greens

Green is the colour of healing, empathy and caring. It is soothing and balancing, it refreshes and brings peace. It is also the colour of growth, ideas and new life, and it can also soothe tension, heart ailments and heart ache.

With fall bringing the fiery embers of the dying year, it's surprising to find so many cool greens around!

Maiden hair fern.

In the open woods, the foliage of Early meadow rue, Thalictrum dioicum, is turning gold.

Hydrangea arborescens, American hydrangea or Seven barks hydrangea. The creamy-white flower clusters of June and July have turned green and will turn papery-brown later in the fall.

Melissa officinalis, Lemon balm. My sources tell me this lovely lemony herb both stimulates the heart and soothes the nerves. A magickal use of this delightful herb was in a charm to attract love.

Ipomoea 'Marguerite', Sweet potato vine.

Digitalis ambigua 'Carillon', Foxglove (also Faeries' glove, Faery thimble, Witches glove). The faery folk may become your enemies if you cut or misuse this flower which they consider their property! Foxgloves are the natural source of digitalis, a powerful stimulant and cardiac regulator, which can be toxic in large quantities. So, the nature spirits should be respected with regards to this herb, and it should be left in the garden as simply a pretty invitation for faerie folk to visit.

Geranium (sorry, can't remember which one, but this one has masses of tiny pale pink flowers in June/July)

Miscanthus sinensis

Coleus

Foeniculum vulgare dulce 'Rubrum', Bronze fennel seed heads. Herbal lore has it that a sprig of fennel hung over a doorway at midsummer prevents hostile spirits and bad luck from entering the home during the coming year.