Useful Medicinal Wildflowers

As you read in my prior post, I have been out in the garden today. I spotted some very common and quite pretty wildflowers in the yard and decided I needed to find them and see if they had any use. I was searching the internet and asked my mentor, Sinnan, to help me search the names of these weeds that we often see. It didn't take long to find them, like I said they are SUPER common! 

Once I knew what they were, I did the research to see if, and how, they fit into my spell crafting or Shaman healing. Do you have plants in your garden that you cannot figure out? It looks like the new case my husband made me will be full before long! 

Purple Deadnettle is a healing herb which is also an annual. It is said they get quite large if nurtured and not mowed so I've asked the husband not to mow them. Let's see what these do! They have a lot of health benefits and are useful in spell work to represent tenacity, cheer and strength.

The photos above and below are of chickweed. It is full of vitamins and minerals  as well as discouraging obesity (according to Scott Cunningham's Book "Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen"). I really love the story about Zed, and how chickweed was used to clear up chronic conjunctivitis!

These photos are what I think is Ground Ivy among the chickweed. If so, ground Ivy also has health benefits and magical properties! This one is used for divination and hex breaking.

Can you name the herbs found here? I have more research ahead of me. Yeah! :-)

The Useful Weed
by James McIntyre

Do not despise the humble weed,
For the Lord He first sowed the seed,
Perhaps it bears most precious fruit,
And useful leaves and potent root.

Though it seems now a useless weed,
Countless millions it yet may feed,
Or future ages it may prize,
Finding in it beauteous dyes.

Or a valued healing balm,
Will make the heated pulse beat calm,
And the future men of science,
May place on it strong reliance.

And it may play important part,
In advancing skill and art,
And no person now doth know
How useful are the weeds that grow.

Weeds we now look on with loathing,
They may yet be used for clothing,
Producing silken glossy coat,
Or paper fine for the bank note.

But you at present must take heed,
And do not grow the cumbrous weed,
Either in garden or in field,
Where plants with profit now do yield.

Retrieved from http://www.readbookonline.net/books/McIntyre/1315/

The First Day of Planting!

It's 65 outside and the sun is shining bright! I moved my big hanging spider plant and my geranium that is down to two tiny plants from the winter (honestly, I'm surprised it went that long through the winter). They like that temperature and that LOVE bright light. After watering my indoor plants and  thinning the dead parts off of my strawberries, I really wanted to start working on my two new garden beds.

So, on with the boots and grabbing the shovel. I stopped to release, charge and asked to be guided through today's project. I want these two new beds to be focused on honoring nature. I want them to be built with a lot of intent on healing and general positive vibes.

I go to area one. I pause to reassess how everything is planned. The Mr. Lincoln Rose will be perfect right where I want it. It likes bright light and well-drained soil. It will do quite well there. Now, I realize that the bed will need to come out just a bit more than I originally thought. I ask my husband to come out and tell me what he thinks. After he agreed that it would be okay (he mows the lawn so I don't want to create an obstacle for him) he tells me he thinks he will have to move the gate! The cement porch is in the way to make the gate 4x4 sturdy and ensure it is set right so it doesn't come lose in 2 years (again). So, I decided to wait until he figured that out over the next week.

On to area two. I again reassess the current plan. All will work very well along the fence line. By the time the heartnut tree is big enough to block sun we will have moved and there will be a few part sun perennials that will be very well established. As I go to grab the shovel to begin turning the bed, I realize I have NO IDEA where the water line is. I decide it's too large a bed to dig out by hand so there is no way I can dig today. I really need to make sure I know where the water line is so I don't break a pipe with the tiller... I can't afford that fix! I'll call the water department tomorrow to see if they can help.

I was a bit disappointed that today wasn't the day to break ground but there must be a reason. Inside I go to check out what the Old Farmer's Almanac has to say about planting today. Well, there you go. Tomorrow is a New Moon and I am not putting any root crops in. It looks like I'll be planting next week and that the Moon will be in the perfect phase to support my growing efforts!

As I walked back to the back garden, feeling a bit disappointed, I noticed a bunch of dandelions. Eureka! I get to pull weeds and it's the perfect time for the young and tender roots! I proceeded to carefully pull them out of the ground. Once I was finished, a quick rinse, pick out the dead leaves, then pick the flowers and lay the roots & leaves out to dry. I love to use it in my spell work due to its ability to support wishes, promote visions and spiritual communication and I absolutely adore its Shamanic health and healing benefits.

I have big plans this year for my Enchanted Garden and I'm happy that Goddess lite a fire under my bum to follow through with my dream. I work full time but found out I may be furloughed for up to 22 weeks. That is a big change to my home and already challenging financial lifestyle so it is a big incentive to try.

Lillie's Enchanted Garden

Well, here we are the 3rd of March! I am so excited to get this growing year started. It has begun! I have drawn out my plan and begun purchasing seeds and a couple of plants. It's going to be an interesting year, financially, so I am doing my best to do this on the cheap. My house needs some TLC but that will have to wait until there is more income or the house is paid off in 2 years to get the high dollar work fixed.

I already have figs, grapevines, pears, blueberries, asparagus, lavender and strawberries outside. This year I will be adding: a red rose bush, raspberries, more lavender, more asparagus, cauliflower, sunflower, sage, thyme, as well as my veggies. The veggies will include: peppers (mild, bell & jalepeno), tomatoes, peas, bush beans, spinach, pumpkins, zucchini  and butternut squash. I'll also be planting chamomile, gernium, snap dragon, purple cone-flower  lemon grass, marigolds  lilies, tulips and foxglove. I am attempting everything from seeds except the rose, raspberry, lilies and tulips.

It's bound to be an interesting year as I am putting in 4 new planting areas in hopes to produce herbs enough for my workings and veggies to live on. With the financial hardships we are all going through if I am blessed with enough of anything to sell it I hope to do so. I'll be blogging my adventures as it is all party of my magical journey. Having land to work again has encouraged my spirituality to grow and I am really enjoying the journey.

Here is the outline of my plan. I'm not sure how much you'll really understand it, but it'll make more sense over time!