 Qualities of Lady's Smock
Soft curls of innocent love, Subtle blooms of a maiden’s heart. Pink and white flowers of gentle persuasion, Midst rough coarse grass and buttercup invasion. Crisp cold winds, flat wet meadows, Suffused with beauty, as she softly spreads, Fresh new excitement, Spring's quickening pulse, Tenacious young growth, love ever unfolding. J.Huet 2018 Common Name: Lady's smock Latin : Cardamine pratensis Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) History and/or use: Good for coughs and digestion Widlife Value: Good food plants for the caterpillars of green veined white and orange tip butterflies. On the edge of an ancient woodland I used to visit in my teens was a brook and a wet meadow cheered by ragged robin, lady’s smock and a hedge of Blackthorn. It brought much joy to me and a reminder of the importance of our wetlands which we have drained in the pursuit of agriculture. Indeed a quarter of Britain once consisted of some type of wetland be it a bog, meadow, fen or marsh. Lady’s smock is a delicate looking yet hardy plant, a spring addition to wet areas. Its subtle white or mauve flowers and soft foliage warms the heart in April through to June. It may well be the time of year that it flowers that gives it the name of Cuckoo flower or the fact that it is home to the substance known as cuckoo-spit ( which is made from froghopper bug nymphs). Its spring blooms also give rise to associations with milkmaids, their smocks and to the Virgin Mary. Older spring traditions remind us to respect the lady of the land as picking the plant can lead to a snake bite and bringing it indoors can cause a lightning strike. Folk traditions are urging us to treat her bounty with respect as the snake is a sign of spring and the lightning a reminder of elemental power. Where the grass is damp and green, Where shallow streams are flowing, Where the cowslip buds are showing, I am seen. Dainty as a fairy’s frock, White or mauve, of elfin showing, ‘Tis the meadow-maiden growing- Lady’s-smock Cicely Mary Barker If you have any medical conditions please check with a medical herbalist first before taking any plant and only harvest it if you are 100% sure what it is! Lady's smock in medical literature, as in the writings of John Ray, is given a reputation for healing nervous afflictions as it was believed to ease hysteria due to its function as a powerful antispasmodic. Mistletoe is another plant said to have been used in this way. However we would expect more evidence of this use in folk traditions which tend to focus on its ability to help fevers such as in the Highlands and in Gloucestershire the plant was commonly used for headaches. The plant is rich in vitamin C which is probably why it has been used to ease scurvy and is a good tonic for coughs. Traditional uses also include breaking stones, restoring appetite, helping digestion and warming a cold and weak stomach. If you would like to support our work and go even more deeply into Nature Connection please become a member and have exclusive access to our online course.
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 Hairy bittercress ( Cardamine hirsuta) Common Name: Hairy bittercress Latin : Cardamine hirsuta Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
History and/or use: Tasty peppery addition for salads rich in vitamin C. Hairy bittercress ( Cardamine hirsuta) is a very common weed which looks like a mini watercress and has a succulent peppery taste that is fresh and clean to the palate. It is a wild mustard rich in vitamin C and mentioned in Saxon herb lore and yet when investigated the knowledge of this small plant seems to be very minimal. A plant with these qualities and listed as one of the nine key herbs in Saxon lore surely is worthy of much scrutiny. Qualities of Bittercress. Bittercress although it grows, flowers and seeds in a very short time, is very productive provided bare soil is available for it to set seed. It demonstrates the ability to endure by ever-changing and adapting to new habitats that present themselves. Its longevity borne out not in a long life but in its ability to survive as a species. As humans the whole act of destruction and sacrifice is hard to contemplate but plays a huge part in Nature's cycles to quote John Muir once again: 'But we quickly learn that destruction is creation. Nature is ever at work building and pulling down, creating and destroying....' However it must equally be noted without change this plant would not persevere for the soil must be disturbed for it to regenerate whereas long-lived species that require stability have a different survival niche. If you have any medical conditions please check with a medical herbalist first before taking any plant and only harvest it if you are 100% sure what it is! Bittercress in Saxon lore is said to drive out venom and remove pain and certainly this plant is nutritious and can provide many health benefits. It is all too easy to put the science first but time and time again it is the folklore informing the science and the science simply confirming what the plant was already known to do. Maybe our ancestors used the qualities of this plant in ways we are yet to re-discover! If you would like to support our work and go even more deeply into Nature Connection please become a member and have exclusive access to our online course. Daisy Sow thistle Yarrow Introducing Urban Plant Friends. Delicate blooms of tenacious power, soft lush growth produced wherever it can flower.
Over rubble and concrete, plastic and glass, nature regenerates, cares not if you've asked. Green fresh growth encapsulates beauty, every tiny flower tells a story. Showing no fear it grows where it can, covering up the waste produced by man. ' J.Huet As I walk to the local shop I stop to admire the beauty of a dandelion peeping out from the pavement. The ray florets spreading out around a golden centre capturing the sun and inviting winged delights to pollinate them. Other native asters (members of the daisy family Asteraceae the largest plant family in the UK) also peeping out of cracks in the pavement included the common sow-thistle who's luxuriant growth dominated the grey landscape and although considered a garden nuisance the poet Patrick Kavanagh claims it took him to a place beyond desire. I discovered other asters like our common daisy spreading their petals and hugging the floor whilst groundsels drooped under the weight of yellow buds and the little white stars shone up from the green foliage of chickweed. Clambering over walls the deceptively delicate lilac and yellow flowers of the ivy leaved toadflax grew amongst the duller foliage of the plant called pellitory of the wall. Bittercresses and shepherds purse grew through the tinniest of spaces with hedge mustard and eastern rocket beside them. Germander speedwell finished the pavement design with sky blue flowers on the small patches of soil exposed to plant street trees. Luscious abundant foliage of the green alkanet, red valerian and jack by the hedge painted the pavement green and in the grass verges clovers, yarrows, nettle, and dock created a green oasis under blossoming early cherries and plums. On the way back a single yellow flower of sorrel delighted my keen eye, common mouse ear stood proud and the red dead nettle lifted my spirits. I marvelled at over twenty common species decorating my urban neighbourhood from dainty and spiky to upright and sprawling to tiny and majestic to dull and shiny. As John Muir has written 'my eyes never closed on the plant glory I had seen.' If you would like to support our work and go even more deeply into Nature Connection you can sign for our free newsletter and also become a member with exclusive access to our online courses. Wishing you all well. Goose Grass Gallium aparine Lady's Bedstraw Galium verum Cleavers (Gallium aparine)Qualities of Goose Grass
An abundant straggling plant clambering through the undergrowth and climbing through the hedgerows. Its seeds cling to animal fur to aid distribution. Its luxuriant keen growth in spring brings a cleansing, moving refreshing energy of determination and direction. The family it belongs to are known as the bedstraws for their lush green foliage traditionally provided bedding ( see Lady's bedstraw). The bedstraws have four-angled stems and their leaves are arranged in whorls. Common Name: Cleavers Latin : Galium aparine Family: Rubiaceae History and/or use: Good spring tonic and nutritious vegetable boiled or eaten raw when very young. Wildlife Value: Food plant for insects. Goose Grass or Cleavers is a common plant that can be eaten as a green vegetable. Its seeds can be roasted to make a hot beverage. Medicinally the plant is an astringent and diuretic. It is used to help heal inward and outward wounds as well as being used to cleanse them. Internally it is used to treat psoriasis and eczema and support the lymphatic system. The plant is best used fresh as it loses its medicinal qualities in the drying process. Please note the plant can be a skin irritant. If you have any medical conditions please check with a medical herbalist first before taking any plant and only harvest it if you are 100% sure what it is! The plant clings or cleaves to fur/materials to aid its distribution, giving it the name of cleavers. Shepherds have used it to strain hair out of sheep’s milk, and it has been fed to goslings, giving rise to the name Goose Grass. There are many related species including hedge, heath and lady’s bedstraw which are all part of the bedstraw family ( Rubiaceae) so called as they are plants traditionally used for bedding. Medicinally many species of bedstraw are used for staunching wounds especially woodruff, hedge, heath and lady’s bedstraw. The last two species are known for being styptics and therefore are good for treating nosebleeds. Lady’s bedstraw (Galium verum) is so named because the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus upon it as all the other fodder was eaten by the donkeys. This story may be rooted in the folk tradition that the plant is said to help women to have a safe and easy childbirth. Lady’s bedstraw is also known to treat urinary diseases, epilepsy and gout and to help tired feet when placed in the bath. Its yellow flowers were used to curdle milk given rise to the folk names of ‘cheese rennet’ and ‘cheese running’. Both the leaves and stem of this plant create a yellow dye and the roots create a red dye. Crosswort ( Cruciata laevipes) is another bedstraw especially reputed for healing wounds. It grows in open woodlands and has yellow-green hairy leaves and numerous tiny yellow flowers. I usually dry the whole plant, steep it in oil for at least two weeks on a sunny windowsill, drain and add beeswax to produce an ointment. If you would like to support our work and go even more deeply into Nature Connection please become a member and have exclusive access to our online course.  Imbolc 1st February- 19th march Imbolc is that burst of light, that emergence of blossom, the first tentative steps into a still cold, harsh climate patched with moments of warm sun daring the hardiest of nature to come out and play.
This is a time not depicted by the slow steady ceaseless play of light and dark but by the less predictable play of the green world. The hedge-hog, snake and hazel catkins unfurl from a winter lull and it is they who announce it is time to wake. Imagine our leaders looking to nature to begin a new political agenda, surrendering to the knowledge of trees and animals to decide our fate. This is not some ungrounded fantasy but recognition of being part of nature for it is nature who tells us it is Imbolc and that the time has arrived to sow early crops, help the birthing of lambs and prepare for the new growing season. Imbolc Fire Ritual Imbolc or Oimelc can be translated as butter-bag and the key component of the festival is the birthing of lambs. It makes sense therefore that the festival is dedicated to the Goddess and to the women who start to bring creation into birth. The archetypal young mother of Celtic belief is Brighid, so exalted and honoured she continued into Christian lore and was feared by the patriarchal sect of Christianity. In Christianity she took the form of the high abbess of Kildare and her sanctuary which no man could enter was tended by nineteen or nine nuns. At this time her importance was considered to be greater than the bishops which upset the Roman Catholic Church. A papal decree was passed in 1151 to close the hermitage which was later reopened, only to be challenged again in the reign of Henry V111 when the sanctuary was closed forever. However she still lives on in our culture as the archetypal mother of all and as the caretaker of Celtic society. She takes on many roles as a healer, foster-mother and midwife, demonstrating the strength and power of the Goddess. In Celtic lore the most important aspects are played out in threes, this was long before the idea of the holy trinity in Christian lore. Brighid is also seen as three, in the form of the three sisters, the daughters of the Dagdha. Each sister represents a key component of Celtic life which are poetry, healing and smith craft. In her form that represents poetry she is honoured as the patron of the bards and a source for their inspiration. In these times she is needed more than ever as a symbol of true womanhood, power and strength, a beloved Goddess. The Sacred Three My fortress be Encircling me, Come and be round My hearth, My home. Fend Thou my kin And every sleeping thing within From scathe, from sin. Thy care our peace Through mid of night To light's release. Traditional Celtic Prayer We can use the prayer to Brighid on the front page of the last course to open the Imbolc cermony. This can be spoken standing, with people holding hands, as the invocation is very much about feeling the support of Brighid and the memory of tradition. By holding hands we can feel that support and connection to others and allow the spirit of Brighid, the Goddess to endure. We can feel again the qualities of the season through poetry, this time with the words of Coleridge. One month is past, another is begun, Since merry bells rang out the dying year, And buds of rarest green began to peer, As if impatient for a warmer sun; And though the distant hills are bleak and dun, The virgin Snowdrop like a lambent fire, Pierces the cold earth with it's green-streaked spire And in dark woods, the little wandering one May find a primrose. Hartley Coleridge Feb 1st 1842 Brighid's Bed ( Leaba Bride) The next part of the ritual involves bringing in a small Wicca basket to represent Brighid's bed. The basket can be decorated with seasonal flowers and hazel catkins on a bed of straw. A white wand of willow or poplar can also be put onto the basket to represent justice, peace and purity. The bed is honoured and passed around, we can use this time to focus on the women who have inspired us, and honour and bless the powerful presence of women in our lives. A moment of silence can be observed before invoking the protection of St Brighid's cross. ' May the protection of Brighid be given through Bogha Bride, St Brighid's cross' - the cross can be passed around and a silent prayer can be made to the Goddess. The wand on the bed can now be offered to the fire as we chant: Now we banish winter, Now we welcome Spring. We can also gather all evergreens left over from Yule and burn them on the fire at this point in the ritual. Wishing you all a blessed Imbolc. If you would like to learn more explore our Woodland Bard Course at: https://www.walkwithtrees.com/woodland-bard-course.html Samhain 1st November- 19th DecemberSamhain 1st November- 19th December
'These early November hours that crimson the creeper's leaf across. Like a splash of blood, intense, abrupt, o'er a shield; else gold from rim to boss And lay it for show on the fairy-cupped elf-needled mat of moss.' Robert Browning ( 1812-1889) The time of Samhain is when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest. A time for deep meditation and thought. The harvest of this time is of the inner worlds, the stage of old age where we touch the depths of true knowledge and have the opportunity to embody the soul. Once at this time, the winter stores were topped up and the cattle slaughtered for winter food. Great fires for the burning of the livestock’s bones were made called Bonfires (Bone-fires) which may be the origin of Bonfire night. This was known as the Festival of Tongues where all could speak freely. Samhain simply means end of summer and is a time for inner reflection and the remembrance of our ancestors. The guardian of Samhain is the Apple tree whose fruit can transport us to the Bright Realms. Light a candle and immerse yourself in deep meditation: Deep meditation True meditation is a deep connection to the soul, the eternal self. Relief of stress, clarity of vision and mind and improved focus are but symptoms of meditation rather than its essence. Its essence is beyond the mind, body and material world, a state untouched by the fore-mentioned symptoms. Through spiritual practice and soul nourishment it can be made into a permanent state of being. When a seeker starts to meditate energy is awakened in the base of the spine or a fire in the belly which flows upwards releasing sublime nectar, an exquisite feeling of joy and love for all life. It is like the joy of love-making for the first time and a feeling of being complete, sated. This state can be experienced when the body is in a focused flow such as when you skydive, abseil, rock climb or drive at top speeds. In meditation this feeling is prolonged and if you learn to sustain it, it will rise up within you awakening the inner senses, literally enabling you to experience the most divine touch, sound, taste and sight, saving you from the need to search for them in the external world. Imagine the time, money and resources this could save us! The next awakening is in the heart, though this process need not be linear as each centre can awaken at different times. The secret of unlocking the mysteries of the heart may be implemented in the very human act of heartache, and if one can fully experience a broken heart this centre is pierced. A divine love beyond human suffering may only be possible through the feeling of this intense pain. Entering this heart ache can erupt into an intense joy, a painful yet blissful longing to be complete. I believe that your partner, if you can love them with a pure heart, can take you to this state as a teacher, master or Guru traditionally would have. Through spiritual practice or mastering of an art form such as poetry, this exquisite pain can reach up to the next energy centre between the eyes. The sensation felt in this centre can also be very intense as it opens, piercing the brow and allowing bliss to enter the head, lifting the spirits and awakening a sensuous flow throughout the entire body. This moving energy is what the poets call inspiration, the fire in the head. In Gaelic, inspiration is called 'Imbas' and it’s source flows from the sacred water ways, the river Boyne (which could be likened to the river Ganges in India). The seeker becomes the salmon flowing against the current of ordinary life to the source of the Boyne, the Well of Segais where they obtain knowledge by the eating of hazelnuts, and are reborn in the well of inspiration. The understanding and assimilation of pain brings great knowledge and/or mastery of the arts. It is this time of Samhain that takes us deep within. If you would like to learn more about the traditions of the land you may wish to enrol on our Woodland Bard Course. Broad-leaved dockBroad-leaved dock ( Rumex obtusifolius) Curled dock ( R.crispus) Wood dock (R.sanguineus) Clustered dock (R.conglomeratus)
There are many species of dock but one often thinks of the broad-leaved when referring to it. The curled dock is the most commonly used for medicine today and the wood dock is the only species preferring the shade although will still grow in the open. Most of us have grown up with the idea of docks growing with nettles and it is indeed true that both these plants can grow together and often where humans tread. Both plants crop up in cultivated soils and especially in the case of dock on soil which has been compacted by feet or machinery. Dock of course is known as the cure for the nettle sting and this extends to any burn, scald or blister as the juice of this plant has healing properties. Ironstone quarry workers are said to have rubbed freshly cut dock on their forearm sores. Naturalists who have a love of the common species have been heard to dismiss this plant in a derogatory fashion but history has not done so. It is one of the four most commonly used herbs; elder, nettle and dandelion being the others. Its root is rich in iron and can be used to purify the blood and as a laxative. The bitter leaves are edible and traditionally used to wrap butter in. If you wish to learn more please subscribe to our free monthly newsletter or join us on a course where we can soak up the beauty and learn a deeper appreciation of nature. Ground Ivy Glechoma hederaceaThis common plant brightens up woodland glades and grasslands with its many mauve flowers.
It is probably most well known for its use as an alternative to hops in the brewing of ales. Up until the 1500s it was used in brewing to clear the fermenting liquid and add a sharp flavour. This beverage was known as gill-ale and unlike most ales was reputed to clear the head effectively often within 24 hours. Jonathon Swift (1767) is quoted as remarking on this drink. Like many of our common plants ground ivy is overlooked and yet has a long impressive history of use. Traditionally ground ivy is infused with nettle to make what is known as ‘gill tea’. Every spring children from Warwickshire drank this bitter tea for nine days for good health. This tea not only can help soothe the stomach including griping pains, coughs and chest disorders it also will help clear mucous membranes and as an inhalant help colds, coughs and respiratory complaints. The dried leaves can be used as a snuff and the herb can clear up skin complaints, bind wounds and draw out splinters. If you wish to learn more please subscribe to our free monthly newsletter or join us on a course where we can soak up the beauty and learn a deeper appreciation of nature. Self heal Prunella vulgarisFolk names: Hook- heal, Sickly-wort, Carpenter’s herb.
Self heal survives well in grasslands, waste spaces and more open woodlands. A close cut lawn in summer can look beautiful with the purple flowers of self heal to enliven the otherwise monocultural sward. There is a rarer species known as the cut-leaved self heal ( Prunella laciniata) which has cut leaves and white flowers. Both the Latin and common name of this plant point to its continued use as a herb. Prunella or Brunella is the German name for a sore throat. Dioscorides knew of the plant’s use for sore throats and treated inflammations of the throat and tonsils with this plant. Its common name self heal implies an obvious connotation to medicinal usage. In the doctrines of signatures( the concept that every plant has a signature that implies its use), the flower of this plant is said to resemble a hook and as in the past the most common wounds were from billhooks and sickles this implied its use to stanch bleeding. Self heal does staunch bleeding effectively and is also used for internal bleeding as a syrup or as a tea. It is also used for respiratory complaints, piles and in Ireland to treat heart trouble. It is less known as a cure for colds. If you wish to learn more please subscribe to our free monthly newsletter or join us on a course where we can soak up the beauty and learn a deeper appreciation of nature. Autumn EquinoxAutumn Equinox 20th September- 31st October
Autumn is a time of ripening and the beginning of maturity as we enter into an older phase of the life cycle. We gather the harvest of the year and reflect on the season behind us as we step into our strength, wiser and more confident of our abilities. This time of high tides and abundant fruit reflects the life-giving properties of the experienced mature mother as she radiates vitality before retreating into her depths at Samhain. The male energy is also at his peak, mature, giving, and nurturing. He has nothing to prove for he also radiates an inner strength as the fruition of his life unfolds. The guardian of this time is the fruiting Elder that can cure ailments and guide you at this time. She is the protector of the land, the animals and the mind. A powerful symbol of strength and wisdom. Use this time to truly acknowledge all you have achieved this year and in your life. Be at ease, confident in your abilities and allowing them to nurture and aid a new generation. This is a good time in the words of Sir Walter Scott ( 1759-1796) - “To see the heath-flower withered on the hill, To listen to the woods' expiring lay, To note the red leaf shivering on the spray, To mark the last bright tints the mountain stain, On the waste fields to trace the gleaner's way , And moralise on mortal joy and pain.” If you would like to learn more about the traditions of the land you may wish to enrol on our Woodland Bard Course. |
Poetry of flowersJoin me to explore the flora of the British Isles on this blog. My intention is to attempt to capture the unique quality and beauty of each species of flower, tree or shrub. For every species featured I will be growing many more wildflowers to celebrate the joy of their existence, their intrinsic conservation value and bewildering array of uses. For nearly 30 years I have noted, studied and explored wildflowers in the field much to the patience of the walker beside me. To share this passion is a heartfelt plea to respect, preserve and care for all British Wildflowers no matter how common they seem. Archives
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