Why would anyone bother to grow plantain?Largely ignored by the modern gardener, and often regarded as an irksome
22.06.2023 - 10:38 / gardenerspath.com / Heather Buckner
Harvesting and Preserving Elderberry: A Fruit for Food and MedicineAs the late summer sniffles simmer down and crisp fall winds begin blowing through the air, it is time to think about preparing for the impending cold and flu season – which, for me, includes harvesting and preparing my favorite winter remedies.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
And that means… it is time to harvest elderberries!
Here’s what’s to come in this guide:
This enchanting deciduous shrub is decorated with clusters of small white flowers in the spring, which eventually develop into bundles of tiny black or purple berries. In the wild, you will tend to find them in wet and swampy areas, often in disturbed places.
Boasting a multitude of marvelous uses, this plant is an incredibly supportive medicinal winter remedy touted by many herbalists and practitioners of traditional medicine, not to mention it makes for delectable jams, pies, and even wine!
Folklore and Magical HistoryIn ancient Celtic traditions of Northern Europe, elders were revered trees, cherished as gifts from the “Elder Mother” goddess who was believed to reside inside the plant.
They were thought to be a window into the soul of trees, protecting forests and the people that cared for them, and they were often planted around houses and farms to protect the land and the gardens. Cutting one down or burning its sacred wood was considered highly taboo.
In Danish and German folklore, prior to cutting, it was necessary to ask the Elder Mother for permission, or else risk coming into misfortune. In Ireland, cutting down the elder tree was forbidden.
Upon the introduction of Christianity, however, the reputation of the
Why would anyone bother to grow plantain?Largely ignored by the modern gardener, and often regarded as an irksome
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In our attempts to save the bees, many of us are
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You may have a lack of p
A former AIB banker-turned-gardener says he feels “like a five-year-old getting presents” after winning a major award as well as a prestigious gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in London.
Many people know you can propagate a fuchsia plant from cuttings, but have you ever eyed your fetching flowers and wondered if you could propagate more by sowing the seeds?Well, you can!You know those
I love a two-for-one deal! That’s what I got when I realized the cheery nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) I’d been growing for decades were also edible, and that’s what you’ll get too!I’ve always enjoyed the brilliant color
Sure, you can purchase new seeds each year at the nursery. But saving them is a simple process, and one that’s easy to master when you want to fill your garden with more cosmos.I began my seed-harvesting journe
Here are two things I love: wildflowers, and collecting seeds from my garden to save for next year.It only makes sense to combine the two into
Snapdragons make me happy. The presence of their cheery blossoms in the garden means the best weather has arrived and will continue for months to come – just like those colorful flowers.Of course, we can’t forget the child-like thrill of pinching th
Growing corn is one of the most satisfying things you can do. Few things compare to the feeling of harvesting your own ears from a stalk taller than you, and then eating them that very same day.You won’t be able to wai
So many of our favorite dishes start with onions (Allium cepa), finely chopped, and sweating out their umami flavor in hot butter or oil.They’re also easy to harvest
Are you sick of mowing all the time? Why not replace that time consuming, resource draining lawn with a beautiful meadow of low-growing chamomile?Perfect for slopes and other hard to