herbs and wildflowers..

Wildflower, I did buy a book about this subject once, but it didn't seem very inspiring. Getting it straight from the horses mouth, so to speak seems to bring it alive somehow!
I have arthritis in the fingers, so that's why I mentioned chickweed, but from what you say, I suppose even if its in a container it would still spread, so pass on that one. I grow chives anyway, and hissop sounds interesting; can you grow it in a pot ok? The rosemary sounds good for my circulation. (dislike the smell!) How would you prepare it, or do you just use it as it is?
It seems a waste, if nature provided these plants but we don't use them, so basically I am looking for function, but if they look or smell nice then that would be the icing on the cake.
With the elderberry, presumably the medicine is totally different from the wine then?
Thanks again.

 

when starting a new wild meadow area you must remember to reduce the fertility of the ground, or, if using an area that has grown grass to remove it all, rotavate, and level. DO NOT ADD FERTILIZER....as the area matures over the years it will be self fertilizing in the right amounts for the plants that have esablished themselves.

 

absolutely! wild flowers do not like to be pampered! They do far better in barren soil. I've never understood why - but I dare say if you've adapted to survive in minimal conditions, too much goodness will have an adverse effect. Does that sound like a text book? Sorry!

 

Well then dendrobium, you have just agreed with me about what I was saying on the water philosophy topic! :D :D :D

I know, I know, your talking about wild flowers!

 

dag...the best thing you could have is nettle tea...dont pick them from the roadside as they are toxic ..just the fresh tops and make some tea....drink it three times a day..its great for what you have..if you wanted something to rub in then you would probably be best of using comfreywith rosemary added...you could simmer some chopped comfrey leaves in a dish over boiling water with some chopped rosemary in about half a pint of olive oil keep it on a low heat simmering for half an hour add beeswax..you can buy that at nealsyardremedies on line its cheap enough...when the beeswax has melted strain it into jars and it will set in about 20 minutes put the lid on and keep somewhere cool...or in the fridge..you can also make comfrey oil by putting comfrey in a coffee jar filled with sunflower oil on a sunny window ledge shake it daily for two weeeks strain and you have comfrey oil...you can do that with any herb..you could also try devils claw tablets as they are really good...or you could try methylcobalamin lozenges they are brilliant and actually regrow new nerves they are excellent for aches and pains..and the whole system...if you want to try the lozenges email me and i will tell you where to get them from..do you want your herbs to grow in pots? you can grow hyssop in pots a lot of people grow herbs and keep them in containers..probably keeps them under control more..as some of them can be a pest if you like things tidy..i dont mind things popping up all over as thats the style of garden i like..but its not everyone elses idea...dont bother with chickweed its a menace of a weed...i dont like it as i am over run with it...i keep getting rid and its back again ..i would definately try some herbal remedies for your complaint..i did an advanced herbalist course so iknow a bit about herbs...i take herbs every day..i havnt had a cold for 7 years so something is keeping me healthy..

 

wildflower...does Laurel have medicinal properties?
Remember my granny making a salve using the leaves and giving it to a chap in the village who had a skin condition....Stank to high heaven but seemed to do the trick for him!

 

do you mean BAY LAUREL LAURACEAE if so then that can be used for...internally for indigestion..poor appetite and colic and flatulance..externally for dandruff ..rheumatism..sprains ..bruises..atonic ulcers and scabies..i looked in my herb book for this and their are other laurels..but this one is the most used in the kitchen...you can dry single leaves or a whole branch to be used in the winter...i know its slow growing as mine is creeping along slowly..people usually use the leaves for cooking but like most herbs it has multi uses..

 

It was a common Laurel hedge she picked the leaves off..would that be Prunus laurocerasus?...I think it's still growing.

 

If it was the prunus Paladin, I shold watch what you use it for, as far as I can make out its poisonous. :eek:

 

i wonder if peeps have tried the wild flower plugs which coould be established quickly to start a wild meadow?

 

laurels are aucuba, bays are laurus nobilis, and cherry laurels are prunus - but they look totally different! You have to really know what you're doing - as Wildflower does.

 

O.K...I really am not sure what type it was but Granny made many potions from all sorts of plants.
She applied salves and at times laid on hands and whispered charms.
When I was 10 she cleansed my septic hand with a nettle concoction when doctors thought I would have to have it amputated as the poison was spreading along my arm.

 

if you mean prunus laurocerasus ..which is cherry bay or english laurel.....it is a very poisonous sedative herb that relaxes spasms improves digestion and controls coughing..they use the cherry laurel as a commercial food flavouring..I wouldnt reccomend you use these sorts of laurel as if they can be poisonous its dangerous unless you know what you are doing...the same goes with any herb make sure you identify it 100% ...thats why its some times best to either buy a plug and keep it labelled or the same with seeds..then you know for sure what it is....nettles are fabulous for all sorts of things they are amazing..they are an astringent..diuretic..tonic herb..they control bleeding clear toxins reduces blood pressure and blood sugar levels...taken as a tea they are good for..anaemia..heavy menstrual bleeding..haemorrhoids..arthritis..rheumatism..gout..skin complaints..and the root can be used for prostrate enlargement..they are also excellent for the scalp ..hair..sciatica..neuralgia..burns..insect bites.....then you can allways cook the young leaves as they are like spinach...you can make nettle soup or beer..make sure you use the new leaves as the old leaves can be gritty..i believe they also used to make cloth with nettles in the war, and as we all know they make good plant food that smells wonderfull...in fact if you have nettles you hardly need anything else..

 

if you go to nettles.org.uk the nettle actually has its own page with lots of recipes...its nettle week 17th to the 28th may...i found this site last year and its really interesting..

 

I have had a look in an old herb book and apparently they used to make ointment from mountain laurel by stewing the leaves in pure lard in an earthenware dish in a hot oven ...it is still poison and should be used with care or not at all..use the kitchen bay....if they used to overdose on it they used to drink whisky as its the best antidote to poisoning from this plant..in some countrys they expressed the juice from the leaves if they wished to commit suicide..so perhaps its best left alone.. in my old book i also found what they did in the olden days to promote hair growth they combed their hair daily with nettle juice...worth a try if anyone is going bald!!