Something a bit different, Stephen Caine an ABBA Champion, begins a series associated with
'Starting up a Medicinal Herb Garden"
This will be the first of a mini blog on the setting up of a herb garden. Having worked for over forty years as a natural history preparator / illustrator, last year I decided to retire and spend more time in the garden and on botanical painting of extinct plant life (I love illustrating fossil plants).
I was brought up by my grandparents at their house on the Lancashire moors; they taught me how to collect, prepare and use herbs and other plants. Now, many years later living in Scotland, I still grow medicinal plants dotted around our cottage garden style.
However, I intend to put things on more of a business footing, as I was already in a position to supply Burdock roots - Arctium lappa, Mandrake seeds - Mandragora sp, Wormwood - Artemisia absinthium and Mugwort - Artemesia vulgaris, in quantity.
With my canine helpers, Otto and Moose, this winter will be spent building raised beds and clearing more spare ground. Some plants will also be grown to supply my wife’s natural soap business. To be used as dyes and for their antibacterial and health benefits.
For the foreseeable future my paintings will be of fungi so if anyone wants to paint or draw any of the herbs mentioned or others in the garden contact me using my email address below.
Some of the herbs are Deadly Nightshade - Atropa belladona,Skulcap, - Scutellaria galericulata , Mugwort, - Artemisia vulgaris L. , and Wolfsbane -Aconitum sp,
Stephen Caine
January 2020