Garden Witch's Herbal

by Ellen Dugan

  Garden Witch Tip: This wild herb is a strong protection against evil, negativity, bad mojo, and astral nasties. With the term “astral nasties,” I’m not trying to sound cute—I literally mean random elementals, spirits, or thoughtforms that are hanging around and causing you grief. Maybe they were created by you—and maybe they were not. Want them gone? Here’s how.

  Banishing Astral Nasties with Mullein

  With mullein’s magick power, I ward and protect me,

  I now push away all spirits, evil, and astral nasties.

  With the strong influence of Saturn, this will never occur,

  By the element of fire, I banish you forever.

  Close the spell with these lines:

  This protective wildflower spell is spun from the heart,

  Worked for the good of all with a Green Witch’s art.

  prairie rose

  Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera)

  Also called the climbing wild rose. In the Rosaceae (rose) family, there are over 3,300 varieties worldwide. The prairie rose climbs or forms sprawling bushes with arching, thorny canes. The flowers are soft pink, heavily scented, and usually three inches across. The blooms are single with five petals and many bright yellow stamens. Bloom time is May through July. The leaves are set up into three leaflets on older stalks and in groups of five on newer growth. These roses do produce hips that will turn a beautiful red in the fall. Find this plant in sun and part shade, moist fields, prairie thickets, streamside, and along roads and fence rows.

  Garden Witch Tip: If you’d like to grow some of these carefree beauties in your yard, look for roses that are called landscape roses or “nearly wild.” These modern varieties of roses will produce the same kind of old-fashioned blooms as the prairie rose.

  The old flower folklore suggests that the wild rose symbolizes maidenly beauty. It says that the recipient of this wildflower is “as bonny and virginal as this pure bloom.” In natural magick, the rose and its petals are used quite often for various spells and charms, including love, healing, and protection. (Please refer to my book Garden Witchery for more information on the magick of all the various colors of roses.) It is important to note that the five-petaled wild rose is an ancient symbol of the Goddess. The astrological correspondence for the wild rose is the same as the hybrid rose: it is Venus, and the elemental association is water.

  A Fragrant Call for the Goddess’s Blessings

  May the Goddess and all her blessings shine down on me,

  Whether I am on land, in the sky, or on the sea.

  A five-petaled rose is a symbol of her power,

  May my life be as sweet as this magickal flower.

  Close the Goddess blessing with these lines:

  This fragrant wildflower spell is spun from the heart,

  Worked for the good of all with a Green Witch’s art.

  skullcap

  Skullcap (Scutellaria incana)

  Hoary skullcap grows two to three feet in height and is part of the mint family. This particular variety of skullcap grows from the midsections of the country to the eastern coast of the United States. Hoary skullcap grows as far south as Texas and as far north as New York state (and all the states in between, all the way to the East Coast). The stems of the hoary skullcap are short, branched, and covered in fine grey hair. The flowers are purplish blue and clustered together in an oblong grouping.

  There is also another variety of wild skullcap that is common throughout the United States and Britain, and it is called Scutellaria galericulata. Known as the Common Skullcap, it is often called Marsh Skullcap or Hooded Skullcap. This plant grows one to three feet in height and is common in meadows, marshes, and wet shores. All of the skullcap’s purple-blue flowers are a half-inch long and start to bloom from the bottom up from June through September. The plant’s leaves are oval shaped with pointed ends. This plant likes full sun to partial shade in wooded slopes, alongside streams, and in rocky, open woods.

  Garden Witch Tip: In the home garden, skullcap performs best in rich, fertile, and moist soil. Skullcap has to have lots of sun and moist soil for the best growing success.

  Magickally, skullcap is used to promote relaxation and peace. The astrological association is Saturn; the elemental correspondence is water. It is also said to protect your man from the wiles of other women. Here is a wildflower spell to use for just such an occasion.

  Skullcap Spell to Keep a Good Man

  They say that a good man is hard to find,

  So stay far away from this man of mine.

  By the banishing powers of Saturn, you will move along,

  You shall not ruin our love, for it is faithful, true, and strong.

  Close the spell with these lines:

  This loving wildflower spell is spun from the heart,

  Worked for the good of all with a Green Witch’s art.

  spiderwort

  Spiderwort (Tradescantia longipes)

  Also known as the wild crocus, spiderwort is a low-growing plant six to eight inches tall, with bright purplish blue trilobed flowers. There are also some varieties that are magenta, but blue is the most common. The flower petals are arranged in the shape of a triangle and often bloom together in small clusters. Bloom time is April and May. The leaves are grasslike with a wide crease, or vein, down the center. This plant likes acidic soils and shade to part shade in wooded slopes and valleys. Spiderwort is another easy to find and popular wildflower at most nurseries. Nursery varieties may grow taller than their wild cousins.

  Spiderwort adds a little mystery and wildness to your part-shade gardens. They got their name (wort being an old word for “herb”) because they were mistaken for another plant that was thought to cure the bite of a poisonous spider. In reality, they do not cure spider bites—and they don’t attract spiders either.

  In the language of flowers, the spiderwort confesses that it feels “respect but not romantic love.” Magickally, spiderwort is associated with both the planet Venus and the goddess Venus/

  Aphrodite (as are all true blue flowers), and the tripetaled spiderwort flower may be easily worked into spells for friendship and to help you gain respect from others, which can come in handy when you are applying for a new job or looking to be accepted by a new group.

  Winning Acceptance from a New Group

  By the three blue petals of the spiderwort plant,

  I’ll be accepted by this group/job that I so want.

  A triangle of magick the little petals do form;

  In the best possible way, their feelings toward me shall warm.

  Close the spell with these lines:

  This simple wildflower spell is spun from the heart,

  Worked for the good of all with a Green Witch’s art.

  thistle

  Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

  The thistle is part of the daisy family. This particular variety is commonly known as the bull thistle, plumed thistle, or the roadside thistle. Thistle may grow up to seven feet in height. The upper stems and branches are covered in thorns and prickles. The flower heads are pale lavender to a rose color. Bloom time is from June through September. There are many varieties of thistles, and they are easy to spot, as the spines grow right up to the flower-heads. The leaves are deeply lobed, silvery green, and hairy and spiny as well. Find these plants in fields, waste places, and roadsides.

  The thistle is a common wildflower throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Another thistle variety, Onopordum acanthium, commonly called the Scotch thistle, is the national flower of Scotland. In the language of flowers, the thistle symbolizes simplicity and independence. If you grow thistles in the garden, you will encourage protection, strength, and healing.

  Magickally, these plants are used to break hexes and to ward off negativity and evil. Their astrologi
cal influence is Mars, and they are aligned with the element of fire.

  Garden Witch Tip: Thistles do tend to volunteer in the garden from time to time. As long as you don’t have small children running around, I would encourage you to let one or two grow wild in an out-of-the-way place and enjoy the protective qualities of this herbal wildflower. These wildflowers also attract goldfinches and butterflies. Thistles brought into the house from the garden are used to break spells and malevolent charms.

  Breaking Hexes with Thistle

  By the protective magick of thorns and prickles,

  I break all hexes with the help of the thistle.

  By fire’s bright power all evil must flee,

  And as I do will it, then so must it be!

  Close the spell with these lines:

  This protective wildflower spell is spun from the heart,

  Worked for the good of all with a Green Witch’s art.

  tickseed coreopsis

  Tickseed Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

  The coreopsis is part of the daisy family, and its several stems, up to three feet in height, make for a noticeable glade species. The flowers are bright yellow, with large heads about two inches across, and the ends of the petals are jagged. Bloom time runs from April through June. Leaves are narrow, undivided, and mostly arranged at the bottom of the stems. Coreopsis loves the sun, and you can find it growing in prairies, glades, and along roadsides.

  Tickseed coreopsis is now widely available as a nursery plant. This perky little golden perennial attracts butterflies and brightens up many a flower garden. It is also drought tolerant, and it is the official state wildflower of Florida. When grown in the garden, they make great cut flowers, and they are not too fussy about soil types. At home in my gardens, the coreopsis blooms off and on through September, while the heaviest blooming occurs in late May through June.

  In the language of flowers, the coreopsis is a symbol for a person who is always bright and cheerful. Astrological association is the sun, and the elemental association is fire. Magickally, you could work with the coreopsis for antidepression spells and to bring about good luck and better days.

  Banishing the Blues with Coreopsis

  May these bright yellow flowers brighten up my days,

  Banishing the blues and chasing sadness away.

  Now encourage good cheer, smiles, and laughter,

  May I be content forever after.

  Close the spell with these lines:

  This cheerful wildflower spell is spun from the heart,

  Worked for the good of all with a Green Witch’s art.

  yellow lady’s slipper

  Yellow Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium pubescens)

  The yellow lady’s slipper is part of the orchid family. They are rare and exotic wild orchids and can grow up to two feet tall. These flowers have brown-bronze, twisting flags, one upright and the others on either side of the yellow “slipper.” There are also pink and white varieties of lady’s slippers as well. Other common names for this romantic wildflower include whippoorwill’s shoe, yellows, slipper root, and Indian shoe. Bloom time for this beauty is April through June. The leaves are bright green and prominently veined; the stem is long, sharply tapered, and fuzzy. The lady’s slipper prefers acid soil in part shade to shade and in upper and middle elevations of north- and east-facing wooded slopes.

  According to old folklore, wherever Cinderella dropped her shoe, that’s where lady’s slippers will grow. (Apparently Cinderella was running amok in the forests and woodlands in her ball gown.) In the language of flowers, the lady’s slipper sweetly stands for a beautiful, whimsical person or capriciousness. Magickally, the energies of the lady’s slipper are often worked with protection magick.

  If you should find such a rare flower growing wild, consider yourself very fortunate indeed. Do not disturb the area, and leave the lady’s slipper be. Just quietly enjoy the experience. The nature spirits surely must be watching over you to have given you such a gift. The lady’s slipper’s astrological influence is Saturn, and the elemental association is water.

  Faerie Blessing with the Lady’s Slipper

  A rare wild orchid is the lady’s slipper,

  May the nature spirits hear me and come hither.

  Please bless me now, with good fortune and wisdom true.

  I’ll always have respect for nature and for you.

  Close the spell with these lines:

  This faerie wildflower spell is spun from the heart,

  Worked for the good of all with a Green Witch’s art.

  Closing Thoughts on

  Wildflower Witchery

  Where Cinderella dropped her shoe,

  ’Tis said in fairy tales of yore,

  T’was there the first lady’s slipper grew

  And there its rosy blossom bore …

  elaine goodale eastman

  Remember to walk softly upon the earth as you work your green magick with wildflowers. These flowers are intricately connected with the spirits of the land, and those nature spirits will be watching you carefully to see how you treat the wildflowers as you work magick with them. They are indeed little natural treasures, so value them, respect the land, and harm nothing in nature as you work your green magick to create a positive change.

  [contents]

  Chapter 5

  Magick in the Hedgerows

  If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow,

  don’t be alarmed now;

  it’s just a spring clean for the May Queen.

  robert plant,

  stairway to heaven

  Once upon a time, when people cleared a forest for settlement, the hedge served as a division between the wilderness and the home front. According to tradition, the hedgerow divided fields and kept farm animals in and wild animals out. The hedgerow created an entire food web for insects, birds, and small mammals. A hedgerow was and is still

  utilized as a living boundary. The terms hedge and hedgerow come from the Anglo-Saxon words haga, hege, and hegeroewe, which is defined as a fence or boundary formed from a thick row of shrubs or smaller trees. Anglo-Saxon estate boundaries were usually marked with hedgerows, many of which, hundreds of years later, still designate the borders of some parishes today in Britain. There are some hedgerows that are thought to be a thousand years old.

  The old hedgerows were not only planted to surround farmland and to denote the boundaries of a landowner’s property, they also protected the crops and livestock and kept deer, bears, and wolves out. These hedges of shrubs, plants, and small trees were also used cleverly along waterways and wetlands to protect the fish by keeping the destructive hoofs and waste of farm animals away from shorelines, which improved the water quality for the community as well as the surrounding areas.

  Now, for many of us, holding wolves and bears at bay or keeping livestock out of our water supply is not a pressing issue. However, the hedgerow is very suitable for the urban magickal gardener and for those who own small rural properties. Planting a hedgerow gives you the opportunity to work with your own native plants and to encourage biodiversity. Here is your chance to encourage wildlife such as birds and beneficial insects to come in. A hedgerow can, in fact, make a living green privacy fence with four-season interest. If your hedgerow plants are correctly chosen to work well with your particular growing conditions, such as your cold hardiness zones, and incorporate native plants, shrubs, and smaller trees, you will have a winning combination. Native plants tend to be more drought tolerant, and once established, the classic hedgerow needs very little maintenance.

  Magickal Plants of the Hedgerows

  The fair maiden who, the first of May,

  Goes to the fields at the break of day

  And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree

  Will ever after handsome be.

 
old english rhyme

  Traditionally, a Witch’s property or garden was thought to contain at least one hawthorn hedge. Hawthorn was not only a magickal plant of many powers, it was and is still today highly valued as the foundation plant of the hedgerows. The blackthorn, wild rose, and gorse were all popular plants that were typically utilized in the hedgerows also, as was the elder tree, the hazel, apples of several varieties, and the bramble, otherwise known as the wild blackberry.

  Now, you will notice as you read farther along that all of these featured plants produce fruit, whether for human consumption or for bees, birds, and other small game. A greater variety of plants in the hedgerows only encourages and supports a broader diversity of local wildlife. The hedgerow is like a miniature ecosystem. I should also mention that native trees such as the oak, ash, and maple were also utilized in the structure of hedgerows, as were hundreds of varieties of wildflowers that volunteered or were purposefully planted to increase the hedgerow’s biodiversity. The majority of the featured hedgerow plants are also full of thorns, which helped keep larger livestock and other problem animals at bay—not to mention making it tough for an adversary to get through the thorns and onto your property without injury.

  As in the wildflower sections, the hedgerow plants will also be listed first by their common name, with the botanical name in italics. Why do I list the botanical names, you wonder? Well, as a gardener and magickal herbalist, botanical names are key, as they make identification exact, and in the long run, they make working with the plants easier.

  Garden Witch Tip: It is important to note that some of the classic hedgerow species such as the gorse and the alder buckthorn are considered noxious weeds in certain parts of the world. Check with your local conservation department or a reputable nursery for other native plant suggestions that will benefit the ecosystem. There are many options available to you.