A Mulching We Will Go

When planning your fall gardening chores don't forget to lay down mulch. Mulching reduces damage from hard freezes. Like a blanket, it holds in the soil's heat, keeping your plants´ roots warm and alive. It's protective matting also helps prevent erosion and exposure during storms. And if that weren't enough, mulching improves your soil. It provides a slow release fertilizer. It also helps to loosen the soil as it's absorbed into the ground. You can use almost any organic material as mulch. When making your selection, consider how well it protects and what it will add to the soil. The five most common mulch materials are hay, grass clippings, leaves, shredded tree bark, and compost.
Hay is a cheap, easy to find mulch. It decomposes quickly, adding nitrogen to the soil. However, it often carries weed seeds with it. Use hay with caution. You can use grass clippings from your lawn as a mulch. But keep in mind that weeds growing in the lawn may sneak their seeds into the clippings. Also freshly cut grass decomposes quickly and can heat up enough to damage plants.
Allow clippings to decompose and cool before spreading on your garden. Another popular mulch in wooded areas is shredded leaves. They're cheap and decompose at a reasonable rate. The down side is that they're also a favorite winter home for insects. Shredded tree bark is a popular and attractive mulch. Where possible, get bark from trees native to your area. These trees often have bark with toxins that deter the local insects. Avoid barks from eucalyptus and black walnut, which contain chemicals that deter plant growth. Pine bark is cheap but it floats away easily and takes a long time to break down. Composted organic material is just about the best mulch you can use. It decomposes quickly, is an excellent source of nutrients, and doesn't encourage fungus or insects. When properly prepared, it carries few weed seeds. Mulch does have one tiny drawback. It discourages self-sowing annuals, such as dill, cosmos, and caraway, from returning the following year. To correct this, pull back the mulch from self-sowing plants when they are setting seeds in late summer to early fall. Then recover the area after the seeds have dropped. This fall, take pity on your garden and lay down a nice layer of mulch. Come spring, both you and your herbs will be glad you did.
written by Ann McCormick

Moon Garden
By Sedwin

To create a Moon garden in even the smallest apartment, create a special area with pots on a terrace of window ledge. (You can also do this in your garden, if you have one.) In the center of this area place white stones or crystals to form a circle. Surround the circle with plants that have silvery leaves or white flowers such as lamb's ears, dusty miller, and cyclamen. Plant mugwort in each of the cardinal directions. Use your Moon garden for Full Moon rituals and mediation. Place an offering of different sacred objects in the center of the circle during Full Moons, saying: "Dear Sister Moon, shine on me with peace and power. So mote it be."

SOME OF THE POPULAR SQUASH VARIETIES & WHAT TO DO WITH THEM:

Acorn:
This is the most common variety, but there’s also a yellow, cream and multicolored acorn with green, cream, gold, white and orange flesh. Its skin is hard and ridged, making it impossible to peel before cooking, but its sweet, dry flesh makes it ideal for baking and also great for stuffing.

Butternut:
The skin is thin, making it easy to peel. Especially good cubed and baked, but its small cavity makes it difficult to stuff. Has a delicious creamy, satiny texture. Good in soups and stews.

Buttercup:
Its rich orange flesh is fine-textured and has a sweet, nutty flavor. Prepare like you would an acorn squash. Good for soups, purees and baked goods, especially cakes.

Delicata:
Try halving it and roasting with a sprinkling of butter, fresh lime juice and chili powder.

Hubbard:
This one’s a big boy, or can be, often weighing up to almost 40 pounds. The larger, irregular-shaped ones are sold precut, but you can always find a nicely shaped smaller one. Comes in a rich orange, dark green or a subtle sage shade. The flesh has a tendency to be dry, but it’s also quite sweet and flavorful. Best when it’s quartered, seasoned and baked covered, then mashed with cream and butter.

Pumpkin:
For eating, select the pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin. Great in pies, breads, soups and as a pasta filling. The miniature Jack-Be-Littles are perfect for stuffing.

Spaghetti:
This squash gets its name from its flesh, which once baked is scraped with a fork to produce spaghetti like strands. Toss with some freshly grated Parmesan and butter, or dress with a light tomato sauce.

Turban:
When you see this squash, you’ll understand its name. Sometimes called Turk’s Turban, its brightly colored shell makes a spectacular presentation, especially for serving soup made from the rich flesh. Can be used in most recipes that call for pumpkin or butternut. Also great in baked goods or purees.

A Herbal Reading List

A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year by Ellen Evert Hopman
Destiny Books (1995)

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
Llewellyn Publications (1985)

Magickal Formulary by Herman Slater
Magickal Childe Publishing (1981)

Mastering Herbalism by Paul Huson
Stein & Day (1974) out-of-print

The Complete Book of Incenses, Oils and Brews by Scott Cunningham
Llewellyn Publications (1989)

The Magical and Ritual Use of Aphrodisiacs by Richard Miller
Destiny Books To Be Announced

The Magical and Ritual Use of Herbs by Richard Miller
Destiny Books To Be Announced

The Magical and Ritual Use of Perfumes by Ricard and Iona Miller
Destiny Books To Be Announced

The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl
Phoenix Publishing (1984)

The Wicca Garden by Gerina Dunwich
Citadel Press (1996)

Wylundt's Book of Incense by Steven Smith
Smauel Weiser (1981)

Rosemary

A hot infusion for colds, influenza, rheumatic pains, and indigestion. also stimulatating drink for fatigue or headaches. Tincture/ tonic combine with oats, skullcap or vervain for depression. Compress: Soak a pad in the hot infusion and use for sprains. Alternate tow to three minutes hot compress and two to three min. of applying an ice pack to the injury. Hair Rinse: infusion as a final rinse for dandruff. Essential Oil 10 drops in the bath to soothe aching limbs and stimulant in nervous exhaustion. Massage oil Dilute ml sunflower or almond oil and massage into aching joints and muscles into the scalp to stimulate hair growth or use on temples for headaches.

BASIL: PROPERTIES AND USES

Basil is a stimulating and antidepressant oil which relieve mental fatigue, clears the mind, and improves concentration. It is an expectorant and antiseptic, used for all types of chest infections, also good for congested sinuses, chronic colds, head colds and whooping cough. The antispasmodic and carminative properties of basil help to relieve abdominal pains, indigestion, and vomiting. It works well on tired muscles, especially in massage oil used after hard physical work or strenuous exercise, it also eases arthritis and gout. It is reputed to be one of the best nerve tonics among all essential oils.

Earth Magic and Druid Lore

A Series for the Seasons
by Fran Hafey/Mystiblu

This time of year, my thoughts turn to the changing seasons and the magic in the air. Mother earth is evolving as the leaves fall and the earth once again begins to rest. I love the colors and the nip in the air as the wind blows the last stalks of corn to the ground as frost paints them crystal white. Now, is not too soon, to think of what magical herbs we will plant next year. We can even plant them indoors in late winter to give them a good head start. I’m learning about good things to put in a Druid Herb Garden.

Every culture has its magical lore and a garden can be our altar or sacred space outside amid Mother Nature herself. For my Druid Herb Garden, I will be planting Queen of the meadow (Spiraea ulmaria), Primrose (Primula vulgaris), Vervain (Verbena Officinalis) and Water mint, Mentha Aquatica. These special herbs are among the Druids most cherished plants. Queen of the Meadow, or Meadsweet, Bridewort or Lady of the Meadow has an oddity that the scent of the leaves is quite different from that of the flowers. The leaves possess an almond like fragrance. It’s one of the fragrant herbs used to strew the floors of chambers. In the fourteenth century being called Medwort, or Meadwort, i.e. the mead or honey-wine herb, and the flowers were often put into wine and beer. It’s still used in many herb beers. Primrose is abundant in woods, hedgerows, pastures and is in full flower during April and May. In sheltered spots in mild winters it is often found in blossom during the opening days of the year. In the early days of medicine, the Primrose was considered an important remedy in muscular rheumatism, paralysis and gout. The whole plant is sedative and in modern days a tincture of the fresh plant in bloom, strong strength and in alcohol, has been used with success in extreme sensitiveness, restlessness and insomnia. From the leaves of Primrose is made a fine salve to heal wounds. In ancient cookery the flowers were the chief ingredient in "Primrose Pottage." Vervain is known as the Enchanter's Herb, believed to be the plants most fond and protective of humans. Vervain loves to grow near people. There is a legend that this herb sprang from the tears of Isis. Vervain bears the gifts of romance and protection. * The Greeks and Romans tied it into bundles and used it to sweep their holy altars and sacred spaces.
* Vervain is an aphrodisiac, used to entice a lover. It's used in love spells all over the world.
* Bathing in Vervain-infused or even rubbing any part of the plant on your body, is said to grant prophetic power, cause your deepest wishes to be fulfilled, make your worst enemies become your friends and protect against disease and malicious enchantment.

It is a perennial bearing many small, pale-lilac flowers. The plant has no perfume, and is slightly bitter and astringent in taste. The name Vervain is derived from the Celtic ferfaen, from fer (to drive away) and faen (a stone), as the plant was much used for affections of the bladder. Because of the aphrodisiac qualities attributed to it by the Ancients, Priests used it for sacrifices, and hence the name Herba Sacra. The name Verbena was the classical Roman name for 'altar-plants' in general, and for this species in particular. The druids included it in their lustral water, and magicians and sorcerers employed it largely. It was used in various rites and incantations, and by ambassadors in making leagues. Bruised, it was worn round the neck as a charm against headaches, and also against snake and other venomous bites as well as for general good luck. It was thought to be good for the sight. Its virtues in all these directions may be due to the legend of its discovery on the Mount of Calvary, where it staunched the wounds of the crucified Savior. Hence, it is crossed and blessed with a commemorative verse when it is gathered. It must be picked before flowering, and dried promptly.

Water mint has a perfume like that of the bergamot orange. It loves boggy areas and thrives in wet climate or around a water pond. If you're in a drier climate, you may want to plant one of the many other mints in its place. Pretty purple lilac flowers all summer. Leaves soft, slightly downy, mid-green in color. The scent can vary from mint to strong peppermint. It should be planted in water or very wet marshy soil. It can be found growing wild around ponds and streams. Both peppermint and orange mint are derived from this species.

This is just one of the many gardens I’ll plant to create and keep magic around my home. I will sit under the moon and feel the Fae as they come to visit and play in my gardens.  http://Mystickblue.com

Fairy Names

individual fairies known to us from mythology include:
Aeval, Fairy Queen of the Midnight Court
Aillen MacModha, who sets Tara ablaze every year
Caer, a beautiful fairy who lived as a swan
Clethrad, an alder fairy
Donagh, Finvarra's beautiful wife.
Finvarra, fairy king of the Daoine Sidhe. He is known for his skill at chess and for abducting brides-to-be. Spanish wine is a suitable offering got him.
Ghillie Dhu, a Scottish fairy who wears moss and leaves, lives in birch thickets.
Heliconian, a willow fairy
Melia, an ash or quince fairy
Melwas, the fairy king of the Summer Land who abducted Guenivere
O'Donoghue, king of the Lough Lean fairies in Ireland Summer, beautiful queen of the Elves of Light. Her presence melts Winter away.
Urisk, a lonely male Scottish fairy who is found near pools 
Wichtlein, a German mine fairy
Also:
the Asparas/Apsaras, fig tree fairies
the Caryatids, nut tree fairies
the Dryads, oak tree fairies
the Luantishees, blackthorn fairies
Literary fairies include Queen Mab, Puck, Titania, Tinkerbell, Tammerlane, Mustardseed and Oberon.
~Fairy Goddesses:
Aine of Knockaine
Airmed
Eri
Morgan le Fay (Morgan the Fairy)