Tag Archives: garden

April 12, 2026 · 4:12 pm

Herbs 101

 

 

Merry meet all,

I keep checking my seedling pots. The hardest part of growing herbs from seeds lies in having patience. I am not the most patient type, but when it comes to herbs, patience is mandatory. 

Today’s post will be all about herbs. When I’m out on a walk or checking the garden, I see signs of new growth everywhere – the crocuses popped up, the sage leaves have gone from grey to green and birds peck at the ground. I’m growing a pot of mint in the kitchen. New stems and leaves have emerged, arching toward the sun. 

Growing herbs is a great way to get to know the herbs. It helps in identifying herbs (if you’re anything like me and forget what you planted, lol), and learning to understand what they need. Obtain a spray bottle. Save the water you used to boil eggs in and pour that into the spray bottle, then mist your plants every so often. The water saved from boiling eggs in contains calcium and potassium, necessary natural fertilizers. Never drown the seedlings in a waterfall, mist them with water, especially when they are tiny and just growing their true leaves. Place them in a south-facing window so they receive the maximum amount of sunlight. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ordered organic all-natural clary sage seeds from Strictly medicinal – (https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/).  I sprinkled the clary sage seeds into the seedling pot and waited a week and a half. I’m growing chives, clary sage, spearmint and a few other seedlings have popped up, but I can’t identify what they are yet. I also added stinging nettle, catnip, basil, oregano, ashwagandha and borage to the pot of mint. I am short on space, but I have lots of enthusiasm to grow these herbs. I have to wait and see what comes up. My patience paid off though. Now I get to watch them grow. Spraying them with water lightly also greatly decreases the chances of the seedlings getting that annoying fungus in the soil. 

I’m growing catnip from seed in the mint pot because my cat can’t get up on the kitchen island. So the herbs can grow undeterred by a certain overly curious feline. 

Do not fertilize the seedlings heavily when they are growing their true leaves. Wait until the seedlings are about 6 to 8 inches tall and may be ready to potted up again or brought outdoors to the garden after the frost is gone. This is their most important growing phase right now when they get their true leaves. Herbs really take off after that. They can’t be dunked in water, pot overturned or neglected. They need all the care and attention they can get in their early stages. 

We often forget that herbs such as rosemary, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, sage, oregano, thyme, basil and chives originated in the warm Mediterranean climate. The above mentioned herbs are all part of the Lamiaceae family, the mint family. My mother’s rosemary plant is studded with the most beautiful blue blossoms, seated in the cool basement of her home. All her other plants are upstairs on the main floor. If she let the rosemary live up on the main floor during the winter, it would have dried out. My mint dried out, but now that it is spring, it has new growth. Since the mint plant is more established and growing in a deeper pot, I water it more thoroughly than I would my seedlings. Anyone serious about growing lovely, richly aromatic herbs has to get to know what herbs need. It can help to think about the type of climate the herbs originally had in the Mediterranean. I live in Atlantic Canada, which means they don’t get a longer, hot season and we have harsh winters here. But my Mom’s oregano, sage, lavender and thyme are true perennials and are growing back. 

Sage, oregano, basil, chives, mint, lavender, thyme and basil all need mostly full sun and moisture. Once it is warm enough to plant your herbs outdoors on a sunny deck or straight into the garden, make it a ritual. Pick a day when first, all chances of frost are gone and secondly, pick a dry, slightly windy day after the dew has dried. Bring your herbs outdoors. Bonus points if you are hardening them to the outdoor temperatures. You can always bring them in at night if you still feel it is too cold out. Gather all your tools, such as a trowel, a watering can, a gardening shovel and your organic fertilizer. You ARE using organic fertilizer, right? Dig a hole in the garden, remove the herb seedling from the pot, tear gently or tug the roots apart to encourage new and strong growth and place it in the hole. Add the fertilizer around the roots of the plant, then fill in with the soil. Water the seedling well and admire your seedling. Welcome it to the garden. Yes, you can talk to your plants. Ignore your nosy neighbors. Hold the seedling/s in your hands and feel its energy, and welcome it to the garden. Now let mama nature take care of the rest. Don’t crowd all the seedlings. Check the seed packet to know how much room herbs need from each other. 

Gypsum, fish emulsion and Gaia Green are all options for organic fertilizers. Never add harsh chemicals in any form, pesticides or insecticides to your garden. We need to help our plants grow. Insects are our unsung heroes. They do the hard work! Aphids trying to take over? Get ladybugs to eat them. Hang a bird feeder in your garden to feed  your avian friends, they will hunt rats, mice, voles and bugs in the garden. If you are really feeling ambitous, hang a bat house/ feeder. They eat tons of mosquitoes. Let nature fight nature. The best way to help pollinators, birds and bats who would be more than ready to keep pests down is to have healthy, natural soil. That means using no non organic fertilizers. Strong, healthy plants are able to defend themselves from predators and pests, too. 

Soil is vital. Organic soil is vital, composed of tiny, microscopic microbes – tiny bugs. Organic soil should be rich with nutrients and a good sign of organic soil is it will often contains tons of earthworms. When I would set new soil down in my garden when I lived on Crown Drive, I would work the soil in, then let the earthworms and beetles(!) aerate the soil. Earthworms are a good sign of good soil! Use compost and organic mulching methods and you will be rewarded with rich, nutrient soil just perfect for grow herbs in. Ask mother earth and father sky to bless your plants and/or your chosen deity to bless your plants. Add corresponding gemstones into the soil arranged about the base of the plants. 

My mom just accidentally knocked a pot of my baby seedlings to the floor. I was able to find my tiny seedlings and so I tucked them back into the soil. The roots were more established than I thought. The roots reached way down into the soil. Nature will never cease to amaze me. 

If you take all that care and reverence for the gifts that Mother Nature bestows upon us, whether that is a bee pollinating lavender, birds singing or dragonflies flitting from flower to flower, you will have beautiful and aromatic herbs in your garden. I hope these tips help you in your own gardening journey. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

Links to organic seed suppliers: 

Strictly Medicinal – https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/

Annapolis Seeds – https://annapolisseeds.com/

 

Leave a comment

Filed under gardening, magic, spring

March 14, 2026 · 4:58 pm

Early spring starts

Merry meet all,

I look out the window and see an overcast grey sky, with snow mounds piled up at the curbs and on sidewalks. It’s mid-March right now. We still have a way to go. I got an early start on my spring herbal seedlings. I did not anticipate that I would have so much success starting my herbs from seeds. 

I am fortunate that I own a grow light. Grow lights help immensely when you want to grow herbs, flowers or vegetables from seed or transplants. The only thing I need is patience. I know it’s hard to be patient and I obsessively check the pots to see if anything is growing, especially in the second pot. I don’t see anything growing in the pots. I have a few tiny seedlings, but I have to wait till they grow their true leaves before I know what they are. I used two methods to grow seeds: I sprinkled seeds directly into the pots and I sprinkled seeds onto a damp paper towel which I stored in two large ziploc bags. I filled a third pot with soil and Gaia Green fertilizer, mixed it into the soil. I opened up the paper towel gently and to my wonder, a  lot of tiny seedlings were ready to be moved into a pot. I used a magnifying glass and tweezers to gently free them from the paper towel and place into the pots. One must be very gentle when doing this. It does require a careful hand. I covered them with light soil and misted water onto the soil. Now they are under the grow light. I must have patience. 

This week, I participated in three wonderful spring seed growing workshops with the Herbal Academy. They are offering a gardening mini course. I already have tons of experience with gardening, but I want to take the course anyway. I am always open to learning something new. I also completed my Botany and Wildcrafting course. I still have lifetime access to the course. Growing herbs from seed under my grow light always excites me. 

I bought this white crepe cotton fabric printed with tiny blue flowers. I want to use it to make a chemise. I also bought lovely black fabric like tulle with blue butterflies. I want to use that fabric to make a corset. I have a pdf pattern for it. I bought a ticket for the upcoming Beltane Ball in May. I am already planning the costume for that. I’m using what I already have – a purple faerie outfit. Well when it’s cold outside and you’re bored… I want to make some slight changes to the costume. I also have a pdf pattern for a medieval gown. I just had an idea – the corset pattern will match with the medieval gown. Oh my brain just never rests when it comes to thinking up new ideas. 

I’m an extremely creative person. I always find a way to entertain myself during the winter season. My cat’s gazing out the window. She is wishing she could chase the crows perched on the tree outside. The crows are not concerned about her. 

Spring blessings

Spiderwitch

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under magick, spring

July 18, 2024 · 1:47 pm

Gardening Wonders )O(

Merry meet all,

My garden is  beautiful. I can’t wait to enjoy peas, beans and cucumbers I grew myself. I can’t wait to harvest potatoes in the fall. The potato vines are about to flower. I have never seen potato flowers before. There is one bud that is about to bloom. Hey I might even press the potato flowers. I want to let one go to seed. 

This year I want to save as many seeds as I can from my garden. I want to save the seeds of the veggies, flowers and herbs. The plants will be adapted to the climate and conditions of my garden. I would have a better chance of growing plants that are acclimatized, especially herbs. I am seriously thinking about starting a herbal tea business. I want to save good healthy seeds from the herbs. I will keep a chart of the herbs that I saved seeds from. That will help me determine which herbs are the healthiest and what herbs grow well in my garden. 

I just came in from adding fertilizer to my herbs and veggies. There might be a thunderstorm and rain today. The rain will help the fertilizer be worked into the soil and let the plants get the nutrients they need. I use worm castings, Gaia green and greensand.

Gaia Green Greensand is mined from ancient, nutrient-rich deposits of oceanic sediment. Over time, this sediment developed into glauconite, which is highly effective as a slow-release fertilizer used to improve the mineral content of soil and other growing media. Greensand is gentle on plants and won’t cause root burn. Greensand is recommended for use on lawns, household plants, golf courses, greenhouses, nurseries, and urban gardens, and is suitable for all plants. I also fertilize with Neptune’s Harvest fish emulsion which leaves a bad scent but works wonders on herbs, flowers and veggies. The Neptune’s harvest fish emulsion is liquid and made from fresh fish, seaweed, molasses, yucca extra and humic acids, this formula was uniquely designed for plants with intense growth or “vegging” stages. I just added the emulsion to my plants in my garden. 

I also now have a compost tumbler. Lots of beneficial microbes and insects are working hard in the soil aerating it and enabling the earthy matter to turn into nutrient rich soil. I will love adding the compost to my garden and watching the veggies grow amazingly. It does take a few weeks. I will know when the compost is ready to be added to my soil when the compost looks like soil. I hope that will be soon. 

I spied a huge bag of worm castings. I plan to buy it and add it all to the veggies in my garden. I like to mix growing veggies in the soil and in containers. I tell myself that will keep out slugs but it doesn’t. Crumbled sterilized egg shells provide protein and calcium to the soil as well as ward off slugs. The slugs don’t like the hard edges of the eggshells. I also arranged copper tape around the base of my cucumber and cabbage plants and around a few other plants. 

With all that, it’s no wonder my garden is growing so well. The purple coneflower is ready to bloom almost. I had lost hope that the marigolds would bloom again but a marigold just blossomed. The cosmos are gorgeous and I hope my elecampane grow flowers this summer too. Summer is wonderful! So much to love about it. 

I will keep you posted about more of my garden adventures! Til then, have fun and enjoy the sun

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

 

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

July 9, 2024 · 2:10 pm

Small space Gardens )O(

Advanced Herbal course textbooks

Merry meet all,

The textbooks for my advanced herbal course arrived today! I am so happy and the textbooks are now personalized with the stickers I bought from the fair. The textbooks are so amazing! The advanced herbal lessons are divided into 2 textbooks. The course is shorter than the previous advanced course. There are ten units, not fourteen. There is also a recipes and monographs book and a clinical skills herbal course which contains 3 units. I received four books in total. As I was reading the textbook, my cat scurried out of the way across the room. The physiology course book fell to the floor from the bookshelf. Interesting! A sign for sure! 

My garden is so beautiful. The garden is so bountiful and fertile. There is barely an inch of space for me to even stand in it. I am amazed by my garden. I know it’s because I practice organic and sustainable methods. It is so hard to believe that my garden was once a large bare space. So today’s post will focus on tips to create your own amazing garden in a small space. 

Use organic methods. There are enough toxic chemicals being dumped on poor Mother Earth. We need to recognize the impact of the chemicals. For every action there is a reaction. Six pack rings can choke a turtle. I never use any herbicides or insecticides in my garden. Then bees would not visit my garden. It would not be as productive as it is now. 

Grow plants in your small space garden that will be suitable for a small space. The right side of my garden is graced by a huge rhododendron bush. A witch hazel sits regally in my garden near the other rhododendron bush. The raspberry canes are aggressively taking over the garden patch. I may have to trim back the canes. 

Use every inch of the garden space that is available. My garden is a shade and sun garden. I have learned over the years how to use this to the best effect possible. There is an amazing saying, “Bare soil expresses the poverty of the soul.” You have to bear in mind that plants are not only growing large above the soil but that they have amazing root systems underground. That means that each plant needs to have its own space. Once the plants are established, then you can move them to a new space and rearrange plants around until you are happy with it. 

Container gardening offers many options. If you are truly pressed for space, then containers can contain plants that may otherwise be relinquished to the compost. You could consider placing containers beneath trees. It removes the problem of root competition and competition for water. 

I use trellises for the tomato, cucumber and herbs I grow in my garden. I have medium height bamboo sticks and larger bamboo sticks for cucumber and beans to grow up on. I have a ‘thing’ for plants that grow vines and trail up a bamboo stick. Once the vines can ‘latch on’ to a stick or the bamboo, they suddenly grow up overnight. I watched a bee pollinate the pickling cucumber flowers. Now I will get great pickling cucumbers! I plan to save them and make a pickling brine. 

The scarlet runner bean is growing up the pole. I can’t wait to see the red flowers! I’m using two black cloth grow bags to grow potatoes in. The green stalks are growing up out of the grow bags, lush and such a gorgeous deep green. I even spotted a few flower buds. That tells me that the potatoes are going to be mature soon. I won’t harvest until the stalks until they die back and turn yellow. 

I grow most of my veggies in pots. I want to grow them in the garden soil. However pests are the bane of the gardener. I’m using copper tape to deter slugs. It might be working. Slugs are tricky though. My cucumbers have survived because of the copper tape. Once the plants grow up and start to mature, then they are in not much danger from the slugs. Buying healthy plants from a good garden centre ensures that your plant will be healthy and resistant. I use string and twine to help secure the trellises. 

I have a big patch where I grow my herbs. I do have a squash plant that hasn’t been killed from the slugs. My winter squash is flowering! I am sure the bees are enjoying the rich pollen. Or at least I hope so. I am not always in my garden to see them there. The nettle, lemon balm and sage are growing so beautiful and claiming their space in the garden. 

Ferns, hostas, cranesbill, woodruff, lady’s mantle and astilbe grow in the shade section. The plants that need a ton of sun grow in the sunnier section of my garden. 

I hope these tips help you plan a magickal and beautiful garden in your own small space. You don’t have to be daunted. Rather, see it as a challenge. I would love to have a bigger garden. I just work with what I have now. I am grateful to have a garden and to get to see how amazing it can be. There are not many people who can go from their own back door to a beautiful garden space. Not to mention it is next to a lovely nature trail. I am a very fortunate person. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

Leave a comment

Filed under gardening, magic, organic, Paranormal and Witchy Fiction, seeds

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

June 29, 2024 · 5:56 pm

Compost Gold

Merry meet all,

I am so happy! I now have a compost tumbler. I love it! My boyfriend Derrick helped me set it up. He is so skilled with mechanical things. I helped him and together we had it fully functional. Prior to this, I had a compost pile setup in a corner of my garden beneath a maple tree for 2-3 years. The wooden box has all but fallen apart. The compost eventually turned to soil which was more like thatch. But now the soil and compost in the box is in the tumbler. I already had soil started. 

The Compost Tumbler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I dug and dug in the little wooden box till most of the soil and fresh compost was loose. I put clean garden soil in the tumbler and added a few leaves and stems. I put on gloves and sneakers and got to work. He helped set it up and I could not wait to begin using the tumbler. I stirred up the soil in the box and then added it to the tumbler using a large garden spade. Back and forth I went from the compost pile in the box to the tumbler. I made a lot of trips back and forth till my arms were like rubber. 

The soil was so earthy and rich! I can’t wait to get to add it to my garden! Now I will have great soil rich with nutrients. I closed the lid and turned the tumbler several times to stir the soil up. It was hard because the tumbler was heavy with rich soil. Once that gets going, every few days I have to turn it. Then once that really gets going, then I can start on the second side of the tumbler. The compost tumbler has a divider to divide fresh and older compost. 

The compost will heat up. That is a good sign of the beneficial organisms multiplying and working hard for me. I watched a few bees pollinating the raspberry flowers. I shall soon have raspberries thanks to them! That is why I would never use any pesticides, herbicides or insecticides in my garden. My garden is a safe haven for the hardworking unsung heroes- the pollinators! I know that without them, my garden would not be as beautiful and soul stirring as it is now. 

The compost tumbler was expensive but I believe that it is worth every penny. I already had soil to add and that was already composting so that was a huge advantage. The compost tumbler will keep rats out and other vermin too. Yes I very much look forward to working with my new compost tumbler. It is a genius idea!

I ordered the grey Tauriel maxi chemise dress! I can’t wait for it to arrive. It will look great with the maxi dress from Holy Clothing. I also ordered a book that is a gift for a friend of mine, or rather, her friend. I ordered a gorgeous goddess Danu statue. I can’t wait for that to arrive either. Tomorrow I plan to get sewing on a pair of cushions for Derrick’s apartment. 

Summer is the time to have fun! It’s the time to be outside! So after you read this post, do have fun. Remember to thank your pollinators, walk the dog, feed the cat and love the sun! Fire up the barbecue grill, or go to the beach but have fun. Here in Nova Scotia, we only get 90 days of warm weather to savour summertime. We are lucky if it is not all rainy and cold. The rain will not affect my compost tumbler as it is 99% sealed tight against the rain. One more great reason to be outdoors!

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Paranormal and Witchy Fiction

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

June 24, 2024 · 2:50 pm

Litha

Merry meet all,

Litha is here! I love summer and I was happy to find more bean seeds in a seed package. That means I can plant more seeds. I know just the spot. My garden is graced by many lovely flowers including cosmos, marigolds, raspberry flowers and so many beautiful verdant green plants. 

I plan to buy a large compost box from Lee Valley. Once it is all set up, I want to add the compost I have created to the box. I can’t wait to get the new improved compost box going. True compost is black gold. Plants grow a lot better when compost is added to the soil. They grow much better which is why I am so eager to get started! I can add dried and fresh leaves, stems and other things like egg shells, mulch and herbs from tincturing to the pile. 

I’m waiting for the Advanced course textbooks to arrive. It is a long wait. I have to start the whole course over from the beginning. I am not thrilled about that. It was so much work to get through Units 1-8. I wonder if I can just breeze through the units I have already done to catch up to where I was before I transferred to the upgraded Advanced course. To me, that makes more sense. I know the content is different. Having the textbooks will make it so much easier. 

In other news, I now have the front cover art for my novella, The Cult of the Spider People. I am not certain if I can reveal it here but once I can, I will. I love the cover. It is so sinister. It features a person’s evil eyes and a large spider encircled in a web. The title of my book and my name also grace the cover. I love it. I can’t wait for October. 

I plan to celebrate big time in October. I have decided that I want my book on Amazon and in bookstores worldwide. I hope I can do both. If I go worldwide, then the local bookstores here may carry it and that might mean I get to do a signing! Oh my goddess that would be so exciting! 

Me bored? Nah not with all that going on. My herbal studies will certainly keep me busy, as well as caring for a pushy cat and my garden. I am enrolled in the Business course, and the Advanced and Clinical course. I plan to buy a laminator soon. Then I shall press flowers and leaves to my hearts’ content. I have already begun pressing flowers. The pretty punky blue Bachelor’s button flower will make a charming addition to my collection. 

I’ve changed my mind about selling herbal teas. I doubt that I would ever have enough herbs locally and prepared here to meet the demand. I know that that is a big focus in the courses from the Herbal Academy. It would be really hard to have enough without buying herbs in bulk. That means if I buy them in bulk, I would have to sell all the teas to cover that expense. Instead I want to sell greeting cards and write for magazines. I may even write a book. I already have several articles in herbal magazines. I shall browse through the library’s collection of magazines to see which ones accept articles from freelance writers – like me! It may help if I mention to the editors that I am studying at the Herbal Academy. 

Summer is a fun season brimming with possibilities in the gardens, the classroom or the coffee shop. I hope you are all having a wonderfully fun summer season!

Blessed Be, Spiderwitch 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Paranormal and Witchy Fiction

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

May 22, 2024 · 6:56 pm

My Garden in bloom 2024 )O(


Merry meet all,

Today’s post will focus on my garden. Everything is in bloom and budding and green. I love it. The ferns are already huge and beautiful. I bought several herb transplants but I haven’t planted them yet. I am still waiting for the frost to pass. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My bleeding heart plant is sporting lovely pink heart-shaped blossoms. My herbs are up – lemon balm, mints, mugwort, nettle, chives, raspberry leaves, and other plants such as lungwort, hostas, lily of the valley, lady’s mantle, astilbe, my witch hazel shrub and the lovely large sage plant I was gifted. The garlic is also growing quite nicely. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The birds are singing their hearts out. A bee pollinated my yellow haskap flowers and the lungwort flowers. The woodruff, dandelions, forget me nots and periwinkle are all greeting spring with their beautiful blossoms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every day the plants are bigger and prettier. I love being in my garden! I am happy now because the weather is now just warm enough, like it reminds me why I am alive. My garden reduces my stress. Gardening has always had that effect on people. It is really hard for me to be truly miserable if a gorgeous green garden beckons me. My cute cat too!

I planted beans and johnny jump ups. The other day I found violets. I want to return to that spot. I am debating with myself on whether I want to forage for dandelions. I am not bothering to forage for burdock root. Every burdock I see is already a 2 year plant and the roots are best when it is 1 year roots. 

I want to harvest a lot of lily of the valley blossoms because I want to make a scented oil with them. I bet the scent will be heavenly. I plan to invest in a laminator and press flowers too. It is now flower season. I plan to forage and press a lot of flowers. I want to make and sell greeting cards with the pressed flowers! I couldn’t be happier. 

In other news, I plan to transfer to the Herbal Academy revamped Advanced clinical herbalism course! The publisher and I will be soon doing edits on my novella and begin production after that. I am happy about that. My dream come true! 

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

Leave a comment

Filed under Paranormal and Witchy Fiction

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 4, 2024 · 3:30 pm

Beltane

Merry meet all,

I know it’s a while since I’ve posted. However, I have been under the weather. I had to take time to recover. I am still in recovery but now I’m up and about. While I recovered, Penny and I stayed with my Mom. The bathroom is so lovely now that it’s painted and the toilet is fixed! I love it!

Beltane is here! Are you all excited? I am. However, a cold wind lingers this spring. I still have to bundle up and be warm. My starter plants are at my Mom’s. When I stayed there, I brought them over with me. I want to nurture my plants here but Penny munches on them. Once it is warm enough for the plants to go out, I will bring them back. For now, the plants are thriving there under her care. 

I have to lay down new soil on the garden. I am so eager to do so but it is not time yet. It’s almost time. My garden needs a real clean up but I have to wait till we get warmer temperatures! Yes the waiting kills me. I know that insects are nesting in the garden yet and that the frost has still not left. Removing the protective layers of straw and the autumn leaves now means risking damage to the plants and what has nested there all winter. Yes I must wait. 

I bought a cool new book. It’s Frankenstein by Mary Shelley but it is in a new print format. I shall have a good time reading that! The book is hardcover, with 25 illustrations, distinctive gilded page edges, a ribbon marker, the collectible hardcover volume makes the book standout on the shelf. 

This link will tell you more about it: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1454951575?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details This one-of-a-kind deluxe edition hardcover edition is an exquisite work of art. It features an alluring, transparent acetate jacket to highlight Coulthart’s art printed on the hardcover case, color-printed sprayed edges, and intricate two-color artwork throughout. Wow! The book is beautiful. I will enjoy reading it. 

I am so happy spring is here! I have missed working in my garden. Now if the frost and cold wind would just go away! Enjoy Beltane!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Paranormal and Witchy Fiction

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

August 13, 2023 · 9:11 pm

Herbs are my Teacher

Merry meet all,

I saw the movie The Last Voyage of the Demeter the other night. It was a great movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it.It has been a long time since there was a real monster. I believe they perfectly captured the vampire essence. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Voyage_of_the_Demeter

A green pepper is growing in my garden. Tiny tomatoes are growing in my garden too. The nasturtiums are blossoming. The purple coneflower blossomed. My garden is so beautiful and always reduces my stress. I have harvested so many raspberries I can soon make a jar of jam. The blueberries are ripening. The lovage is growing back, the lemon balm patch is huge, the apple mint is flowering, the spearmint has grown nicely, the squash vine is getting bigger, and my celery stalks are not that thick yet but they will ripen too. The black petunias look velvety. They are so beautiful. The astilbe is in flower. The nettle has grown well and will soon flower. Everything is in bloom and very fruitful. I love August. The elecampane didn’t flower this summer. It may flower next year. 

I have to complete my Materia Medica. I have so many pressed leaves, flowers etc., in the thick Jane Austen book. They have to be placed in the Materia Medica. I have to write the monographs and I will get after that soon. I have to complete the big monograph project too. I have to get more serious -well, it was very hard to learn the material. I mean Lesson 1 in Unit 4 of Advanced was very difficult to read. I bought a medical dictionary and had to ask for lots of help. I pressed through but I did succeed. 

I received the beautiful book Botanical Skin care Recipes. I intend to use and enjoy the book. I want to try all the recipes.  I am so happy to report that the big, big book The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive plants by Christian Rasch. I do plan to enjoy that book! It cost me $150! I need the book that did indeed cost me an arm and a leg for research, to protect myself and others, and for general interest. I wanted the book because I want to make a flying ointment and include mandrake. I added 1 tablespoon of mandrake in the herbal oil mixture. I also want to not include poisonous herbs if I do end up selling herbal teas. I want to know what is bane and what is balm. The book was expensive but necessary. 

I love the beautiful herbal books I have acquired. They are amazing and are chock full of wonderful herbal wisdom. I shall treasure and keep the books for years. I mean one thing that makes me sad is that eventually my lessons at the Herbal Academy will come to an end, and I really don’t want that. The teachers and students are super nice people, and I will value the lessons from the school. I never want the lessons to end. I am glad the courses are self-paced. I am trying to stretch the lessons for as long as I can. 

I am fortunate to get the chance to study the lessons. I’n drying lovage, mugwort, lemon balm, St.John’s wort and yarrow in the kitchen. I love herbs. I will use the herbs for teas. Now is the time to dry herbs for teas, tincture making, syrups, poultices. Some herbs can be gathered before they flower, as they can be more potent. I love to let the bees get their share of the nectar before I harvest. It has never made too much difference to me if they have flowered or not. I know St.John’s wort, queen Anne’s lace, burdock, coltsfoot and other herbs have flowered, and been bee pollinated on the nature trail. That would not stop me from harvesting them. I just have to come up with an intention of how I intend to use them. I am sure I will think of something. 

We all know the best teachers I have are the herbs themselves. Yes, the best teachers are the herbs. They have taught me what I know. That ranges from protecting them from pest insects, to how important it is to water them, whether to grow them in containers or in the ground, when to harvest them, when to dry them, how to grow them. I learned how to appreciate the sun shining on the herbs- whether they need tons of sun or partial sun, how to support them as they grow, where to plant and when to plant. I could go on and on. The volatile oils they contain, the room that their roots need to grow, how to harvest dandelion roots, the shapes of the roots, how to use the roots once they are harvested. I learned how to use herbs in teas, tinctures, syrups, and cordials. I love herbs and they are my teachers, my companions, and they protect my health. I have harvested elecampane roots, dandelion roots and burdock roots. They all grow roots and the roots all grow in their own predetermined way and in their own space. Plants need room to grow, need tons of sun and they need nutrients. I know now to offer just enough fertilizer, to store roots, bark, seeds, and leaves in bone dry jars. I have a dehydrator and a drying rack. I use both. I intend to use the dehydrator a lot this fall. Yes indeed. I grow herbs that go from a seed to a full fledged plant. I will always treasure the moments I have experienced in my garden that have left me speechless. I was so enthralled with the beauty I witnessed. I tell ya, my garden must be located on a place of power. I am convinced it is in a place of power. I have seen beautiful elecampane flowers, beautiful purple coneflower, watched bees pollinate comfrey, and helped earthworms tunnel through the fresh soil. I have watched rain replenish the parched soil and seen my garden withstand fierce storms. That can’t be beat. I hope I get to live here a lot longer. Most of the plants in my garden are happily establishing themselves. It is how they grow. 

The asters have blossomed. It saddens me but fall is coming with its ‘scythe’. I know many people are excited about Halloween. I want to help my garden grow first. Then I will be excited. It will then be time for ciders, cordials, syrups and tincture making. More on that later. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under magic, organic, Ostara, Paranormal and Witchy Fiction, Samhain, seeds, spring

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

June 5, 2023 · 5:24 pm

Summer Fires

Merry meet all,

The wildfire crisis may be under control in Nova Scotia. Rain has hopefully quenched many of the forest fires. It’s been raining a lot! That helps the firemen who are working constantly around the clock so people may return safely to their homes. I donated a big bag of items to help people to the SPCA a few days ago. Let us hope all goes well for those who yearn to be safe and warm in their homes soon. 

In other news, I was hit by a huge urge to craft again. I didn’t get the Herbal Academy Intermediate level textbooks. Instead, I crafted my own. I had some davy board remaining from my last project months ago. I cut out the front, back and spines of the book and measured. I filed through the pages of the lessons I would need. I rummaged for a glue supply and unearthed my toolbox containing my arts supplies. It didn’t take long to make the book, it is just tedious as I pay close attention to detail. I found an old green altar cloth for a book cover and I happened to have artsy print paper to adhere to the insides of the book. I originally wanted to make one big book but there was so much paper I had to make two. I did and I think it was a much better decision. I decided on Units 1 to 5 for one book and Units 5-10 for the second book. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first book turned out great. The papers are glued in and I can flip through the pages with ease. I tucked in the certificate and my herb bookmark. I glued a butterfly circled by green leaves to the front cover. I worked on the 2nd book today. I glued the decorative papers in. The spine and the pages didn’t adhere to the covers. I was almost out of glue so I added way more glue – white glue, not from a hot glue gun, and tried again. Now the pages stick to the spine as they should. I am waiting for that to dry. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ordered a Celtic dragon trim to sew onto the cloak. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. I promise to post pics once it is done! The dragon trim is blue, silver and black. It will look beautiful. 

I really need more space in my apartment. I’m giving two bookcases to my Mom. That will free up a lot of space. I bought the bookcase again just like the one I have in my kitchen. I have to assemble and paint it. I just put myself through this and I am going through it again. It is for a good and noble cause. I really need more space. Another plus is that if I should ever need one of those bookcases again, well they will be in the family. If someone on Kijiji had them, there would be no way to get them back. 

I will update when I can about the bookcases. Summer Solstice occurs on the 21st of June. I have been working on the garden. I planted a bean seedling, a cherry tomato plant, a kale plant and a dill plant. I scattered eggshells around them to protect from slugs. I also planted chamomile, lavender and a rosemary in the garden. I shall enjoy watching them blossom this summer. 

The summer solstice is known as Litha or Midsummer. Litha celebrates the arrival of summer! Well, we all do – although I won’t be lighting a bonfire in my backyard to honour the occasion. A wildfire ban here in N.S. is in effect and the fine for lighting a fire is $25,000.00. I don’t have that kinda cash kicking around – I wish- so I shall respect the ban. We shall see how things go. 

During Litha, a battle between the dark and the light occurs. The Oak King and the Holly King fight for control. The sun is highest in the sky at the time of the solstice. It is a great time for celebration, feasts and enjoying nature’s bounty. My garden has blossomed beautifully. The elecampane leaves are already big, hinting at the sunny flowers sure to grow soon. The comfrey should flower soon. My hasp plants have green buds which will soon be lovely blue haskap berries, the strawberry plants are in flower and a bee balm plant will flower soon. As much as I understand that we need rain to put out the fire, it would be nice to have some sun too. 

I wish you all a memorable summer solstice!

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

Leave a comment

Filed under gardening, magic, organic, Paranormal and Witchy Fiction, seeds, spring

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,