Thursday, October 04, 2007

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.

Labels: ,

5 Comments:

Blogger kate said...

It is wonderful to see so much green in your garden ... mine is very much looking autumn-like. There's the odd patch of green still, but few. Have you had a frost yet?

10:00 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like your green photos.

6:37 a.m.  
Blogger Melanie Rimmer said...

Lovely photos. Thanks for sharing a non-cliche'd view of this month with us.

5:07 p.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

The play of light that you captured in that coleus shot is breathtaking.

Can you please remind me of the fennel magic next midsummer? That's very fun, and I always have more than enough to put a sprig in every doorway.

9:24 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you like the Meadow Rue, Heronswood Nursery has an outstanding variety called Thalictrum 'Black Stockings' with large flowers and chocolate brown stems, that you’ll love.

10:38 a.m.  

Post a Comment

<< Home