I tried growing a few but found I killed them very quickly. I love the smell of Lavender and would have the plant all around and in the house if I could. Mint is great but grows too wildly to use anything but pots where again I manage to starve it out.
Many of the modern medicines are deadly if used in the wrong amount so that's not so different than the natural ones.
you need the dragons blood palm tree, the plant you get the myrrh resin from and frankincense resin.
You need to get the lavender, rosemary, mandrake, devils shoestring and at least one rose bush for a fully functional garden for what ever your purposes are.....though i feel like there is still something missing...oh well. Good luck. :)
I grow many Herbs and plan on planting more. I'm a certified Herbalist and former student of Susun Weed. As well as some other well known Herbalist. I plan on owning my own business. A healing herb shop. Where you can get herbs, take classes, healings, Shamanic Counciling....
The herbs I grow have medicinal qualities associated with them, as all do in a witches' garden since many witches were also midwives and healers (curanderas):
Yarrow ---toothache.
Lady's mantle ---helps womb contract and regulates cycle. Some say an infusion is good for menopausal symptoms.
Alliums --- cleanse blood (safe for vampires); mild antibiotic qualities
aloe vera --- mild burns, dermatitis
Lemon verbena --- mild sedative, nasal congestion. I like it with vodka.
Artemisias --- wormwood should not be ingested. Use mugwort for my mother's rheumatism, apply as a poultice which generates heat.
more later.
I never had any ambition in growing some strange poisons like belladona, or datura, but my self preffers to grow cannabis sativa, for it is pleasure to watch at it, as it grows, as it expands, its leafs, it has such a beautifull energy, it makes my whole room glow that special green aura of healing, and when the time for it comes, the right time for harvest, the plant it self, is just awesome at being a delirious stimulant, during ones meditation sessions.
And all that with no risks for ones being, in the form of some evil horrid intoxication.
Thats so no healthy for my body,
and I dont see why should one aspire to cultivate such evil plants, as mentioned in some previous posts?
Well yes datura is very poisonous, it is al on the use. For me, i grow it in my moon garden along with white sage , lambs ears kennedy roses, white just to name a few . Yes datura in thw wrong hands can be very very very bad , but the smell of the flower when they open at night is intoxicating alone lol
Datura plant is nothing to be found funny about.
Instead of laughing at the intoxicating property of its flowers, why not familiriase ppl, with what Datura plant, really is
Many ppl died from consuming the thing already.
Why not educate them in a proper light?
and we can't forget ..deadlynightshade
this type of plant is used when and evil spell is being preformed and is not made to be eaten at all because you could just say it is used for deadly spells and curses..and it is not to be messed with if you have no idea of the results and i warn all to study up on this herb before tampering with it , it will kill you...
Detura grows wild here in the desert,it is dark black flower we also have the White flower.It is good medically and magically but can KILL if you don't know what you'r doing.The Native Americans use it quite a bit ,my Grams showed me how to use it and didgitalis.I've learned from Natives other ways to use it and prepare it.We also have the Trumpet Vine growing wild here.There are many other medical/magical plants here in the Desert.I really enjoy these posts Good Job:)
KA
I'm suprised people haven't included what might be the oldest known medicinal plant of all salix salicis, or the willow tree, if yew gets a mention this one deserves it too.
The leaves and bark contain a compound called salicylic acid (name for the tree) and this compound is the basis of aspirin. It's been certainly know about since before celtic times.
Yes datura is very deadly if you do not know what you are doing. For me the only thing that is used for is the view and smell. Yes many people have died from ingestion. but any person that is going to eat something with out knowing what it is, really needs to stay away from plants or educate them selves more
Id like to try Datura, i hear its a big thing in mexico and the trip can last for a really long time, too bad it doesnt grow where i live
Raziel,some Herbs arn't to be used recreationally,DO NNOT TRY it unless you know what you are doing or with someone who is truely schooled in Herbs.I have studied for many years to learn the correct procedure.This goes for all who do not use spiritually with no knowledge of the Herb or it's make-up.
KA
I don't have space to grow anything, and this radiator heat would surely kill them if I tried.
But Comfrey and Goldenseal are two I'd add to that list. Comfrey has some bad side effects if taken internally (including liver damage), but its leaves and roots are wonderful as a healing poultice, or made into a salve.
Goldenseal is good at healing infections/inflammations of mucous membranes such as tonsillitis and sinus infections. Its active ingredient is a natural sulfa antibiotic, so those who are allergic to sulfa will find it very dangerous. It's not a good idea to swallow and only used in small amounts for a few days at a time as it can build up in the body.
As far as belladonna goes, yeah, it's poisonous, it dries up secretions from organs and mucous membranes, increases heart rate, and has a sedative effect as well, making it so you just don't care that your heart's going so fast you have a heart attack. However, Modern Medicine uses it to dilate your pupils at the eye doctor, to treat symptoms of Parkinson's, to fight effects of organophosphate and nerve agent poisonings, and speed up your heart in case of a slow/absent heartbeat (it's the one they use when your heart has stopped and they're trying to bring you back). There's even a combination of several belladonna alkaloids with phenobarbitol used for irritable bowel syndrome (drug name Donnatol).
Thank you LadyDarkRayne
and BloodMother......I have used and known of some of these herbs.....but not all or their uses...
Its good to see some explinations of some of their uses since some used wrong can potentially be deadly.
now this has been a very useful thread :) damn shame I have a black thumb.
I agree w/^ I kill chia pets! This was very in teresting thread.
Very informative thread indeed. I grow Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, lavender, mint, lemon grass, chive and garlic chives to name a few. I use many for cooking and some for soothing and relaxation.
Datura is one that is not to be toyed with . Coming from personally experience, many kids these days think that oh it will make you trip and there are so many bad side effects . I grow it in my garden because it is beautiful and as beautiful as it is it is quite deadly.
Ever read the novel "The Book of Shadows"? Talks about this. Dammit if I can remeber the authors name.
Digitalis is/was used as a tea, to help with “heart pains, the killing kind”
Now digitalis is used in a refined form as digoxin a cardiac medication.
I grow thyme , majoram , 2 kinds of oregano , winter savory , lemon balm , chives, parsely , sperimint , apple mint , mint , and basil .
There are so many things you could plant in a witches garden, it all depends on what type of garden you want and what your going to do with the plants. there are books you can get to tell you what to plant for what type of garden you want. and there are also certain ways you should plant the items as well, in certain area's and orders.
I wish I lived some where witha longer growing season so that I could grow more things .
i do as well, but there are always those little green houses you can put up if you can find any that are not expensive.
I wish I lived someplace where it was warm all year long. I would love to have a great garden out back. Thank you for sharing this information with us.
the green house thing was a good idea but i don't have the place to put it . thank you for the idea though .
I would love to fill a garden with all these plants....I love herbs and flowers.. However, at the moment I'm haveing a hard time just keeping my Basil alive..I guess its time to smug my herb garden lol..
When I am of age I was going to do that. I was going to grow Vervian and other herbs I also was going to grow roses.
I have been growing plants of that nature since I was young.I also grow many edible flowers I can use in teas and salads and stuff.
Here is a list of edible flowers for you...
Alliums (leeks, chives, garlic, garlic chives) - Known as the "Flowering Onions." There are approximately four hundred species that includes the familiar onion, garlic, chives, ramps, and shallots. All members of this genus are edible. Their flavors range from mild onions and leeks right through to strong onion and garlic. All parts of the plants are edible. The flowers tend to have a stronger flavor than the leaves and the young developing seed-heads are even stronger. We eat the leaves and flowers mainly in salads. The leaves can also be cooked as a flavoring with other vegetables in soups, etc.
Chive Blossoms - Use whenever a light onion flavor and aroma is desired. Separate the florets and enjoy the mild, onion flavor in a variety of dishes.
Garlic Blossoms - The flowers can be white or pink, and the stems are flat instead of round. The flavor has a garlicky zing that brings out the flavor of your favorite food. Milder than the garlic bulb. Wonderful in salads.
Angelica - Depending on the variety, flower range from pale lavender-blue to deep rose. It has a flavor similar to licorice. Angelica is valued culinary from the seeds and stems, which are candied and used in liqueurs, to the young leaves and shoots, which can be added to a green salad. Because of its celery-like flavor, Angelica has a natural affinity with fish. The leaves have a stronger, clean taste and make a interesting addition to salads. In its native northern Europe, even the mature leaves are used, particularly by the Laplanders, as a natural fish preservative. Many people in the cold Northern regions such as Greenland, Siberia, and Finland consider Angelica a vegetable, and eat the stems raw, sometimes spread with butter. Young leaves can be made into a tea.
Anise Hyssop - Both flowers and leaves have a delicate anise or licorice flavor. Some people say the flavor reminds them of root beer. The blossoms make attractive plate garnishes and are often used in Chinese-style dishes
Apple Blossoms - Apple Blossoms have a delicate floral flavor and aroma. They are a nice accompaniment to fruit dishes and can easily be candied to use as a garnish.
NOTE: Eat in moderation as the flowers may contain cyanide precursors. The seeds of the apple fruit and their wild relations are poisonous
Arugula - Also called garden rocket, roquette, rocket-salad, Oruga, Rocketsalad, rocket-gentle; Raukenkohl (German); rouquelle (French); rucola (Italian). An Italian green usually appreciated raw in salads or on sandwiches. The flowers are small, white with dark centers and can be used in the salad for a light piquant flavor. The flowers taste very similar to the leaves and range in color from white to yellowish with dark purple veins. Arugula resembles radish leaves in both appearance and taste. Leaves are compound and have a spicy, peppery flavor that starts mild in young leaves and intensifies as they mature.
Arugula Salad
Arugula, Pear and Asiago Cheese Salad
Walnut, Arugula & Gorgonzola Crostini
Aquatic Plants - Cattails have edible shoots and roots and even the pollen has been used in making biscuits. Arrowheads form large edible tubers at the root ends, called duck potatoes, which were consumed by Native Americans. Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) has many historic medicinal uses and its spicy vegetation continues to be used in salads and garnishes. Water lily roots are a common source of food in many parts of the world especialy in Far East and have historic medicinal value.
Banana Blossoms - Also know as Banana Hearts. The flowers are a purple-maroon torpedo shaped growth appears out of the top of usually the largest of the trunks. Banana blossoms are used in Southeast Asian cuisines. The blossoms can be cooked or eaten raw. The tough covering is usually removed until you get to the almost white tender parts of the blossom. It should be sliced and let it sit in water until most of the sap are gone. If you eat it raw, make sure the blossom comes from a variety that isn't bitter. Most of the Southeast Asian varieties aren't bitter.
Basil - Depending on the type, the flowers are either bright white, pale pink, or a delicate lavender. The flavor of the flower is milder, but similar to the leaves of the same plant. Basil also has different varieties that have different milder flavors like lemon and mint. Sprinkle them over salad or pasta for a concentrated flavor and a spark of color that gives any dish a fresh, festive look.
Linguine with Tomatoes and Basil
Bee Balm - Also called Wild Bergamot, Wild Oswego Tea, Horsemint, Monarda. Wild bee balm tastes like oregano and mint. The taste of bee balm is reminiscent of citrus with soft mingling of lemon and orange. The red flowers have a minty flavor. Any place you use oregano, you can use bee balm blossoms. The leaves and flower petals can also be used in both fruit and regular salads. The leaves taste like the main ingredient in Earl Gray Tea and can be used as a substitute.
Borage - Has lovely cornflower blue star-shaped flowers. Blossoms have a cool, cucumber taste. Wonderful in punches, lemonade, gin and tonics, sorbets, chilled soups, cheese tortas, and dips.
Broccoli Florets - The top portion of broccoli is actually flower buds. Given time each will burst into a bright yellow flower, which is why they are called florets. Small yellow flowers have a mild spiciness (mild broccoli flavor), and are delicious in salads or in a stir-fry or steamer.
Burnet - The taste usually is likened to that of cucumbers, and burnet can be used interchangeably with borage.
Calendula - Also called Marigolds. A wonderful edible flower. Flavors range from spicy to bitter, tangy to peppery. Their sharp taste resembles saffron (also known as Poor Man’s Saffron). Has pretty petals in golden-orange hues. Sprinkle them on soups, pasta or rice dishes, herb butters, and salads. Petals add a yellow tint to soups, spreads, and scrambled eggs.
Carnations - Steep in wine, candy, or use as cake decoration. To use the surprisingly sweet petals in desserts, cut them away from the bitter white base of the flower. Dianthus are the miniature member of the carnation family with light clove-like or nutmeg scent. Petals add color to salads or aspics. Carnation petals are one of secret ingredients that has been used to make Chartreuse, a French liqueur, since the 17th century.
Chamomile - The flowers are small and daisy-like and have a sweet, apple-like flavor.
NOTE: Drink chamomile tea in moderation as it contains thuaone; ragweed sufferers may be allergic to chamomile.
Chervil - Chervil flowers are delicate white flowers with an anise flavor. Chervil's flavor is lost very easily, either by drying the herb, or too much heat. That is why it should be added at the end of cooking or sprinkled on in its fresh, raw state
Chicory - Earthy flavor, eat either the petals or the buds. Chicory has a pleasant, mild-bitter taste that has been compared to endive. The buds can be pickled.
Chrysanthemums - Tangy, slightly bitter, ranging in colors from red, white, yellow and orange. They range in taste from faint peppery to mild cauliflower. They sould be blanched first and then scatter the petals on a salad. The leaves can also be used to flavor vinegar. Always remove the bitter flower base and use petals only. Young leaves and stems of the Crown Daisy, also known as Chop Suey Greens or Shingiku in Japan, are widely used in oriental stir-fries and as salad seasoning.
Cilantro/Coriander - Like the leaves and seeds, the flowers have a strong herbal flavor. Use leaves and flowers raw as the flavor fades quickly when cooked. Sprinkle to taste on salads, bean dishes, and cold vegetable dishes.
Citrus blossoms (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, kumquat) - Use highly scented waxy petals sparingly. Distilled orange flower water is characteristic of Middle Eastern pastries and beverages. Citrus flavor and lemony.
Clover - Sweet, anise-like, licorice.
Cornflower - Also called Bachelor’s button. They have a slightly sweet to spicy, clove-like flavor. Bloom is a natural food dye. More commonly used as garnish.
Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) - Also called Sweet Rocket or Dame's Violet. This plant is often mistaken for Phlox. Phlox has five petals, Dame's Rocket has just four. The flowers, which resemble phlox, are deep lavender, and sometimes pink to white. The plant is part of the mustard family, which also includes radishes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and, mustard. The plant and flowers are edible, but fairly bitter. The flowers are attractive added to green salads. The young leaves can also be added to your salad greens (for culinary purposes, the leaves should be picked before the plant flowers). The seed can also be sprouted and added to salads.NOTE: It is not the same variety as the herb commonly called Rocket, which is used as a green in salads.
Dandelions - Member of Daisy family. Flowers are sweetest when picked young, and just before eating. They have a sweet, honey-like flavor. Mature flowers are bitter. Dandelion buds are tastier than the flowers: best to pick these when they are very close to the ground, tightly bunched in the center, and about the size of a small gumball. Good raw or steamed. Also made into wine. Young leaves taste good steamed, or tossed in salads. When serving a rice dish use dandelion petals like confetti over the rice.
Day Lilies - Slightly sweet with a mild vegetable flavor, like sweet lettuce or melon. Their flavor is a combination of asparagus and zucchini. Chewable consistency. Some people think that different colored blossoms have different flavors. To use the surprisingly sweet petals in desserts, cut them away from the bitter white base of the flower. Also great to stuff like squash blossoms. Flowers look beautiful on composed salad platters or crowning a frosted cake. Sprinkle the large petals in a spring salad. In the spring, gather shoots two or three inches tall and use as a substitute for asparagus.
NOTE: Many Lilies contain alkaloids and are NOT edible. Day Lilies may act as a diuretic or laxative; eat in moderation
Dill - Tangy; like leaves but stronger. Use yellow dill flowers as you would the herb itself - to season hot or cold soups, seafood, dressings or dips. Seeds used in pickling and baking.
Elderberry - The blossoms are a creamy color and have a sweet scent and sweet taste. When harvesting elderberry flowers, do not wash them as that removes much of the fragrance and flavor. Instead check them carefully for insects. The fruit is used to make wine.
NOTE: All other parts of this plant are poisonous! Do not even eat the stems of the flowers!
English Daisy - The flowers have a mildly bitter taste and are most commonly used for their looks than their flavor. The petals are used as a garnish and in salads.
Fennel - Lovely, star-burst yellow flowers have a mile anise flavor. Use with desserts or cold soups, or as a garnish with entrees.
Fuchsia - Blooms have a slightly acidic flavor. Explosive colors and graceful shape make it ideal as garnish. The berries are also edible.
Garden Sorrel - Sorrel flowers are tart, lemon tasting. So use like a lemon: on pizza, a salad topping, in sauces, over cucumber salads.
Gladiolus - Flowers (anthers removed) have a nondescript flavor (taste vaquely like lettuce) but make lovely receptacles for sweet or savory spreads or mousses. Toss individual petals in salads.
Hibiscus - Cranberry-like flavor with citrus overtones. Use slightly acidic petals sparingly in salads or as garnish.
Hollyhock - Very bland tasting flavor.
Honeysuckle - Sweet honey flavor. Berries are highly poisonous - Do not eat them!
Hyacinth - The bulb of this plant is edible and was a particular favorite of the Nez Perce Indians. It was eaten either raw or cooked and has a sweet, nutlike flavor.
Impatiens - Very bland taste.
Jasmine - The flowers are intensely fragrant and are traditionally used for scenting tea.
Johnny-Jump-Ups - Lovely yellow, white and purple blooms have a mild wintergreen flavor and can be used in salads, to decorate cakes, or served with soft cheese. They are also a great addition to drinks, soups, desserts or salads.
Lavender - Sweet, floral flavor, with lemon and citrus notes. Flowers look beautiful and taste good too in a glass of champagne, with chocolate cake, or as a garnish for sorbets or ice creams. Lavender lends itself to savory dishes also, from hearty stews to wine-reduced sauces. Diminutive blooms add a mysterious scent to custards, flans or sorbets.
NOTE: Do not consume lavender oil unless you absolutely know that it has not be sprayed and is culinary safe.
Cottage Cheese-Herb Bread
Crostini with White Truffle & Olive Paste
Grilled Pork Chops with Lavender Flowers
Lavender Creme Brulee
Lavender Custard, Lavender Infusion, and Lavender Jelly
Lavender Focaccia
Lavender Hazelnut Bread
Lavender Jelly
Lavender Sorbet
Lavender Tea Cookies
Peppered Lavender Beef
Lemon Verbena - Tiny cream-colored citrus-scented blossoms. Leaves and flowers steeped as an herb tea, and used to flavor custards and flans.
Lilac - The flavor of lilacs varies from plant to plant. Very perfumy, slightly bitter. Has a distinct lemony taste with floral, pungent overtones. Great in salads.
Linden - Small flowers, white to yellow was are delightfully fragrant and have a honeylike flavor.
NOTE: Frequent consumption of linden flower tea can cause heart damage
Marjoram - Flowers are a milder version of plant's leaf. Use as you would the herb.
Mint - The flavor of the flowers is minty, with different overtones depending on the variety. Mint flowers and leaves are great in Middle Eastern dishes.
Mustard - Young leaves can be steamed, used as a herb, eaten raw, or cooked like spinach.
NOTE: Some people are highly allergic to mustard. Start with a small amount.
Nasturtiums - Come in varieties ranging from trailing to upright and in brilliant sunset colors with peppery flavors. Nasturtiums rank among most common edible flowers. Blossoms have a sweet, spicy flavor similar to watercress. Stuff whole flowers with savory mousse. Leaves add peppery tang to salads. Pickled seed pods are less expensive substitute for capers. Use entire flowers to garnish platters, salads, cheese tortas, open-faced sandwiches, and savory appetizers.
Okra - Also known as Ochro, Okoro, Quimgombo, Quingumbo, Ladies Fingers and Gumbo. It has hibiscus-like flowers and seed pods that, when picked tender, produce a delicious vegetable dish when stewed or fried. When cooked it resembles asparagus yet it may be left raw and served in a cold salad. The ripe seeds have been used as a substitute for coffee; the seed can be dried and powdered for storage and future use.
Oregano - Milder version of plant's leaf. Use as you would the herb.
Pansy - Pansies have a slightly sweet green or grassy flavor. If you eat only the petals, the flavor is extremely mild, but if you eat the whole flower, there is a winter, green overtone. Use them as garnishes, in fruit salads, green salad, desserts or in soups.
Pea Blossoms - Edible garden peas bloom mostly in white, but may have other pale coloring. The blossoms are slightly sweet and crunchy and they taste like peas. The shoots and vine tendrils are edible, with a delicate, pea-like flavor. Here again, remember that harvesting blooms will diminish your pea harvest, so you may want to plant extra.
NOTE: Flowering ornamental sweet peas are poisonous.
Peach blossoms
Pear blossoms
Peony - In China the fallen petals are parboiled and sweetened as a tea-time delicacy. Peony water was used for drinking in the middle ages. Add peony petals to your summer salad or try floating in punches and lemonades.
Pineapple Guava - The flavor is sweet and tropical, somewhat like a freshly picked ripe papaya or exotic melon still warm from the sun.
Primrose - Colorful with a sweet, but bland taste.
Queen Anne's Lace - Also known as Wild Carrot and Bishop's Lace. It is the original carrot, from which modern cultivars were developed, and it is edible with a light carrot flavor. The flowers are small and white, and bloom in a lacy, flat-topped cluster. Great in salads.
NOTE: The problem is, it is closely related to, and looks almost exactly like another wild plant, Wild or Poison Hemlock, which often grows profusely in similar habitats, and is said to be the most poisonous plant native to the United States. The best way to differentiate between the two plants is to remember that Queen Anne's Lace has a hairy stem, while the stems of Wild Hemlock are smooth and hairless and hollow with purple spots.
Radish Flowers - Depending on the variety, flowers may be pink, white or yellow, and will have a distinctive, spicy bite (has a radish flavor). Best used in salads.
Rosemary - Milder version of leaf. Fresh or dried herb and blossoms enhance flavor of Mediterranean dishes. Use with meats, seafoods, sorbets or dressings .
Lemon Rosemary Chicken
Roses - Flavors depend on type, color, and soil conditions. Flavor reminiscent of strawberries and green apples. Sweet, with subtle undertones ranging from fruit to mint to spice. All roses are edible, with the flavor being more pronounced in the darker varieties. In miniature varieties can garnish ice cream and desserts, or larger petals can be sprinkled on desserts or salads. Freeze them in ice cubes and float them in punches also. Petals used in syrups, jellies, perfumed butters and sweet spreads. NOTE: Be sure to remove the bitter white portion of the petals
Rose Petal Jam
Safflower - Its dried flowers, Mexican saffron, are used as a food colorant in place of the more aromatic and expensive Spanish saffron.
Sage - The flowers are violet-blue, pink or white up to 1 3/8 inches long, small, tubelike, clustered together in whorls along the stem tops. Flowers have a subtler sage taste than the leaves and can be used in salads and as a garnish. Flowers are a delicious companion to many foods including beans, corn dishes, sauteed or stuffed mushrooms, or pesto sauce.
Savory - The flavor of the flowers is somewhat hot and peppery.
Scarlet Runner Beans - Bean pods toughen as they age, so make use of young pods as well as flowers. Please note: Sweet Pea flowers are not edible.
Scented Geraniums - The flower flavor generally corresponds to the variety. For example, a lemon-scented geranium would have lemon-scented flowers. They come in fragrances from citrus and spice to fruits and flowers, and usually in colors of pinks and pastels. Sprinkle them over desserts and in refreshing drinks or freeze in ice cubes. NOTE: Citronelle variety may not be edible.
Snap Dragon - Delicate garden variety can be bland to bitter. Flavors depend on type, color, and soil conditions. Probably not the best flower to eat.
Squash Blossoms - Squash and pumpkin blossoms are edible and taste mildly of raw squash. Prepare the blossoms by washing and trimming the stems and remove the stamens.
Sunflower - The flower is best eaten in the bud stage when it tastes similar to artichokes. Once the flower opens, the petals may be used like chrysanthemums, the flavor is distinctly bittersweet. The unopened flower buds can also be steamed like artichokes.
Sweet Woodruff - The flower flavor is sweet and grassy with a hint of nutty, vanilla flavor.
NOTE: Can have a blood thinning effect if eaten in large amounts
Thyme - Milder version of leaf. Use sprigs as garnish or remove flowers and sprinkle over soups, etc. (anywhere the herb might be used.)
Tuberous Begonia - NOTE: Only Hybrids are edible. The petals of the tuberous begonias are edible. Their bright colors and sour, fruity taste bring flavor and beauty to any summer salad. Begonia blossoms have a delicious citrus sour taste and a juicy crunch. The petals are used as a garnish and in salads. Stems, also, can be used in place of rhubarb. The flowers and stems contain oxalic acid and should not be consumed by individuals suffering from gout, kidney stones, or rheumatism.
Tulip Petals - Flavor varies from tulip to tulip, but generally the petals taste like sweet lettuce, fresh baby peas, or a cucumber-like texture and flavor.
NOTE: Some people have had strong allergic reactions to them. If touching them causes a rash, numbness etc. Don't eat them! Don't eat the bulbs ever.
Violets - Sweet, perfumed flavor. Related flowers, Johnny jump-ups or violas, and pansies now come in colorful purples and yellows to apricot and pastel hues. I like to eat the tender leaves and flowers in salads. I also use the flowers to beautifully embellish desserts and iced drinks. Freeze them in punches to delight children and adults alike. All of these flowers make pretty adornments for frosted cakes, sorbets, or any other desserts, and they may be crystallized as well. heart-shaped leaves are edible, and tasty when cooked like spinach.
Yucca Petals ,The white Yucca flower is crunchy with a mildly sweet taste (a hint of artichoke). in the spring, they can be used in salads and as a garnish.
Copped from:http://whatscookingamerica.net/EdibleFlowers/EdibleFlowersMain.htm
I've grown quite a few of my own herbs for cooking. and we used some belladonna and ground coffee for teething for the babies when they were young.. my mother in law came up with it.. it worked.. but not sure what else she put in it.. be her and i i think we had most of the plants lists. she is an old Kentucky hillbilly from way back..She was raised with the ideals you had to grow all your own foods and herbs.. she showed me alot when it came to that
I have a small indoor herb garden where I grow herbs for cooking and aromatherapy. I grow:
- Basil
- Bay Leaves
- Dill
- Peppermint
- Clove
- Lavender
The eddible flower section was very nice and informative there is one i didn't see and i may have missed it but in maine i found a recpie for danieloin tea thats great
Speaking of tea,lets not forget Tanic acid,or Tanin.That has also been used for tooth pain and other medicinal purposes ie poultices and stuff..
It could very well have actually been a component in that Kentucky recepie your Granny used to use.
I grow lavendar and keep it near the front door for protection.
I have grown foxglove and lavender before along with some basic mint and sage...but I am no gardener and my stuff always dies or gets eaten
My favorite herbs are chamomile, comfrey, sage, aloe. A lot of the herbs that I have I use in salves that can be used on cuts, scrapes, and burns. The best thing to have when you have small children. :-)
For any of those that are wanting a garden but do not have a yard to put them in I would recommend finding the small pots and get maybe a 5 pound bag of soil for the pots. You can keep any plant indoor that you would normally keep outside without any problems. Make certain that the plants are kept in an area that can get plenty of sunlight if the plant requires it.
Great post Rayne.
I used to grow my own herb but after the charges and the indictment, I decided to just buy what I needed from now on.
Oh....ooops.
Herb(S). Well I feel silly.
i'm sorry, but the poster above that talked about growing maryjane and its healing auras and vibes...just got me to giggling...
now, on a much more serious note, i buy my own herbs. i live in an apartment and i have tried to grow things in containers, but it is a bit too shady where my patio is to get full sunlight. so i'm a store-bought witch in that respect.
also...those wishing to try the herbs that are hallucinogenics...please use caution.
Yes I would say that alot of people these days just buy what they need form the store or online. Some art apartment dwellers so they don't always have the space for a herb garden. I have made some very awsome jar gardens for friends that dont have yards if anyone would like some ideas on how to do that I would be more then happy to tell about it.
Asthe ones I had suggested are just suggested, I tend to grow many different herbs, I run a seed exchange and i really just truely love growing my own herbs, I feel that it as just that special loving touch to anything that i use them in.
But on an other note grow what you are attracted to and have fun with it !
Love and Light
Lady Dark Rayne
My GF and I (mostly she) are gowing a small herb garden. We have lavender, rosemary, mint, and basil. It is a start, but it lays a foundation to build on.
I would start but everything i try to grow dies =/
I have no green thumb. Id love to try though. This is really interesting
i would love to start my own garden with things i need but havent had the time so i must shop at the wicca shop
Yes teens...follow DivaK's advice. Do not start a mushroom garden...they are bad for you mmmkay?
Hyssop, Calendula, Costmary, Clove, and Lovage. Those are some fairly easy ones.
A witches gardan must have herbs and roses red roses also i feel it should have long ivy
Velvet that sounds like a nice refreshing garden. Maybe trim some of the ivy to curve in variuos directions and place a sitting bench in it.
These are great things to know. I appreciate this. I have been contemplating planting a garden myself.
now this has been a very useful thread :) damn shame I have a black thumb.
I am good at gorwing things just need a good place and time
My husband mows down any plants I put in the yard. I have a few containers on my porch, but not enough herbs. I did plant chives in a container that got put on the back porch before I harvested it all. I have twice as many plants this year and have never touched it! Just found it yesterday.Now I'm afraid to move it because it's doing so well. lol I tried growing basil, and rosemary last year too. The basil grew like crazy, but the rosemary died off right away. i think I will plant some lavender this year. I LOVE lavender.
Some plants found it my little garden are;
Mandrake: Powerful talisman and has an anastethic effect.
Foxglove, better known as digitalis purpuera.
Valerian: Sleeping problems.
Wormwood: Keeps away bugs and other unwanted guests.
Lavender: Use it for allround purposes.
Alant: (Sct. Ellens Root) has a lot of different medical purposes.
Belladonna: It is pretty but very poisonous.
Succisa pratensis better known as devilsbite: Good against infections.
I have many more though. I know what I am dealing with and some of these plants are not reccomended unless you know 100% what you are doing.
Chives regenerate. I've had mine in a large pot for years. Cut off the flowering heads and bury in the soil. Most of my plants are in pots. My favorite is the perennial basil. Bees love it, and it flowers frequently.
Well I am so happy that everyone enjoyed this post and I fel alot of epople that were not aware of what to put in it now have some great ideas. I also have a lot of this in my journal, feel free to take a peek. As of now im closing the post due to length and that it has achieved its purpose.
LDR