The days are getting longer, brighter and warmer! It's time to find out how our Medieval Herb Garden volunteers made the most of a mild Monday.
3 February 2025
Well, it was lovely weather this morning; I even took my fleece off at one point. The ground was still a bit sticky, but almost perfect for getting-to-grips with the green alkanet seedings from last year. When I say seedlings: they are about six inches across and have roots going down at least eight inches.
We have two green alkanet plants in the MHG because the bees love them so much. It’s strange though, as one self-seeds everywhere and the other one doesn’t seem to self-seed at all. We also had a general tidy up of the columbines, comfrey and salad burnet.
Exciting news - it looks like there will be some rhubarb plants ready for sale next week! They're doing well in our little nursery. Just in time for the Rhubarb Festival!
Plant of the week: Anemone (anemone coronaria)
The plant of the week is the an-em-o-ne (not as is often mispronounced
an-en-o-me)
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Greek ἀνεμώνη (anemōnē) means 'daughter of the wind'.
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| Our anemone coronaria, which will be in full bloom later this week |
More than 50 anemone species are used in various traditional medical systems worldwide. The Medieval Herb Garden has anemone coronaria. We chose this species because it is clump-forming, rather than the spreading (via runners) variety.
Anemone coronaria means crown anemone. It refers to the central crown of the flower.
It is a clump forming, tuberous, perennial plant. It is originally from the Mediterranean and will grow in well-drained loam or sand. It likes the sun, but prefers a sheltered aspect.
It has a height of 20-45 cm and spread of 15-24 cm. The leaves are finely divided and parsley-like. The flowers are solitary and shallowly cup-shaped. They typically have five to eight red petals, which are up to 8cm across. The flowers sit atop stiff, slender, stems. The anemone's usual flowering period is from April to June. However, ours are already out now.
Folklore
Anemone coronaria blooms in deserts and wild places. However, it is fragile and short-lived because the winds soon destroy it.
In Greece, and in many places in the Middle East, this blood-red anemone is identified with the beautiful youth Adonis. Adonis was adored by the goddess Aphrodite. He was torn to pieces by a boar whilst out hunting. After blaming the Fates from taking Adonis away from her, Aphrodite sprinkled the blood of Adonis with sweet-smelling nectar. His blood began to sparkle. In less than an hour, a flower sprang up. It was dark red, the very colour of Adonis' blood.
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| Luigi Primo, 'Venus lamenting the death of Adonis', from around 1606. Venus is the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite. |
It is said that this flower symbolises Aphrodite's everlasting grief for Adonis. Just like him, it is beautiful, slender, and short-lived.
Medieval uses*
All species of anemone can be poisonous to humans and animals. Despite this, they were used in folk medicine to treat headaches, gout and other conditions.
In small doses, the flower and roots are sometimes used to ease eye and skin inflammation, menstrual pain, emotional distress, and respiratory problems.
* This is what people in the medieval period thought the plant could be used for. It is not to be considered to be advice on its use today. No herbs mentioned in this blog should be used without consulting a doctor.
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