By Maria Christodoulou As an herbalist exploring the wisdom and whimsy of ancient Greek herbal medicine, I often refer to ancient texts that describe the medicinal uses of plants. One of my favorite ancient herbalists is Pedanius Dioscorides (c. 40-90 CE), a Greek medical botanist and physician considered “the father of pharmacognosy,” which is the study of natural drugs obtained from plants, microbes, and animals.  Dioscorides’ five-volume encyclopedia, De Materia Medica (originally titled Περὶ ὕλης ἰατρικῆς in ancient Greek) was hand-copied and referenced extensively for an impress ..read more

By Norma Weinberg All life forms need resources, and the three most important resources needed by monarchs in their annual cycle are: nectar from flowers for the adults, both in the migratory and reproductive phases; shelter and water while overwintering; and milkweeds—food for their larvae after the breeding phase. Female monarchs only lay eggs on milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.) as a food source for their larvae, with a few exceptions. While there are over 100 species of milkweeds in North America, many are rare or confined to remote habitats. Still, monarchs utilize about 30 milkweed specie ..read more

By Bevin Cohen I’ve enjoyed gardening for most of my life. As a young kid I used to grow radishes in a flowerpot on the balcony of my grandmother’s apartment. Radishes are a perfect crop for a kid; they grow fast, they’re colorful and they make a nice little snack. When I got older, I fell in love with the garden of a close family friend. It was a husband and wife team. On one side of the garden, he grew all sorts of tasty fruits and vegetables, and on her side was the most diverse and colorful collection of herbs and flowers I had ever seen. The buzzing of bees would fill the summer air while ..read more

by Beth Schreibman Gehring The summer solstice is a time when the natural world is ablaze with life, when the energies of light and warmth are at their peak. This celestial dance of light and shadow held profound significance for our ancestors. It was a time of celebration and thanks for the coming harvests, and a time to relax for a bit and play. Still today, some cultures celebrate by kindling fires, symbolizing the transformative power of the sun, and many communities gather to dance, sing, and rejoice in the abundance of the season. Within the realms of folklore, the summer solstice is a m ..read more

By Peggy Riccio I love being able to step out into the garden and snip fresh herbs whenever I need them. Yesterday, I was making ham and bean stew in the crockpot. I was inspired to add thyme so I cut off a few sprigs from the thyme growing in the front of the house. I looked around and snipped even more herbs: cutting celery, oregano, sage, and rosemary. Except for the cutting celery, these are perennial herbs that should be in everyone’s garden. They can be tucked in the ornamental bed just like any other perennial plant. In the spring, you can purchase the small plants from a nursery or you ..read more

By Julie Bawden-Davis Long before humans roamed the forests, fairies are said to have taken up residence in the cavities of trees, forming fairy houses where they took refuge. Dating back to the Middle Ages, fairy folklore says that these little beings possess supernatural powers.  Many believe that fairies come from the elements—in fact, from Mother Nature herself. For that reason, it makes sense to add fairies to your garden. Even better, adding fairy gardens to your landscape elevates the magic and mystery of your landscape. How to Make Your Own Fairy Garden Whether you believe in fair ..read more

Have you ever said to yourself or others, “My garden is my therapy?” If you have noticed that you feel more relaxed and even rejuvenated after imbibing the beauty, fragrance, and even hard work in your garden, you are not alone! Gardening provides physical exercise, as well as a rewarding intellectual and emotional connection. When recognized on a personal level, it is not a stretch to see how people in a wide variety of care environments who are facing diverse personal challenges can benefit from professionally facilitated horticultural experiences as well. The profession of horticultural the ..read more

By Maryann Readal, Secretary, The Herb Society of America Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted March 9, 2018. We hope it inspires you as you plan your spring gardens! Recently I attended the Edible Yard Symposium sponsored by my local Master Gardener Association. It seems that a trend now is to plant vegetables and herbs into all of your beds instead of plowing up a special garden for these plants in the back 40. Last year, my husband tried to convince me to plant his peppers among my salvias, his spinach next to my parsley and his green beans on my garden trellis.  Oh no, I ..read more

By Maryann Readal Ginger, Zingiber officinale, is The Herb Society of America’s Herb of the Month for January. The English botanist, William Roscoe (1753-1831), gave ginger its name, which was derived from the Sanskrit word sryngaveram, which means “horn root.” However, ginger is not a root; it is a rhizome, which is an underground stem from which the roots grow. Ginger is an excellent spice to feature in January, because when infused into warm water, its spiciness warms the body on a cold winter day. Its medicinal qualities also help to relieve a sore throat or other cold symptoms that are mo ..read more

by Debbie Boutelier (Editors’ note: This article originally appeared in a recent HSA newsletter. It has been edited for clarity for this post.) In a recent GreenBridges™ presentation, I mentioned the power of one several times. I’d like to share a short story about how the power of one worked in my GreenBridges garden. My garden was certified a number of years ago, and I have been slowly incorporating more native plants into my landscape. (We all NEED a reason to buy more plants, right???)  When COVID hit, and we all had to stay home more, I decided it was time to kick my garden proj ..read more