What herb was a gift from Michael the Archangel?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
November 5, 2001
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Angelica (Angelica archangelica) is an herb of ancient use, native to Syria, but now naturalized over much of the cooler regions of Eurasia. It is a short-lived perennial often found growing in damp meadows. It was considered a mystical herb and has probably been used for flavoring and in rituals since mankind settled in Europe. With the advent of Christianity, the name and lore came to be
centered on religious themes.
Much of the herbal medicine was practiced in monasteries where angelica was called Spiritus sancti radix, the root of the Holy Ghost. The botanical name was taken from the common lore that the plant bloomed on or about the day of Michael the Archangel (May 8th, Old Style Julian, prior to 1582). It means "messenger, chief of messengers" because the plant was believed to be given to mankind as a preservative against evil spirits.
In Gerard's The Herbal (1633), "The root of garden Angelica is a singular remedy against poison, and against the plague, and all infections taken by evil and corrupt air...is available against witchcraft and enchantments, if a man carry the same about them...is right beneficial to the heart: it cureth the bitings of mad dogs, and all other venomous beasts."
Angelica has been used for toothaches, headaches, fever, colds, and as an expectorant. It has been shown to have some antimicrobial activity, but the herbal tea was probably more soothing than medicinal. The essential oils of angelica are an ingredient in several herbal cough remedies and in soaps, shampoos, and perfumes. Angelica stems are candied and often served after dinner to settle the stomach. The flavoring of angelica is used in desserts as well as in benedictine, chartreuse, gin, and vermouth.
Henriette's Herbal has a photograph of an excellent specimen of Angelica archangelica growing in Helsinki, Finland. To view the photograph, click on the link:
http://www.henriettesherbal.com/pictures/p02/pages/angelica-archangelica-8.htm
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What is the great angelica? Herbal Folklore - October 20, 2003
How did failure, determination, and a periwinkle save lives? Plants that Changed History - 09/25/2001
Were the hearts eased? Herbal Folklore - March 15, 2004
What herbs prevented evil on Midsummer's Eve? Herbal Folklore - June 24, 2002
What houseplant was used in voodoo? Herbal Folklore - March 25, 2002
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Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you.
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Naturalized Sun Garden
Springhill Nursery®
If you own a picture-perfect, closely cropped green lawn but find yourself dreaming of prairie meadows, take heart! Surely there's a corner of your yard you can turn into a naturalistic "prairie-style" garden in miniature, where grasses can grow tall and flowering perennials like Russian Princess Lobelia and Pink Coneflowers can mingle like jewels among fountains of shimmering silvery blades of Zebra Grass.
This particular garden, which enjoys full sun, looks especially beautiful planted close to a swimming pool to soften the lines of concrete and fencing, and wherever a soothing effect is needed in the landscape.
It doesn't take the experience of an ardent "green thumb" to create a garden as showy, colorfully balanced and long-lasting as this. With this special collection of plants, all you need is a spot with at least 6 hours of sun each day, a little time for planting and an appreciation for nature at its best.
The Naturalized Sun Garden is very useful for breaking up the lines of building, sidewalks and fencing. Or, you may wish to design your own spectacular floral island by using tall, graceful Zebra Grass as a centerpiece surrounded by the floral beauty provided by the rest of the grouping. In either case, you'll enjoy a riot of color from the first warmth of summer until fall frost brings it to an end. These time-honored, easy-to-grow and super-hardy perennial beauties will give both your yard and indoor bouquets a "prairie-style" look. Complete planting instructions and professional diagram included.
Garden includes:
1- Zebra Grass
3- Pink Coneflowers
3- Moerheim Beauty Helenium
3- Russian Princess Lobelia
3- Dwarf Gaillardia
3- Blue Fringed Daisies
1 garden includes 16 prime quality plants. (A $83.92 Catalog Value.)
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Masterwort 'Ruby Cloud'
Springhill Nursery®
Prized for its small colorful flowers, 'Ruby Cloud' is an excellent choice for borders and a treat in cut-flower arrangements. Cream-colored umbels 1 to 1 1/2" across are covered with raspberry-red flowering bracts from early summer to fall. Compact growing habit; plants reach 20-24" tall with a 12-15" spread.
#1 Field-grown plants.
Astrantia major 'Ruby Cloud'
Zone 4 to 9
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Valued for its small colorful rounded flowers carried on sturdy stems. Cream-colored umbels covered with purple-red flowering bracts resemble small pincushions. Compact growing habit. Easy care plant.
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Mango Meadowbrite Coneflower
Springhill Nursery®
Another Color breakthrough and a stunning complement to Orange Meadowbrite! Fragrant, golden-yellow blooms have a subtle orange highlight down the center of each lance-shaped petal. Flowers continuously from mid to late summer. Easy to grow in borders, open woodlands and meadows. Grows 24-36" tall with a similar spread. PPAF
Shipped in 3" pot. Deer tend to avoid.
Echinacea 'Mango Meadowbrite'
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Exciting new color for Echinacea. A sport of Orange Meadowbrite. Golden yellow with a tinge of orange down each petal. Nice compliment to pink or white coneflowers. Free-flowering versatile perennial can be grown in a number of areas. Open woodlands, meadows, foundation plantings.
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Red Feathers Dutch Clover
Springhill Nursery®
A lucky find for informal gardens, meadows and cut flowers arrangements! Carefree, ornamental clover bears dozen of huge, purple-red blooms above bushy clumps of tri-petaled green leaves. Mid-late summer flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Grows 18-24” tall with a similar spread.
Shipped in 3” pot.
Trifolium rubens
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Asclepias Collection
Breck's Bulbs®
The Asclepias Collection includes the following:
1 Asclepias Cinderella - This sweetly scented hybrid of the native wild flower is all dressed up and ready for your border, meadow or other inflormal plantings. Rosy-purple flower heads, 2" across, crown the stems for weeks, attracting butterflies all the while.
1 Asclepias Ice Ballet - Marvelous, bright white hybrid of the native swamp milkweed. Clear white flowers and dark green foliage make the visiting
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butterflies glisten in the sunlight!
2 Orange Glory Flower - Deliciously scented, bright orange flowers are among the very best for attracting butterflies to the garden. Strong, attractive plants with downy stems bear large clusters of showy, crownlike blooms.
A total of 4 plants!
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Complete Perennial Garden
Breck's Bulbs®
With Breck's Complete Perennial Garden, you can transform a boring yard into a beautiful garden filled with bright colours, interesting textures and delightful fragrances, starting this season!
Designed by Breck's team of plant experts, this special collection includes the perfect mix of bloom colours, plant shapes and flowering times to create a constant yet ever-changing display from early summer to autumn. Over the coming years, your garden will increase in beauty, providing endless blooms for your landscape and bouquets.
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We ship 6+ cm bulbs of Crocosmia and 10-12 cm bulbs of Liatris; all others are #1 size plants. Lift Crocosmia and Agapanthus in fall!
This collection includes:
12 Fire King Crocosmia - Gracefully arching stems bloom with a multitude of tubular 1/2" orange florets that mature to flaming red. Splendid and long-lasting in cut-flower arrangements.
10 Liatris - A mix of lilac and white. Blooms cover 12-15" stems from mid to late summer. Attracts butterflies.
3 Blue Globe Agapanthus - Impressive, 5" blooms command attention on any deck or patio. Ball-shaped flower heads -- each composed of countless, tiny blue florets -- are held high above long, slender foliage.
2 Flamingo Phlox - A study in elegance. Each flower begins with a startling crimson centre, fading to the loveliest of pinks.
1 Parker's Achillea - Bright golden flower heads top 3-4' stems all summer. Best in full sun.
2 Elsie Heugh Hollyhock - This miniature Hollyhock is graced with tall spikes of soft pink flowers that bloom for a month or more.
2 Monkshood - Deep blue flowers with a touch of mauve appear on branched stems in midsummer. Grows 3' tall.
2 Windsor Phlox - Fragrant pink blooms with cherry red centres from mid to late summer. Strong 24-40" stems.
2 Bright Eyes Phlox - Bright pink blooms on 24-36" stems; blooms mid to late summer.
2 Obedient Plant - Spikes of pale lavender-pink flowers top 2-4' stalks in late summer to fall. Long-lasting cut flowers.
1 Goldsturm Rudbeckia - Golden daisylike blooms wiht dark eyes cover 18-24" plants in late summer. Best in full sun.
1 Vetch's Blue Echinops - Globe-shaped flower clusters on tall stems look like living lollipops! Fragrant, dark blue blooms add interest to fresh dried arrangements.
2 Etna Astilbe - Throughout the early to middle weeks of the summer season, the 24" stems are topped by 8-12" plumes smothered with tiny flowers, beautifully set off by attractive glossy foliage.
2 Tenor Phlox - For garden harmony, blend dashing red Tenor into your display or cutting beds and colourful eye-catching bouquets.
3 Royal Standard Hosta - Large, shiny leaves up to 12" across. Fragrant white blooms in mid to late summer.
47 plants in all!
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