Look for one that complements your home’s style and color, and make sure it’s large enough to make a statement and be seen from the street. A mandrake is the root of a plant, historically derived either from plants of the genus Mandragora found in the Mediterranean region, or from other species, such as Bryonia alba, the English mandrake, which have similar properties.The plants from which the root is obtained are also called "mandrakes". Indeed in parts of Britain holly was once referred to simply as ‘Christmas’, and in pre-Victorian times ‘Christmas trees’ meant holly bushes. The story of Yallery Brown was considered by Alan Garner to be the most important British folk tale of all. Your email address will not be published. The history of herbs, their folklore and legends often read like something from a horror movie – scorpions in the brain, worms in the brain, and all sorts of uninvited guests making their way into the bodies of their victims. At the time, he called the project “the post-modern folklore which… may yet be the best bridge across the gulfs between science and subjective feelings, and between ourselves and other species.” Copyright ©2019 Hurstwood Publishing / Alderney Media, (See 'The Author' section below for direct links). Plants Before the Revolution is the first in a series of occasional publications tracing the subtle but significant part plants and flowers have played in English society. An extract from Oak, Fern and Daisy: ‘The Folklore, Culture and Magic of the Plant Kingdom’ By Jez Winship. Richard Mabey’s excellent Flora Britannica project, back in the 1990s, was a comprehensive attempt to gather plant folklore from all over Britain. Flora Britannica, the matter of Britain. Old stories, and recent tales. Along with opium poppy and other plants, belladonna was believed to make up the ‘flying ointment’ used by witches. However, because some plants yield poisons and some die in winter, plants can also represent death and decay. Folklore tells us of the cultural associations and traditions that people hold. It was collected by Marie Balfour in Lincolnshire in the late 1880s. Buy Kew - The Witch's Garden: Plants in Folklore, Magic and Traditional Medicine Illustrated by Lawrence, Sandra (ISBN: 9781787394360) from Amazon's Book Store. Some will survive, some won’t. Richard Mabey’s excellent Flora Britannica project, back in the 1990s, was a comprehensive attempt to gather plant folklore from all over Britain. Foxglove But right now, it’s the stories I am after: those stories of wild plants across the British Isles that can be told, shared and enjoyed by new audiences. English folklore consists of the myths and legends of England, including the English region's mythical creatures, traditional recipes, urban legends, and folktales.English folklore encompasses the traditional Robin Hood tales, the Brythonic-inspired Arthurian legend, and the more contemporary urban legends and monsters such as the Beast of Bodmin Moor. Plant Lore A rich heritage of plant lore exists in Merlin’s Isle, as Britain was once known, and we can trace this heritage at least as far back as the Bronze Age, which began here around 4,000 years ago. I don’t want to draw too sharp a distinction,  since folklore and folk tales about plants are clearly close relations. © Travelpix Ltd/Getty To the Celts, elm was associated with elves and the passage to the Underworld. Along with opium poppy and other plants, belladonna was believed to make up the ‘flying ointment’ used by witches. An extract from Oak, Fern and Daisy: ‘The Folklore, Culture and Magic of the Plant Kingdom’ By Jez Winship. Folk names for the blackberry-bramble vine include bumblekites, bounty thorn, skaldberry, blackbutters, blackbides, gatterberry.In Gaelic it is the prickle thorn - dris-muine. In The Dreamtime Mistletoe Folklore of the Ivy Plant Ivy, though actually a vine, has a very popular and extensive history in tree lore. In Bantu folklore, gourds and pumpkins have the potential to grow into vast, devouring creatures. Blackberry vines, with their long, thorny canes are a common sight arching among the English lanes and hedgerows, scrambling over fences, spreading quickly to make huge impenetrable barriers if left untended. Welcome to plantfolklore.uk - investigating the use of plants in the customs, legends and beliefs of pre-industrial England. Water well, then wait for the soil to dry out before doing it again. In Winter you want to give enough to keep the soil just barely moist. Trees have always been part of folklore, but lots of other plants have become a part of old stories and beliefs as well – like herbs, shrubs, bushes, flowers, and the like. To Order please email 'enquiries at plantfolklore.uk', Click / Tap here to contact the Author via email. The Plant Lore is a consciously founded sales agency representing a tightly curated group of plant based beauty, wellness and gourmet grocer brands utilizing Cannabinoids in some but not all products along with other organic plant materials brought to you by Mother Nature. Pieces of the tree were carried by people for personal protection. Bluegrass, (genus Poa), in botany, the largest genus in the grass family (Poaceae), comprising more than 500 species. Check out earlier articles here: Folkore of Scotland’s Wildlife Imbolc is one of the Celtic fire festivals and commemorates the passing of winter and the Crone into spring and the Maiden. Fact behind gardening old wives’ tales, lunar sowing and companion plants Wherever I go, I seek out second-hand bookshops for little gems full of information. I love Mabey’s recording of Himalayan Balsam being re-named ‘stinky-pops’ by Hertfordshire children, because of its strong scent and explosive seedpods. In the third in the series of blogs on the folklore of Scotland’s wildlife, Director of Training, Myles Farnbank explores the traditional uses of three common and well-known Scottish native plants. Click / Tap here to contact the Author via email, Hotmail/Live Mail/Outlook This is where the real medicinal and poisonous properties of wildflowers meet the romantic legends, histories and wild superstitions that surround many of our favorites. “Look at how big that gourd is getting!” said one of the boys. It’s the tree for the month of October and the vine of the Greek god Dionysus, who was known to wear a crown of ivy leaves. I’d love to hear from you. The magical plant or herb of immortality sought by Gilgamesh, the hero of ancient Mesopotamian mythology, provides one example of how myths use plants as symbols of life and of the healing power of nature. Folklorists such as Mabey and Vickery have openly embraced modern plant folklore as part of a live tradition that changes as our landscape changes. This island’s plants clothe the landscape, characterising the country, lending it colour, scent and texture. It’s […] Herbal teas, ointments apothecary & crafts. Plants are the perfect way to boost curb appeal. In the UK and other western countries we are told to feed our plants, mulch them, manure them etc. If it resumed a vertical position, all was well, but if the mullein died, their love was untrue. On the Isle of Man crosses for protection were made from rowan twigs, worn by people and … The devouring gourd of Usambara was discovered by a group of little boys at play. The Importance of Plants and Flowers In Britain the most common topic of conversation is the weather, so over the centuries much of the folklore has centred around the subject. Welcome to plantfolklore.uk - investigating the use of plants in the customs, legends and beliefs of pre-industrial England. Stories that perhaps haven’t been written down, but have been told from person to person. However, because some plants yield poisons and some die in winter, plants can also represent death and decay. It had similar connotations in Greek mythology, with the first elm tree said to have grown on the spot where Orpheus played his … Various people believe it protects against witchcraft. Christmas brings with it many traditions. https://www.discoverwildlife.com › plant-facts › trees › trees-in-folklore Plant-lore Archive has grown from the Folklore Society’s ‘Survey of Unlucky Flowers’ which was conducted in the early 1980s. Bluegrasses are found in temperate and tropical climates worldwide, and several have naturalized in areas outside their native range. In Scotland it would be planted near crofts to protect the home from witches - although some point out that it was more likely to be a windbreak. India has an old custom called “Donada” which involves stomping on the ground and singing to the tree. To get started, choose a planter. It’s a path strewn with rich insights into how the land of these islands was viewed and worked in times past. It’s about a dark-humoured dandelion spirit who delights in wrecking the entire life of the unfortunate man who stumbled across him in a field. As with most succulents, Jade Plants are tough and adaptable to many situations and a variety of treatments, however they wont last long if you constantly over water. Many species are useful as lawn, pasture, and Herbs enliven the garden and accent it with a richness of texture, unique scents and properties. The Plant Path Folk believe in handmade, local and wildcrafted products. Christmas brings with it many traditions. It currently holds some 8,470 items of information from approximately 2,750 contributors, and a large number of press-cuttings, off … Plants Before the Revolution explores the extensive use of plants in daily life and work, in seasonal customs and ceremonies, in food, popular beliefs and the practice of folk medicine and magic. For £4, I picked up a book called The Gardener’s Folklore, by Margaret Baker, originally published in the US in 1977 (there are second-hand versions available on the internet). It is a day to honour the rebirth of the sun and many people who celebrate it tak For example, Roy Vickery in his book Garlands, Conkers and Mother-Die notes that dandelion juice is widely considered to be a good cure for warts, that the simple pleasure of blowing on dandelion clocks to tell the time has variants throughout Britain, and that in Elgin there is a belief that dandelion seeds are fairies. They bent the plant toward the lover's house. Discover the medicinal properties of Scotland’s most iconic plants. It is probably the one time when a lot of us still practice at least a few old folklore customs today. English folklore consists of the myths and legends of England, including the English region's mythical creatures, traditional recipes, urban legends, and folktales.English folklore encompasses the traditional Robin Hood tales, the Brythonic-inspired Arthurian legend, and the more contemporary urban legends and monsters such as the Beast of Bodmin Moor. 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