The herbalist has had many names throughout the ages - Cunning Woman, Wise Woman, even Witch - all hiding the truth of what they are... early pioneers of science, and fountains of traditional, nature-based knowledge.All around us are plants and herbs that can be used to improve our wellbeing and encourage a more nature-focused approach to health. Steeped in history, the herbalist's art paved the way for modern science - but didn't necessarily need to have been replaced by it. In

Step back into the spiral of time and open the apothecary cabinet once more.Following on from the enchanting journey of The Time Traveller’s Herbal, Amanda Edmiston returns with Collected Curiosities, a rich tapestry of folklore, herbal lore, recipes, and personal reflections that bridge history and healing.We rejoin our herbal time traveller in 1800s Scotland, meeting Lady Lawers on the banks of Loch Tay, whose prophecies about an Ash tre...

The herbalist has had many names throughout the ages - Cunning Woman, Wise Woman, even Witch - all hiding the truth of what they are... early pioneers of science, and fountains of traditional, nature-based knowledge.All around us are plants and herbs that can be used to improve our wellbeing and encourage a more nature-focused approach to health. Steeped in history, the herbalist's art paved the way for modern science - but didn't necessarily need to have been replaced by it. In

Ever wondered if there's any truth behind planting by the moon? Or why wassailing is still a common folk practice in some parts of the world? In Gardener's Folklore, the record of these practices is unveiled, with plenty of tips and tricks to try in your own 21st century garden for blooming bushes and plentiful potatoes.First published in 1976, Gardener's Folklore collects the little bits of magic and myth to be found in the gardens of Britain and North America. Co...

Many of the herbal and magical practices of the Scots are echoed in traditional Norwegian folk medicine and magic. This is a valuable resource book not only for the serious folklorist, but also for a wider audience interested in a deeper look at rural Scottish practices. Ms. Hopman has done an amazing amount of research, and her Scottish herbalism section is far more detailed than I've seen elsewhere. A "must have" for the northern European folklorist's library.Jane T. Sibley, Ph.D....

In ancient Ireland there were 365 different parts to the body, and a different plant to cure each part. So the wild plants of Ireland are bound up in our culture and folklore from the earliest times. To arry a four-leaved shamrock brings luck in gambling, while putting nine ivy leaves under her pillow means a girl will dream of her future husband. Here plants are described in seasonal order, a perspective dating back to our ancestors. Different aspects of plant folklore are examined follow...

"Readers who enjoy plants and offbeat tales will find Brown's book a happy mix" ( Publishers Weekly).Mankind has always had a morbid fascination with poisonous plants. Over the centuries, poisonous plants have been used to remove garden pests—as well as unwanted rivals and deceitful partners. They have also been used for their medicinal qualities, as rather dangerous cosmetics, and even to help seduce a lover when perceived as an aphrodisiac. Some of these...

A helpful guidebook to growing herbs successfully and safely, with photos included.Herbs have been used since ancient times both to flavor food and as natural medicines. In this easy-access guide, gardener Gordon Thorburn reveals different types of herb gardens to suit your needs—from those that don't require a lot of attention (mint and rosemary don't need much watering, but basil and the beautiful Vietnamese coriander are very demanding), to classic herb gardens,...

Lavender is one of the most versatile and beneficial plants known to herbalists. It is one of the most ancient herbal remedies known, packed with medicinal and therapeutic properties that can benefit every aspect of life.This informative and practical book describes the plant's manifold uses--medicinal, cosmetic, therapeutic, cleansing and culinary--and outlines its extensive history and folklore. The many varieties of lavender are described, with advice on how to grow it. Philippa ...

An emigrant to England in the 1970s, Felicity Hayes-McCoy knew she'd return to Corca Dhuibhne, Ireland's Dingle peninsula, a place she had fallen in love with at seventeen. Now she and her husband have restored a stone house there, the focus for this chronicle in response to reader requests for an illustrated sequel to her memoir, The House on an Irish Hillside. Enough Is Plenty celebrates the seasonal rhythms in and around the author's house and garden at the western end of Ireland's Ding...

A perfect gift, this fun illustrated book will take you room by room to discover global traditions, remedies, folklore and rituals hiding in your house.Uncover the folklore and rituals hiding in your own home.Did you know that planting holly may deter lightning strikes, evil spirits might be spooked by a hot cross bun, and gifting soap can end a friendship? Open this book for a tour around the traditions that lurk under the stairs, inside the cracks and behind every cobweb ...

Taking us through the seasons in England's apple-growing heartlands, this magical book uncovers the stories and folklore of our most familiar fruit.'An orchard is not a field. It's not a forest or a copse. It couldn't occur naturally; it's definitely cultivated. But an orchard doesn't override the natural order: it enhances it, dresses it up. It demonstrates that man and nature together can - just occasionally - create something more beautiful and (literally) more ...