Silphium the lost flower

 

Silphium is the name of a golden coloured plant that was highly used in ancient times, much favoured among the Romans for it's chemical that was used as a love potion. It was known as an aphrodisiac, and plenty of horny people sought the plant Silphium. It was picked and then collected, sold in markets, sold in shops, given away as gifts to lovers and even used at orgiastic parties. Then two thousand years ago, Silphium became extinct. 

It was eaten too much, and then it stopped growing. Found only on the coast of Cyrenaica, it wasn't able to be harvested or cultivated elsewhere. So it only allowed to grow in its natural place. Lustful Romans ended the flower. Yet, was this true? Let me look into it. The ancient Greeks called it Silphion, but it was a favourite passion flower in demand already, long before the Greeks and Romans. The flower was a food source, cooked and consumed during harsh droughts, bad harvests and disease outbreaks. The flower acted as medicine, a healing herb, and also fed hungry mouths. It was mostly a contraceptive, taken by women who didn't want to get pregnant while enjoying company of men. 

But it was highly valued as an aphrodisiac. The ancient Greeks had coins with the image of the Silphium plant on the reverse side. It was at the reign of Julius Caesar, that a load of Silphium was stockpiled with a value of thousands of pounds, along with gold in the Roman treasure vault. Saplings of Silphium was of the same value as silver. Everyone loved Silphium. But one day, it simply vanished. It was the Roman writer Pliny the Elder who said "only one stalk" of Silphium was found. That stalk was given to Emperor Nero and it was the last time Silphium was reported. 

It was many centuries later after Pliny the Elder (who died in 79 AD) that people searched high and low for the fabled legendary flower Silphium. They looked around the Mediterranean coasts and especially at Cyrenaica where the plant naturally grew. During the Middle Ages, people searched for Silphium over many continents and they travelled with knowledge of botany and historic texts. It was never found and it was concluded the plant was extinct.

A researcher named Mahmut Miski of Istanbul University believes that he found the plant growing on Mount Hasan in Turkey. This plant is scientifically called Ferula Drudeana, although many people debate this and believe it could be a relation nothing more. 

Further info and reading "On the hunt for mystery herb" at Kew: https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/silphium-mystery  

"Gift of Apollo" at Garden of Gods and Monsters: https://gardenofgodsandmonsters.wordpress.com/2013/07/21/gift-of-apollo-and-womens-friend-silphium/  

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Violet, February flower

 

Many early flowers begin to show in the wild during February, and the most common to see are snowdrops, then crocuses, daffodils, winter jasmine and more, not to mention winter pansies. The flower associated with the month of February because of the colour and folklore is the Violet. There are many varieties of violets but in northern Europe the sweet violets show in February. 

The birthstone of February is an amethyst, a purple coloured gem and violets mostly are purple. Violets are also come in shades of blue, even there are many colourful violets. Regular wild violets are purple and sweet smelling. Pansies are another type of violet. These delicate flowers are tough little cookies, as they can thrive in cold winters and warm summers. 

Since ancient times people have cultivated violets. As their shapes are like hearts, it's obvious that they're associated with Valentine's Day. For this reason alone, violets are symbols of romantic love. The aromatic flowers have been used to make perfumes for centuries. Considered a pretty feature in cookery, especially as cake decorations, herbal remedies and wine making. It's believe that violets could attract love and they were used in spells and potions. 

Violets are linked to the goddess of love as well as the planet Venus. Violets grown in the garden are said to help attract fairies.  

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Healing white crystal

Here is a crystal, a simple milky quartz, filled with energy and light, forged in nature itself, it's beauty is like a star, and is common as water, less valued than a diamond but more powerful than gold. It can cause harm to no one. Yet it's used to defeat evil, and instil memories, focus on remembering dreams and make past faint events clearer to the mind. Milky quartz is a physical cloud of the heavens, born deep within the earth's soil, and it summons no bad entities or used in malice, although it can protect and shield from harm, danger and spitefulness.

The moon itself has entered a last phase of January the other night, a moon that is a reflection of light, with a dark side. This milky crystal can enhance the magic of the moon by helping to protect against evil and danger.

The nature of the crystal is similar to moonlight. 

A time of Winter, snow and storm, a waning wolf moon, brings with it a new beginning and lighter days ahead. It will be natural and not in anger. The force of the moon and sun is familiar and more powerful than the deeds of humanity. The sky and Earth together can help protect all living things against anger, danger and evil. Kindness is a powerful tool. Sharing and giving, nurturing and healing. Give love and compassion to animals and this will strengthen love and the power of the crystal healing. The moon and sun observes human behaviour and it's awful impact on other creatures. 

The play of the fox, the flight of birds, the bedrests of hibernating creatures, the swim of marine animals too, is all part of the Earth as well as humanity, but sadly most people have forgot nature. It is why there are many wars and too much damage to the land and sea. It takes just one person, from a child to an elderly human to feel love, compassion, kindness and empathy towards animals and plants, including trees. Trees, water and air gives life. The crystal that is reflection and energy, can heal and expel evil and danger. 

The minor little quartz can help feed healing and good feelings brought on by restored memories and health. Humans have been sick too long as a species, but individuals remember nature and more need to grow to put evil and danger at bay, and overcome it. 

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Hellebore, January flower

The most common wild species of flower to grow in January is the hellebore. It's other name is "winter rose" because it looks similar in shape. They come in many varieties and is an evergreen. 

Across Europe and the British Isles is a native green hellebore (helleborus viridis) that appears in January in the wilds, then flowers later. It looks like a green flower, which adds colour to the grey soil of a wintry landscape. Many more hellebores can be found on the Wikipedia page: Hellebore

Hellebore's have sepals that come in different colours and shades. Despite the title "rose" given to these plants, hellebores are not related to the rose family.

They're quite poisonous and more harmful to dogs. Gardeners Path explains more about the effects on animals that eat these plants: Toxic hellebore

Hellebores are associated with healing. Hippocrates, the Greek philosopher, cultivated hellebore's to use in medicine. In folklore, hellebore plants have been used to protect against evil spirits. 

Here is an interesting page all about the hellebore found on Magickal site: Hellebore

Many types of hellebore for your garden at Epic Gardening: 17 types of hellebore

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