The Herb Garden

Herb Sampler

Basil

Once used to draw poison from bites. Its spicy flavor now a favorite in tomato dishes and pesto. Symbolizes love or hatred.

Bee Balm (Bergamot)

A native plant with scented leaves and flowers used by Indians and Colonists for tea. Symbolizes compassion.

Borage

The blue and white flowers may be candied. The leaves add a cucumber flavor to salads. Symbolizes courage.

Calendula (Pot Marigold)

A syrup of petals gives strength to the heart. Dried petals give color and flavor to soups and stews. Symbolizes grief.

Clove Pink (Gillyflowers)

Used in medicines and cordials for the flavor of cloves. In wine, it brings comfort to the heart and strength to the brain.

Costmary (Bible Leaf)

Spicy and sweet smelling used as a nibble in Church, to flavor ale, and to line drawers and chests.

Feverfew

Various parts of this Colonial asprin used for insect bites, fever, toothache and worms. The flowers dry well. Symbolizes good health and warmth.

Flax

The tough stems used to spin into linen thread. The seeds produced an oil good for diseases of the chest and lungs. Symbolizes utility.

Foxglove

Once used for lung and liver complaints, today, used to stimulate the heart. Toxic to children and animals. Symbolizes insincerity.

Lady's Mantle

Dew gathered from the leaves helped to improve the complexion. A tea used to stop internal bleeding.

Lamb's Ears

The soft leaves were used to bandage wounds and help stop the flow of blood. Dried, they became a tea. Symbolizes support and gentleness.

Lavender

Used since Roman times to scent bath water. Once used for headache and faintness. Today used in soaps, oils and sachets for fragrance.

Lemon Balm

Once used in wine to fight fevers, in a poultice for dog or snake bites, and fresh to polish funiture. Today, used in drinks and salads.

Lovage

The leaves add a celery flavor to salad, soup and stew. The root, dried and ground, was good for "inward disease." Symbolizes strength.

Mint

A strewing herb in homes, churches and dirty streets, and rubbed on teeth to clean them. Used with lamb, peas, and fruit. A symbol of virtue.

Monkshood (Wolfbane)

The ground roots mixed with meat used to kell wolves. Mixed with oil, applied for rheumatism. Symbolizes misanthropy.

Rosemary

Used for colds and indigestion. Now used with chicken, fish, and salad. In a bride's bouquet, symbolizes happiness and fidelity, at funerals, rememberance.

Rue

Bruised leaves uses for gout and stiffening joints. In ale, it prevented nightmares. It can cause a skin rash. Symbolizes grace and virginity.

Sage

Used for nerves, blood, consumption, worms and to quicken memory. Now used in dressings, stews, cheese, and sausage. Symbolizes a long life and wisdom.

Savory

Excellent in bean dishes, its peppery flavor is welcome in stews. Try rubbing it on a bee sting to ease the pain.

Sweet Cicely

The root once boiled and served with oil and vinegar to renew strength and appetite in old people. Try it in fruit salad or a cooling drink. Symbolizes sincerity and gladness.

Thyme

A large aromatic family, used for colds, worms, headache and as a disinfectant. Excellent with fish, fowl, meat, eggs, breads and teas. Symbolizes bravery and courage.

Yarrow

Since the Battle of Troy, used to stop bleeding, ease pain and prevent infection. Chewed, it helped toothache. Today the dried flowers used in winter bouquets. Symbolizes health.