Author: Laura P
-
Lady’s Mantle
Alchemilla vulgaris In medieval times, Alchemilla was reputed to preserve youth. Her name means ‘little magical one’, referencing the drops that form on her leaves. This is not dew, but a secretion from the plant herself – an ingredient treasured by alchemists, collected each morning, a drop at a time. Her rounded leaves are pleated,…
-
Herb in a vase – July
Mint If you’ve bought flowers from me at any time from April to September, your bouquet will probably have contained mint. It’s one of my favourite foliages! Why do I love mint so much? I think it’s because I can’t get enough of the scent. Whether pepper, lemon or spear, a lovely whiff of mentha…
-
June Herb Walk
June’s Herb Walk was part of Dursley’s new OffBeat event, happening alongside a Bee Walk and an Historic Rope Walk. Participants could join either at the Market Place or at the walk location, St Mark’s Churchyard on Woodmancote. The churchyard is a green oasis a stone’s throw from the centre of town, largely unseen from…
-
St John’s Wort
Hypericums are commonly found in gardens and municipal areas, enjoyed for their big yellow flowers. Sometimes known as the ‘happy plant’ it’s not just the joyful blooms that make you smile, there’s also a therapeutic punch in the plant that is preferred by some to off-the-shelf mood improvers. However, for that kind of medicine, it’s…
-
Gloucester Roses
One of the signs you’re a herbalist is if you notice interesting plants wherever you go; if you think a traffic jam is a chance to examine what’s growing in the verges you normally whizz past; if town visits mean looking down to spot green growth in the pavement crevices as much as looking up…
-
Herb in a Vase – June
Creative ideas crafted and shared by our local florist, Sophia Mason. This month we’re displaying: Borage Blue is a tricky colour for florists. Customers love it, and rightly so, it’s one of my favourite colours too! But nature rarely provides a true blue flower, instead tending towards violet-y or mauve-y shades, so we often have…
-
May Herb Walk
For May we returned to Cam’s Vale Hospital, there is so much to see in the beds around the carpark, the quiet garden beside the hospital, and the healing allotment beds. We were here last year in July, wanting to enjoy the lime trees, but catching them just after their best. This year, we arrived…
-
Lemon Balm
To soothe, enliven and restore. There’s a duality in many plants, with lemon balm it’s her ability to both calm and enliven. She will soothe the mind, ease the ache of a broken heart and enable a clarity of thinking, coming to you as a ‘breath of fresh air’. Lemon balm is recommended as an…
-
Herbal trip to London
by Dr Viv Rolfe On Wednesday 22nd April I was invited to speak at an event in London about Arnica montana – the tiny yellow flower in the daisy family that is one of nature’s miracles and contains compounds that relieve bruising, swelling and pain when applied topically. Arnica grows in the Alps and in…
-
April Herb Walk
April marks the true awakening of the herbal world with new treasures blooming at our feet and blossoms overhead. Since the days of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales it has been considered a month of sweet showers (‘shoures soote’) and rejuvenation. Following the lead of the Medieval pilgrims, who set out as the sap started rising, for…