Navigation
Attracts Wildlife
Pokeweed
Wed, 07/23/2008 - 09:20 — kitchenwitchBotanical Name:
Phytolacca americana
Zones:
most
Other Names:
poke, poke sallet, red ink plant, crowberry, cancer root, coakum, chongras
Pokeweed is a native american perennial that produces terminal clusters of fragrant white flowers in the mid to late summer followed by attractive purple berries that taste pretty aweful to humans but
Propagation:
The seed may be slow to germinate, it may take several months, but it germinates readily in moist (but not wet), rich soil at moderate temperatures. Pokeweed prefers a sunny position but doesn't mind a little bit of shade.
History and Folklore:
The United States Declaration of Independance was written in fermented pokeberry juice.
European settlers were introduced to pokeweed by Native Americans. They liked it so much they took it back to Europe where it grows wild today. Native Americans used pokeweed for food, medicine, dye and to paint their horses. Poke salet (young poke greens, boiled twice) is historically a popular southern dish.
Harvesting & Storage:
Young leaves should be harvested just as they emerge from the ground, boiled 2-3 times with the water being discarded after each boiling. They may then be eaten with a little salt and fatback to taste.
Berries should be picked when ripe, purply-black and firm.
Household Use:
Pokeberries can be used to make ink or dye.
Magical Attributes:
Pokeweed can be used for exercisms, it's violent purging action symbolic of purging the body of spiritual as well as physical poison. Taking pokeweed internally is never recommended.
An infusioni of pokeweek can be used to break hexes and to protect an area from negativity and other harmful influences.
Pokeweed berry juice makes a good magical ink and can be used in place of blood in any rituali.
Healing Attributes:
Pokeberry juice may be added to other juices and jellies to help relieve arthritis.
Grated pokeroot was used by native americans in a poultice to relieve inflammations and swellings of the breast (Please note, this may leave toxins on the breast. Not recommended for breastfeeding mothers. Ever.)
Poke root extracted in alcohol (no more than a drop or two a day!) is used to combat colds and viruses. It is particularly useful for issues of the lymphatic system- anything that causes swollen glands. An oil extract can be used to make a salve for minor bumps, bruises and bites.
Research is underway with regard to possible treatments for leukemia, AIDS and other deadly diseases.
Note: This is provided for your information only. I do not recommend taking pokeberry internally for any reason.
Culinary Use:
Although all parts of the mature plant are toxic and can cause violent vomiting, diarrhea and death, the young leaves are said to be quite delicious. They must be harvested just as they emerge from the ground and if there is any red in them they are too old! They need to be boiled in three changes of water for 20 minutes each to ensure that all the toxicity has been leached out.
Berries are unpleasant tasting raw but can be cooked into pies or added to jellies and wines. This isn't recommended. If you do eat the berries, be sure to remove and discard the seeds as they are very toxic.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
Pokeberry is a beautiful native plant that I just love to have in my garden. I have no desire, however, to try preparing the young leaves or berries for my own use because I am too worried about poisoning potential. The flowers attract bees and butterflies and the berries attract birds. That is enough for me to feel that this plant is a valuable and strictly ornamental addition to my native garden. But take care to keep children and pets away. Although butterflies, bees and birds love pokeweed, it is toxic to all mammals.
Maple
Tue, 05/27/2008 - 10:45 — kitchenwitchBotanical Name:
Acer spp
Zones:
most
There are approximately 125 species of maple. Most are indigenous to Asia but there are many native to America, Europe and Africa as well.
Propagation:
Maple seeds, called samaras, have wings designed to carry them some distance away from the mother tree. These can be gathered and planted and will often grow quite well. Most need to be stratified first, either through cold stratification or by using a file to wear down the hard outter shell.
Maples can take up to six months to germinate and can be troubled by root rot when young. Keep young maple trees in a sheltered, semi-shaded area.
Maples of all ages can be bothered by aphids and are popular hosts for many species of butterfly and moth. Maples are also affected by a number of fungal parasites. Although these may look ugly, they don't usually cause lasting harm to the tree.
History and Folklore:
The word acer is from the Latin meaning "sharp" which refers to the pointed leaves.
Maple sugar was being made by the Native Americans long before Eurpean colonists came to America. A number of stories exist to explain where the practice came from.
One story says that when the Creator first made the world, maple syrup ran from maple trees all the time. One day Glooskap came by and saw that all the villagers were laying under the trees letting the syrup run into their mouths and all the work was undone and the fields overgrown. So he made the sap runny and told the people that if they wanted syrup they'd have to work for it and showed them how to turn the runny sap into sweet, thick syrup.
Another story says that red squirrel first showed a hunter how to get sweet sap from the maple. He liked to bite off the branches to make the sap ooze out and when it had dried into a sugar crust would come back and lick it joyfully.
Harvesting & Storage:
Pick up branches after a storm to make wands and staves.
Household Use:
Maple trees make great bonzai. The wood of sugar maple and sycamore maple are especially prized for making furniture and flooring.
Maple trees are a valuable host to many species of moth and butterfly and make an excellent addition to a butterfly garden.
Magical Attributes:
Maple is feminine in nature and associated with the moon and jupiter and the elemental energies of water.
Maple is excellent for wands, staves and maypoles.
Maple is useful in moon magic and in spells related to travel, learning and decision-making, especially in matters related bringing about or dealing with change. Maple is also useful for spiritual healing.
Maple syrup may be used in Kitchen Witchery for love spells and spiritual healing, i.e. soothing the psyche.
Healing Attributes:
Culinary Use:
Maple wood is useful for smoking and curing meat.
The sap of the sugar maple can be boiled down to make maple syrup, maple sugar and maple candy.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
Phlox
Mon, 05/05/2008 - 10:32 — DawnBlackBotanical Name:
Phlox spp.
Zones:
most
The phlox family (Polemoniaceae) contains hundreds of members, with 67 in the genus "phlox", only a few of them are actually referred to as phlox in common garden vernacular.
Propagation:
Phlox grows well from seeds or you can buy started plants and transplant them. If you don't want them to spread, you'll want to deadhead your flowers or they'll reseed like crazy! Deadheading also encourages more blooms and keeps the plants looking neat.
Phlox is susceptable to powdery mildew if grown in shady or damp conditions. Give it plenty of sunlight, good drainage and good air circulation, but don't let it dry out.
History and Folklore:
Cantua buxiolia, aka Kantuta, a phlox native to South America is the national flower of Bolivia and Peru and is known as the "magic flower" and "sacred flower of the Incas". It is red, yellow and green, to match to Bolivian flag!
Over 40 species of phlox were used by Native American tribes for various purposes including decoration, food, medicine and hygiene products.
The word Phlox comes from the Greek meaning "flame".
Most phlox is native to the US but was brought to Europe in the 1700s where it enjoyed popularity as a cottage garden plant and was bred for many color and form variations.
In the language of flowers, phlox means: Our souls are united. or We think alike.
Harvesting & Storage:
Pick flowers just after the dew dries in the morning of their first full bloom. Cut ripe flowerheads and shake into a paper bag to gather seeds.
Household Use:
Phlox make charming and sweet scented additions to cut flower bouquets, tussie mussies, etc.
The taller varieties look great in boarders and the lower-growing varieties are great edgers and ground covers. Phlox is very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Magical Attributes:
Early blooming plox is particularly appropriate for any springtime celebration and makes great flower wreaths with a bit of floral tape. Alli phlox varieties are great for use in wedding decorations, wreaths, crowns and bouquets.
All types of phlox is useful for spellwork for encouraging groups of people (families, coworkers, grassroots organizations) to work together harmoniously toward a common goal. Plant some in your yard to encourage family unity and harmony.
Phlox is also useful in meditations to help you to pluck up the courage, or find an appropriate way to express your love for someone. It can also be used in meditations to increase productivity and stop procrastinating.
Because of the many different color varieties available, phlox can be used in color magic.
Healing Attributes:
Culinary Use:
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
Hawthorn
Mon, 01/07/2008 - 20:37 — kitchenwitchBotanical Name:
Craaegus spp.
Zones:
5-9
Other Names:
Whitethorn, Hazels, Gazels, Halves, Quickset, Bread-and-Cheese Tree, Albesyne, L’Epine Noble, Hagedorn, Hedgethorn, Fairy Bush, May blossom, May Bush, May Flower, Quick, Thorn, Haw, Hag Thorn, Ladies Meat, Tree of Chastity, May Tree
This is a tree that will grow to a height of 30-40 feet. The fruit is a bright red to dark purple that is enjoyed by many birds.
Propagation:
Hawthorn is a deciduous tree that can grow in most temperate climates. It is tolerant of most soils, but prefers moist, alkaline soils.
History and Folklore:
The name Crataegus oxyacantha comes from the Greek kratos, “hardness”, oxcux, “sharp” and akantha “thorn”.
In Teutonic lore, hawthorn symbolized death and was used in funeral pyres.
In ancient Greece, married couples were crowned with hawthorn blossoms and the wedding party carried torches of hawthorn. The tree was also associated with Cardea, the Roman Goddess of marriage and Childbirth.
During springtime festivals in England, large Hawthorn boughs were cut and stood up in the ground outside houses. They were called May Bushes and decorated with wildflowers. Although it was permissible to decorate outside with hawthorn blossoms, bringing them into the home would surely bring illness and death.
This tree was considered beloved by fairies who lived within. Cuttingi down a Hawthorn tree is very bad luck!
Harvesting & Storage:
Harvest the fruit in early autumn and spread out to dry or make into wine or jam.
Flowers can be harvested in May and dried in the sun. Leaves can be harvested any time. Be sure to ask permission and leave an offering.
Collect fallen limbs after storms to use for carving or making wands.
Household Use:
The wood of the hawthorn tree has a fine grain and takes polish well. It can be used for carving and making wands. It produces a very hot fire when burned.
Magical Attributes:
Gods associated with this tree are Belenus, Cardea, the “White Goddess”, Hymen, Maia and Flora.
It is considered masculine, associated with Mars and Fire.
Hawthorn is a sacred tree in many Pagan religions. The blossoms, called May Flowers, are used in spring celebrations. The May Pole is traditionally made of hawthorn or decorated with hawthorn flowers. As the tree is sacred to fairies, one must ask permission before taking the blooms or sprigs and must certainly leave an offering when cutting down a whole tree.
Placed around doors and windows, hawthorn will prevent people from entering your home in an astral state. It will also prevent spirits from entering a place. Planting hawthorn around other trees, or near your home is said to protect them from lightening strikes. Planting it as a hedge around your home will keep out unfriendly spirits. Adding hawthorn to an amuleti will protect you from spirits and harmful magic.
Thorns can be used to mark wax, to write with magical ink, or to fix something for magical purposes.
The phrase “by Oak, Ash and Thorn” referred to Hawthorn (the Thorn part) used in blessing and rituali. These three trees were considered portals to the realm of the fae.
Hawthorn is associated with love, marriage, health, fertility, chastity, protection and death.
Healing Attributes:
The bark of the hawthorn tree can be used as a sedative, anti-spasmodic, diuretic and to help regulate blood pressure. It is used as a heart tonic and for kidney troubles.
The flowers and berries are astringent and can be used for sort throats.
Use a decoction of flowers and leaves to stabilize blood pressure.
Culinary Use:
A tasty liquor can be made from the berries. Both the blossoms and berries can be made into wine and jellies.
Hawthorn leaves can be eaten and were once referred to as bread-and-cheese.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
Echinacea
Sun, 01/06/2008 - 22:39 — kitchenwitchBotanical Name:
E. purpurea, E. pallida, E. augustofolia
Zones:
4-9
Other Names:
Purple coneflower (E. purpurea), pale purple coneflower(E. pallida), Narrow-leaf purple coneflower(E. augustofolia), Kansas niggerhead, Sampson root, American coneflower, Black Sampson, Black Susan, Comb flower, Hedgehog, Indian Head, Kansas snakeroot, Red sunflower, Rock-up-hat, Scurvy root, Snakeroot
Echinacea is a native of North America and can be found in wild prairies and open woodlands. It also adapts well to the garden. There are nine species, three of which, E. purpurea, E.
Propagation:
E. purpurea is the easiest to grow.
Sow seeds in the fall so that they freeze over the winter, or store them in your freezer for a few weeks before planting. Scatter them over the surface, as light is necessary for germination. These plants prefer alkaline soils with good drainage. Weeds are a serious danger to young seedlings, because they grow very slowly and herbicides are just as dangerous to Echinacea as it is to the weeds, so you’re going to have to be diligent about weeding. Plant in full sun. It will tolerate shade, but it will result in an inferior harvest. Seedlings should be thinned to about a foot apart.
It may seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Echinacea is being stripped from its wild populations and responsible herbalists should grow their own. Buying plants that have already been started will remove the hassle altogether, as adult plants are remarkably easy to maintain. This is an incredibly drought tolerant plant and natural rainfall is usually sufficient for its needs. Only water if the surface is dry. Echinacea usually does not need fertilizer and has very few disease problems. It will return year after year and if you don't deadhead it, it will drop its seeds and have babies too.
Echinacea attracts bees and butterflies and birds may come after your seeds in winter!
History and Folklore:
The name Echinacea comes from the Greek echinos, meaning hedgehog or sea urchin, which refers to the bristly scales of the dried seed head.
This is a North American native and was used extensively by the Native American populations for all manner of ailments. The Plains Nations used it more than any other herb.
Harvesting & Storage:
Harvest the tops in the third year, and the roots in the fourth year.
Thoroughly wash and dry the roots. Lay roots and tops out in the sun to dry.
Household Use:
The long-lasting cut flowers are beautiful in arrangements.
Magical Attributes:
Carrying Echinacea will provide inner strength during trying times. It is an appropriate flower for offerings, especially to place spirits and river God(dess)es. Including Echinacea in a spelli or charm will increase its effectiveness.
Healing Attributes:
Echinacea is a wonderful all-around healing tonic and it has been used as a cure for just about everything. It increases your T-cell count and stimulates your immune system. It is safe to use indefinately, but loses potency if you use it too long, so it's best to only use it during flu season or when you're not feeling well and take a break the rest of the time. Two weeks on and two weeks off seems to be the most common recommendation. It can be alternated with astragalus.
The entire plant is useful, but most of the power is in the root. To make a tincture, use the root or uproot the entire plant and chop it up fine and place it in a wide-mouthed jar. Cover it with 80+ proof alcohol and seal it. Store it in a cool place for several weeks, giving it a shake every few days.
Alternatively, you could make a tea out of the leaves. Or just chew them.
Although many immune combinations combine echinacea and goldenseal, it's not recommended.
People with asthma or autoimmune dysfunction including AIDS and Lupus should use Echinacea with caution. No studies have documented negative affects, but the action of the active constituents of Echinacea could theoretically complicate autoimmune problems.
Those with allergies to other members of the daisy family, ex. ragweed, should use Echinacea with caution.
Culinary Use:
Echinacea makes a pleasing tea.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
St John's Wort
Sat, 12/29/2007 - 12:07 — kitchenwitchBotanical Name:
Hypericum perforatum
Zones:
5-9
Other Names:
Saint John's Wort, St Joan's Wort
This is a bushy little perennial and very winter hardy. It grows to about one to three feet tall. Leaves are small, stalkless, opposite and pale bluish green growing up long brown stems.
Propagation:
Propagate by runners in the autumn or by seeds in the spring.
Average soil, partial to full sun.
Plants will need to be replaced after 5 years or so, but will spread if not checked. It is a very vigorous grower, spreading by both seeds and runners and should be kept in a pot or raised bed.
History and Folklore:
St. John's Wort has been used in medicine for over 2.400 years. It was used in ancient Greece and prescribed by Hippocrates and others for insanity, among other problems. It was also used in the Crusades to treat battle wounds.
It is associated with St. John the Baptist. It was gathered on St. John's Day and soaked in olive oil to create an anointing oili called the "Blood of Christ". It is said that the red sap "bleeds" in August on the day when St. John was beheaded.
There is much folklore about this plant.
The ancient name Fuga Daemonum (Scare Devil) and the Latin name Hypericum ("over" + "apparition") attests to its usefulness in driving away evil spirits. The latter may also refer to the fact that it was hung over religious icons. It was hung in the home, and carried as a talismani. It was also used to protect from lightening strikes.
On legend says that if you step on a St. John's Wort plant, you will be stolen away by a faerie horse.
St. John's Wort was also used for divinationi of romance and longevity. St. John's Wort was hung over the beds of the members of a household. The sprig that was most wilted indicated who would die the soonest. Keeping a sprig under your pillow is said to grant you a vision of St. John, who will promise that you will live another year. If no such vision comes, however...expect you will soon die.
Alli of these should, of course, be done on Midsummer or St. John's Eve.
It is traditionally burned in the Midsummer Fires. Flowers brought into the house on Midsummer Day are said to protect the household from a myriad misfortunes, including invasion by evil spirits, the evil eye, illness and fire.
Harvesting & Storage:
It is traditionally harvested on St. John's Day (June 24th) or Midsummer's day, early in the day after the dew has dried. Harvest soon after flowering.
Otherwise, harvest flowers and leaves as needed.
Household Use:
Flowers are used to produce a yellow dye. Stem produces a red dye.
In the garden St. John's Wort attracts bees. It does not produce nector so few adult butterflies are attracted to it. The Grey Hairstreak butterfly's larvae feeds on its seeds and the the Gray Half-Spot moth's larvae feeds on its foliage, so it may still be a useful addition to a butterfly garden.
The flowered stems are great for weaving into wreathes.
Magical Attributes:
St. John's Wort is linked with the Sun and Leo, Midsummer's Day, or St. John's Day.
St. John's Wort can be added to the fires for Midsummer celebrations and used to make garlands. The infused oil might be useful for an anointing oili for Midsummer rituals and exorcism. It's bloody red color also lends it well to death and rebirth rituals and celebrations of women's mysteries.
It can also be used for smudgingi during rituals of exorcism, especially of poltergeists.
Healing Attributes:
The most popular use of St. John's Wort medicinally is for depression. Studies of various constituents of this herb suggest that there is indeed something to the claim of its effectiveness against mild depression. It does not seem to be at all effective against severe depression.
St. John's Wort tea is also used for rheumatism, neuralgia, sciatica, shingles and symptoms of menopause. It is also a soothing muscle relaxer for when you overdo it (not for chronic problems).
The oil rubbed into joints may ease rheumatism. It is also used for minor wounds, burns and to help fade scars.
Infuse olive oil for topical use by stuffing a wide-mouthed jar with herb, then covering with olive oil and sealing. Place in a sunny window and shake a few times a day for six weeks. It will be bright red when done.
Culinary Use:
Makes a pleasant, slightly bitter tea.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
St John's Wort can render birth control pills and similar forms of contraception useless. Do not rely on these methods of birth control if you are using St. John's Wort!
St. John's Wort should also not be taken by patients using Indinavir, a drug often given to AIDS patients, Cyclosporin, an immunosuppressive drug given to transplant patients, and Warfarin, an anticoagulant.
Side affects of St. John's Wort may include dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, gastrointestinal discomfort, skin rash and photosensitivity. When using St. John's Wort, take extra care with sun protection.
If you are using St. John's Wort for depression, it is prudent to also seek therapy. Do not combine it with pharmaceutical anti- depressants.
Women who are pregnant or breast feeding should not use St. John's Wort as it may cause miscarriage and side affects for nursing infants are unpredictable.
All content copyright Dawn Black unless otherwise stated. No content may be distributed electronically or in print without express permission from the author.
**** Add to Technorati Favorites **** Stumble It! **** Dig This ****
Syndicate