her sculptural, egg-shaped heads, covered in little prickly hooks, have a sort of architectural beauty that does make them stand out in a flower arrangement. But oh boy, does she fight back! So prickly, I come away from handling her looking like I’ve been wrestling an angry cat!…
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October Herb Walk
In Autumn we can feel closer to the rhythms of the earth. The turning of the leaves echoes the turning of the seasons. Plants draw energy downwards into their roots as we draw inwards, closing curtains earlier, nestling into darker times. Our October walk drew us to the standing stone in Littlecombe as a starting…
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Herbal Gathering
The last weekend in September saw the Herb Society Annual Gathering. This year the event was held in Birmingham at the Midlands Arts Centre. Whenever the Society holds an in person event they vary the location to provide opportunity for all members to attend at some point, wherever they are in the UK. While most…
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Hazel
Corylus avellana There are various types of Corylus, all of which are edible. Corylus avellana is the Common Hazel, and the tree we will most commonly find in woodlands and hedgerows. The ‘avellana‘ part of her name comes from the Italian province of Avellino where there is a village called Avella. Hazelnuts were the dried…
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Wreath making
Wreath making is an ancient and highly symbolic art, a way to bring seasons into our homes. A simple circle of branches has a deep and long history drawing together power, poetry, prayer and persistence. Thresholds There are many traditions associated with placing herbs to protect thresholds. For example, branches of elder were hung over…
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Canalside Walk 2
A second opportunity to explore the canalside herbs with Stroud Valleys Project (read about the first walk here). This time we chose the stretch of water from Fromebridge Mill. You might have noticed the brilliant bit of architecture that puts the canal underneath or ‘through’ the roundabout on the A38. While this is currently a…
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September Herb Walk
Field Lane, The Quarry, Cam And all of a sudden, it’s September. We seem to have come very quickly around to the second anniversary of Cotswold Herb Centre. Two years into our monthly herb walks, and still we’re finding new treasures. This month certainly didn’t disappoint. Having seen hedgerows bursting with fruits early this year,…
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Herb in a Vase – September: Rosehips
Are you an autumn person? I never used to be, I was always a summer fairy who thrived on long, barefoot sunny days and felt only disappointment when the ‘back to school’ time of year came around. But as I’ve mellowed with age, like the seasons themselves you could say, I’ve learned to love the…