Mustard seed

The mustard seed comes from the mustard plant family that includes Brassica, Black Must, White Must, Rapeseed, Field Mustard, Wild Cabbage, Western Wallflower, Sinapis and more. They're a domestic plant that comes from prehistoric times. The plants grow bright yellow flowers. Seeds of the mustard can be ground into making food and medicine. It's a very warm spice, There is a lot of magical strength in myth and legend about mustard seeds. It was considered to be an aphrodisiac in ancient China. In ancient Egypt, mustard seeds were found in the tombs of pharaohs. German bides used to sew mustard seeds into the hems of their wedding dresses for luck. Mustard seeds can also be used as protection against evil spirits. 

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, there is a fairy called Mustard Seed. She's one of the magical handmaidens to Queen Titania who come from the Green World. 

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Lavender

The lavender is called the Lavandula of the Lamiaceae or mint family. Nicknamed "herb of love", Spikenard and the Latin lavare. This is a brightly coloured plant shade of purple, and a certain shade is named after the flower, Lavender. Such a medicine herb as this has been used since ancient times. It was made into a soap. The lavender is so fragrant that it was almost considered bewitching. Lavenders were used to ward off evil spirits from the home. 

Lavender tea is made with purple flower buds.There are many health benefits and psychological healing effects of lavender tea. It calms, and gives a good sleep while soothing. Lavender is good for anxiety, pain, headaches, insomnia, depression and stress.   

In Norse mythology, lavenders are sacred plants to the goddess Lofn. This gentle goddess blesses over marriages and love, even if it's forbidden love. Also associated with love, lavender tea was sipped by girls during the Tudor era, so that they would foresee their future husbands. I've grown lavenders and they attract bees in Summer. They die in Winter but flourish again when Summer returns.

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The common myrtle

The common myrtle is an evergreen plant with white shining flowers that are fragrant. Growing among the dark green leaves and shrubs, clusters of flower myrtles appear to look like stars. 

Oil extracted from myrtle plants have always been used in healing. 

Often found in southern Europe and the Middle East. Fossil records show that ancient myrtle plants once grew in places such as Denmark when the climate was different. 

Myrtle has always been considered a romantic plant with the flowers used to decourate the hair of maidens and brides. 

Associated with love, myrtle was believed to be an aphrodisiac. 

Doctors during the 16th Century called medicinal oils from myrtle, "angel water". 

Myrtle leaves contain lots of health benefits such as myricetins that helps blood sugar levels. Myrtle is also used an a cleaning agent. 

This powerful plant is sacred to the goddess Aphrodite. Myrtle shrubs were planted by temples of Aphrodite. A garland of myrtles was worn by the goddess of love and beauty. Her own myrtle nymphs helped keep the myrtle fertile and the plant attracts bees. 

The myrtle is a favourite for brides to adorn on their weddings.

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Red spotted burnets

During my rare one-off walks during quarantine, I passed a field. These colours and movements caught my attention. There were so many purple and pink thistles, and even more astonishing was the place was full of a moth species that I've not seen before. They were black with bright red markings or spots. So many of these black and red spotted moths were sat on almost every thistle. Later at home I did some checking. I discovered what these moths are called: the Six-Spot Burnet. They come from the Zygaenidae family that also includes foresters and other burnets. This big family of moths are nicknamed "smoky moths". However the six spotted burnets have a reputation alone. They're active during the day and live in meadows and woodlands. These moths are found throughout Europe and Asia Minor. The six-spot burnet moths are also called "Death Moths" because they can produce cyanide if threatened by predators such as birds and reptiles. These moths like purple and yellow flowers, including knapweeds, scabious, clover, thistle and dyrocnium. It was a colourful and rare thing to see. I wanted to share the experience on this blog.

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