The wonderful world of plants
A friend of mine gave me a fantastic gift for my recent ‘big’ birthday. She had searched the internet for ‘presents for homeopaths’ using a well known browser, and came up with the perfect present!
She took me to Chelsea Physic Garden to go on their ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour, led by the current Head Gardener, Nell Jones. We were both completely enthralled as she guided us around the main sections of the garden explaining their names and themes behind the planting.
It’s a relatively small plot of 4 acres, sitting right on the edge of the River Thames and flanked nowadays on three sides by the opulent dwellings of Chelsea. Every plant must therefore validate its place here and is carefully noted down for its horticultural value and its position in the garden.
Established in 1673, Chelsea Physic Garden was created to educate apothecaries and herbalists of the time – the doctors of the day – teaching them how to identify plants and their properties.
My favourite area was the Garden of Medicinal Plants, designed by a previous Head gardener, as ‘a journey through the historical and contemporary use of medicinal plants throughout the world’. This area is divided into sections showing plants used in Oncology and Anaesthesia, Cardiology, Ophthalmology, Herbal and Pharmaceutical Medicine and more besides.
Later on in our tour, we saw young Cannabis Indica plants sitting in their cold frames, ready to go into position as ‘summer bedding’ over the next couple of weeks! (They can’t tolerate cold).
I have never seen such a large Belladonna (aka Deadly Nightshade) specimen growing before as it is often removed or cut back in gardens, due to its toxicity. As a homeopathic remedy, it is completely non-toxic and is prescribed to reduce a fever, for headaches or sunstroke and to ease boils or abscesses.
Find out more about Chelsea Physic Garden here.
I’m not long back from our annual Scottish beach holiday…
… where we normally go for Summer Half term break. My grandparents bought two adjoining fishermen’s cottages in 1960 and they were remodelled and have been used by extented family and friends ever since. I have many happy memories of times there and my children are the 5th generation to stay there in the cottage right by the sea. It’s so close to the beach, the water comes right up the steps every high tide! It’s a little piece of heaven and contrary to popular belief, the weather is usually perfect when we are there. No rain or thunderstorms all week.
On a more homeopathic point, I noticed that my hayfever symptoms completely disappeared when I arrived! It’s interesting that one of several remedies homeopaths prescribe for hayfever is Nat Mur or Sea Salt. It’s been a bad year for hayfever and although I have been managing my symptoms with remedies fairly well, being surrounded by salty air certainly did the trick for me.
If you are interested in the cottage, it is available to rent here.
Elderflower Cordial
Hasn’t the weather been lovely lately?! It seems as if the trees and plants are flowering and offering up their fruit in abundance this year. I love a bit of a forage and making things from fruits or flowers I have picked on a walk, and my favourite recipe at this time of year is elderflower cordial.
It’s so easy to make and so refreshing. All you need is water, sugar or honey, lots of elderflower heads, lemons or limes and some Citric Acid. Here’s a recipe to give you an idea of quantities. When it’s made, you can dilute it with still or sparkling water or prosecco if you’re feeling a bit decadent!
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