“Much Virtue in Herbs, little in Men.” ~Herbal Lore

"The intense perfumes of the wild herbs as we trod them underfoot made us feel almost drunk."  ~Jacqueline du Pre

"More in the garden grows , than the witch knows."

"Sell your coat and buy betony."

"No ear hath heard no tongue can tell, The virtue of the pimpernel"

"Treoil , vervain , st. John’s wort dill

Hinder Witches of all their will."

“The air was fragrant with a thousand trodden aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows…” ~William Cullen Bryant

“Here’s flowers for you; Hot lavender, mints, savoury, marjoram; The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ the sun, And with him rises weeping…”~William Shakespeare, 1611.

"Sow fennel , Sow sorrow ."

"And because the Breath of Flowers is farre Sweeter in the Aire (where it comes and Gose, like the Warbling of Musick) than in the hand, therefore nothing is more fit for delight, than to know what be the Flowers and the Plants that doe best perfume the Aire." ~ Francis Bacon, 1625.

"Plant your sage and rue together,

The sage will grow in any weather ."

"Snakes will not go  Where geraniums grow."

"My gardens sweet, enclosed with walles strong, embarked with benches to sytt and take my rest. The Knotts so enknotted, it cannot be exprest. With arbours and alys so pleasant and so dulce, the pestylant ayers with flavours to repulse." ~Thomas Cavendish, 1532.

"Where the yarrow grows , there is one who knows."

"If ye would herbal magic make

Be sure the spell in rhyme be spake."

"Woe to the lad  without a rowan tree-god."

"The fair maid who , the first of May

Goes to the fields at break of day

And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree ,

Will ever after handsome be."

"St. John’s wort and cyclamen in your bed-chambers keep , From evil spells and witcheries , To guard you in your sleep ."

"I borage , give courage ."

“Good morrow, good Yarrow, good morrow to thee. Send me this night my true love to see, The clothes that he’ll wear, the colour of his hair. And if he’ll wed me…”  ~Danaher, 1756.

"When daisies pied and violets blue, and lady-smocks all silver white. And Cuckoo-buds of yellow hue, do paint the meadows with delight." ~William Shakespeare, 1595.

"Rowan tree and red-thread

Put the witches to their speed."

“Much Virtue in Herbs, little in Men.”

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Poor Richard’s Almanac

"Faerie-Folks , Are in old oaks ."

***I'm teaching an Herbal Lore Workshop, actually, several this year. The first is with Savvy Authors from Mar 11, 2013 - Apr 7, 2013. For more information and to register for the workshop click:  Herbal Lore and the Historic Medicinal Uses of Herbs