Category Archives: about plants

grandma Anna-Liisa

59 My grandmother loved her dahlias. Her garden was gorgeous, for the vegetables and berries, but also flowers, tended to with so much skill, joy and love up until her last summer in life. And I think the dahlias were her favorites in the flower beds – digging up the roots every autumn, keeping themContinue reading “grandma Anna-Liisa”

cognition (i & ii)

52 & 53 In August, while weeding among the kale on the allotment garden, I listened to a radio essay about hiking. The journalist referred to a cognitive science researcher who had said that research indicates that our ability for abstract thinking increases in places with open vistas, like mountains or by the ocean. AsContinue reading “cognition (i & ii)”

marigolds

42 & 43 How we change through life fascinates me. Tastes, for example. Some change happens with active practice, like learning to love smelly cheese or wine. Other change surprises you. Growing up, I never liked marigolds. This orange flower, so common in ornamental flowerbeds, I thought they looked stiff, they smelled disgusting. Were justContinue reading “marigolds”

Swedish ethnobotany (viii)

28 [Elder / Fläder (S) / Sambucus nigra] Elder was Freya’s (Nordic tradition) and Holda’s (Germanic tradition) plant, and it was the protective tree of households and women’s crafts. It guarded against witches and other evil magic, and was often planted around the house for protection – although the potency of the tree became strongestContinue reading “Swedish ethnobotany (viii)”

Swedish ethnobotany (vii)

27 [Norwegian angelica / Fjällkvanne (S) / Angelica archangelica] The story tells that during the Black Plague in medieval Europe, a monk in a Swedish monastery had a dream. In this dream, an archangel came to him and said that the Norwegian angelica wards off all evil, and that he should use it to cureContinue reading “Swedish ethnobotany (vii)”

Swedish ethnobotany (vi)

26 [Lovage / Libbsticka (S) / Levisticum officinale] Lovage was believed to be an aphrodisiac, and was also planted around the house to protect against witches, rats and mice. To this day, it is still used in cooking for its taste-enhancing capacity. For example, it is one of the ingredients in many brands of driedContinue reading “Swedish ethnobotany (vi)”

Swedish ethnobotany (v)

25 [Henbane / Bolmört (S) / Hyoscyamus niger] Henbane was a witch plant and used during medieval times to poison enemies. It was believed to be used in flying salve that witches put on their brooms before flying to dance with the devil. In small doses, it could also be given to hens, turning themContinue reading “Swedish ethnobotany (v)”

Swedish ethnobotany (iv)

24 [Chamomile / Kamomill (S) / Matricaria chamomilla] Chamomile was believed to be a heal-all herb. In ancient Egypt, it was dedicated to the sun. It was brought to Sweden, like many other herbs, by monks during the Middle Ages, but is now growing wild in meadows all over the southern half of the country.Continue reading “Swedish ethnobotany (iv)”

Swedish ethnobotany (iii)

23 [Lemon balm / Citronmeliss (S) / Melissa officinalis] Lemon balm was believed to protect against illnesses and to keep your body healthy in general. It was also seen as a love herb – if wine was spiced with lemon balm and then given to your loved one, it would evoke love in them. ItContinue reading “Swedish ethnobotany (iii)”