Borage - A Beautiful Talisman for Courage

I continue my Summer Solstice celebrations publishing some of my gardening photography with one of my favourite plants:

Borage, a.k.a. Starflower, is famed for its reputation as a giver of courage and bravery. Just tucking one of its flowers into your pocket before a particularly stressful situation is said to be enough for this most beautiful of herbs to work its wonder. Such was this plant's mettle-inducing reputation that ancient Celtic warriors and Roman soldiers partook of its magick by drinking Borage wine before engaging in battle.

I don't know how true these claims for its courage inducing qualities are, but I am sure that their eye-catching splendour really does lift ones spirits.

Foxglove: A Velvety Cavern of Delight

In my third post celebrating Summer Solstice, here is a photograph of what I happened to glance inside a Foxglove bloom. I have to admit that I got spellbound for a moment inside its colourful, velvety cavern of delight:

The Interior Of A Foxglove Bloom

Stinging Nettles

Continuing my Summer Solstice celebration of plants and flowers, here is a pic and a little information on that infamous 'weed', the stinging nettle:

Stinging Nettles are more often than not classed as weeds and are unwelcome in most UK gardens. Given their particularly less-than-showy flowers and the fact that the plants possess thousands of hairs which can easily puncture human skin and inject histamine and other stinging and irritating chemicals into those unfortunate enough to have merely brushed past its leaves, it is not difficult to understand this popular dislike for Urtica dioica. That said, Nettles do have their uses and their own particular charm and some people, myself amongst them, would be unhappy to see them disappear completely from their garden.

Urtica dioica a.k.a. Stinging Nettles

Hollyhocks

To celebrate this year's Summer Solstice, I am going to post some of my older photographs, which celebrate the beauty of the flowers I have grown over the years. I will start the ball rolling with Hollyhocks:

Hollyhocks growing in my old garden a good few years ago

Hollyhocks have been used and admired by Pagans throughout history. Remains of the plant have even been found in 50,000 year old graves. Medicinally, the roots of Hollyhocks have been used to help clear chest infections, to stop bleeding and incontinence and to prevent miscarriages. In Victorian times, the pretty blooms were said to worn by fairies as skirts. Eating a mix of Hollyhocks, Marigolds, Thyme and Hazel, was also said to induce visions of the Faery Folk. The ripe seedpods of Hollyhocks have been used magickally to attract wealth to its owner and were grown in gardens as goodluck charm for the family.

Romanesque Cabbage Detail

This has got to be the most psychedelic-looking vegetable ever! You really can lose yourself in the intricate fractal beauty of a Romanesque Cabbage!

Elveden Forest, Norfolk

Elveden Forest

Elveden Forest is believed to be alive with faery magic. Passing the forest on my way home from my holiday weekend in Norfolk, I could not help myself but stop off here to stretch my legs a little, despite my recent back injury. I was unable to walk very far into its magickal terrain, but I hope I captured a sense of its beauty and enchantment in the few photographs I took of the forest.

Sunshine Seeping Through The Leafy Boughs Of Elveden Forest

There have been numerous reports in Elveden Forest of faeries luring travellers away from their paths and into the faery realm. Beguiling music, the tinkling of bells and strange ethereal laughter have all been reported beneath the boughs of this magnificent forest. Such is the strength of this faery folklore that the forest even takes its name from these strange, alluring tales:  Elveden - literally the den of elves. 

Be Careful Not To Be Pixie-Led in Elveden Forest 

Heading Home With An Ouch!

Ouch! I woke up this morning with excruciating lower back pain and very limited movement. The only thing that I can think could have caused the injury was my collecting fallen twigs and branches from the surrounding woodland for our campfire the night before! Still, a seven plus hour drive home awaits. Thankfully, we wife will be at the wheel...

Time To Head Off