Folklore of the Hedgerow. Part Fourteen.

Folklore of the Hedgerow. Part Fourteen.

The Cow Parsley. Peirsil Bhó

(Wild Chervil, Hedge Parsley, Keck, Wild Beaked Parsley, Devil’s Parsley, Queen Anne’s lace, Mothers dies)

'Neath billowing skies that scatter and amass.
All round our nest, far as the eye can pass,
Are golden kingcup-fields with silver edge
where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge.
'Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, (1828-1882).

Also known as Devil's Parsley, possibly because of its resemblance to the highly poisonous Hemlock, this plant occurs in accounts of witchcraft practices. It is a native plant belonging to the Apiaceae family.

The name Queen Anne's lace: from time when Queen Anne travelled the country side in May, around Kensington in England, as she suffered from asthma, & came to get fresh air. The roadsides were said to have been decorated for her by this plant. As she & the ladies in waiting walked, they carried lace pillows; the Cow Parsley resembled the lace.

The origin of the name Mothers Dies seems to be a folk tale that children were told that if they picked cow parsley, their mother would die. This threat would deter children who couldn't tell the difference from picking hemlock which is poisonous.
The Celts used to include Cow Parsley in their diet according to archaeologists who analysed the stomach contents of a Celtic man discovered in a peat bog in Cheshire. They also found Emmer and Spelt wheat, Barley, fat hen and dock.

While some claim that the root of the wild plant is also edible, it is not advisable to eat any part of this plant unless it has been expertly identified. There are several plants that look the same as Cow Parsley and are extremely poisonous and potentially fatal if ingested. DO NOT EAT THIS PLANT Remember Cow parsley can be easily confused with Hemlock.

Cow parsley is said to get rid of stones and gravel in the gall bladder and kidneys but very little research has been done on the common plant. It has been used by amateur dyers as a beautiful green dye; however, it is not permanent. The most common use for the stalks is for pea-shooters as the stems are hollow, so children love them. The foliage used to be sold by florists in Victorian times and used in flower arrangements.

Like sweet woodruff, cow parsley has the reputation of “breaking your mother’s heart”. This is said to have come about because the tiny white blossoms drop quickly. In the days before vacuum cleaners, the temptation for mothers to ban these work-generating posies from the house was understandable. This may be where the superstition came from describing Cow Parsley as ‘unlucky indoors’ and a ‘harbinger of death’.

The cultivated relative of Cow Parsley, Chervil, is a well known herb which when made into an infusion can be used in the treatment of water retention, stomach upsets and skin problems. It can be used to promote wound healing. Chervil water is used as a constituent of gripe water. Cow Parsley may be used as a natural mosquito repellent when applied to the skin.


The Nettle. Neanntóg

In our folklore there are many uses for Nettle.

'To cure a sting of a nettle, place a dock leaf over sore part for a few minutes and it will be well'

'The water of boiled nettles if drank will cure anyone suffering from worms'
'Cure for dropsy.

'It is said if a person went to a graveyard and plucked a bunch of nettles that would be growing there and boiled them and give the water to drink to a person that had dropsy if would cure him'

'For rheumatics a bed strewn with nettles'

'3 doses of nettles in the month of April will prevent any disease for the rest of the year'

All the above are from the National Folklore Collection, University College Dublin.

17th century herbalist and apothecary, Nicholas Culpeper is reputed to have said:
'Nettles may be found by feeling for them in the darkest night'.

They are recognised as being a rich source of vitamin C and contain more iron than spinach. Indeed they make a very tasty soup but it is essential to pick them where no chemicals or pollution may have affected them and to use only the upper leaves as the lower leaves may contain irritants. Nettles also contain anti-histamines which are helpful to those with allergies and serotonin which is reputed to aid one's feeling of 'well-being'.

Arthritic joints were sometimes treated by whipping the joint with a branch of stinging nettles. The theory was that it stimulated the adrenals and thus reduced swelling and pain in the joint.

Nettles are reputed to enhance fertility in men, and fever could be dispelled by plucking a nettle up by its roots while reciting the names of the sick man and his family.

Turkey and other poultry (as well as cows and pigs) are said to thrive on nettles, and ground dried nettle in chicken feed will increase egg production.

Nettles left to rot down in water make a fantastic liquid fertiliser.

Nettle can alter the menstrual cycle and may contribute to miscarriage, pregnant women should not use nettle.

Stinging nettle may affect the blood's ability to clot, and could interfere with blood-thinning drugs.

Stinging nettle may lower blood pressure.

Stinging nettle can act as a diuretic, so it can increase the effects of certain drugs, raising the risk of dehydration.

Stinging nettle may lower blood sugar, so it could make the effects of certain drugs stronger, raising the risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Diabetics beware.

The Nettle is significant among plants used for medicine by the Celts in that it was probably one of the most widely used due to its ability to prevent haemorrhaging and stop bleeding from wounds. They would have used it to treat the wounds their warriors received in battle.

Recently it has been found that lectin found in Nettles is useful in treating Prostate enlargement and is widely prescribed for this in our times.

Nettles also have a place in ancient Celtic folklore and were also known as "Devil's Claw".

Nettles were believed to indicate the living place of fairies, and their stings protected one from witchcraft or sorcery.

The Primrose. Sabhaircín.

'Guard the house with a string of primroses on the first three days of May. The fairies are said not to be able to pass over or under this string.'
From the National Folklore Collection, University College Dublin. NFC S.455:237. From Co Kerry.

The symbol of safety and protection, in ancient times it was placed on the doorstep to encourage the fairy folk to bless the house and anyone living in it, and it was also said that if you ate the blooms of the primrose you would see a fairy. 
Both the cowslip and the primrose were thought to hold the keys to heaven and so were considered to be very sacred by the Celtic people.

It was the flower of Love and bringer of good luck, and was the symbol of the first day of spring and so was laid across thresholds to welcome ''May Day''. 
Also considered to be a bringer of great inspiration for poets, the flower of youth, birth, sweetness and tenderness.

Insects, in particular ants, play an important role in pollinating these flowers. Nectar is located at the bottom of the flower tube and the long thin body of the ant is perfectly designed to carry and deliver pollen from other primrose plants. The primrose family is also remarkable for the number of hybrids it produces.

The primrose has many medicinal uses and was important in the past as a remedy for muscular rheumatism, paralysis and gout. The leaves and flowers can be used either fresh or dried; the roots should be dried before use. Culpepper was aware of the healing properties of the Primrose and said, “Of the leaves of Primrose is made as fine a salve to heal wounds as any I know.”

The Primrose was highly-prized by the Celtic Druids and its abundance in woods, hedgerows and pastures made it an easily-collectible plant. Primroses were often carried by the Druids during certain celtic rituals as a protection from evil. The fragrant oil of the flower was also used by the Druids to anoint their bodies prior to specific rites in order that they might be cleansed and purified.

In the middle ages they were used to treat gout and rheumatism and an infusion of the roots was used to treat headaches.

Primroses are loved by the faeries so if you grow them don’t let them die for if you do you will greatly offend the faeries and who knows what will happen.

Primroses were very important in the rural area especially during the butter making season that began in May. In order to encourage cows to produce a lot of milk, primroses were rubbed on their udders at Bealtaine. Primroses would also be scattered on the doorstep to protect the butter from the faeries.

Primroses were also associated with chickens and egg laying and it was considered unlucky to bring primroses indoors if the hens were hatching in the coop dresser.

It was said that primroses bloomed in Tír na nóg and that people returning from there always brought a bunch with them as proof that they had been there.

In Irish folklore it was believed that rubbing a toothache with a primrose leaf for two minutes would relieve the pain. It was also used as a cure for jaundice (yellow flower).

The flower was often used in medicine throughout the ages as it has similar properties to aspirin, it has always been known as a ''healing'' plant, and so was often used extensively 
in foods. Even today it is known for its healing properties and is used as a healing tea, while in the world of the flower essence, it is said to help heal those who have experienced the loss of a mother figure as a child.

In Ireland an ointment would be made from certain herbs including primrose and pigs lard and this would be used on burns.

DO NOT PICK AND USE HERBS UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

Those born in the month of May.

Tree zodiac for May.

Willow - The Observer.
April 15 – May 12.

If you are born under this sign then you are ruled by the moon. You are creative and highly psychic, intelligent and in tune with the ever changing seasons. You have an ability to retain knowledge and a good memory for facts which you will be able to use to great effect. You are patient and full of potential but you do tend to hold back a little for fear of appearing a bit pushy. You are also very articulate, strong willed, resourceful and a bit of a puzzle. You also have a tendency to be emotional and are capable of sudden mood changes, but trust your inner voice for you have good intuition.

The "new moon" Willow individual tends to more inclined to sudden mood changes and displays more unreliable character traits. These people are however receptive to change and quick to take advantage of any opportunity which presents itself. The "full moon" Willow individual tends to disregard advice, even though his or her own reasoning power often lacks credibility. The "full moon" Willow is, however, the more resourceful of the two types and is blessed with an even more exceptional memory than his or her "new moon" counterpart.

Being shrewd and practical, they can be brilliant inventors but are also drawn to the unexplained mysteries of life. As a friend, the Willow individual can be a powerful ally...on the other hand; he or she can make for a formidable enemy. Willows have a type of passive tenacity and can be extraordinarily wise counsellors and extremely nurturing parents who are protective of loved ones.

The Willow person is often reluctant to forgive and forget which can lead to permanent rifts with friends and family. In the work force, Willows are usually employed in very responsible positions but find it hard to settle upon a definitive career. If the career choice should be in the field of education, however, they are counted among the best teachers.

They are possessed with an overactive imagination and tend to fret needlessly about health matters. The Willow has a deep interest in family loyalty and history and usually becomes the family genealogist. The figure of the mother tends to dominate and influence the Willow throughout his or her life but once, married, there is no more devoted individual when it comes to the spouse and children.

The willow symbolises the female and is sacred to the moon, in Celtic mythology the universe was hatched from two serpent’s eggs which contained the sun and the moon and were hidden within the branches of the willow. Hen’s eggs were later substituted for those of the serpent and eaten as part of the Bealtaine feast. This was later transferred to Easter by the Christians and the eggs became known as Easter eggs.


Hawthorn - The Illusionist.
May 13 – June 9

People born under this sign are not always what they first appear to be. They appear to be one thing on the outside and another on the inside and the old saying “never judge a book by its cover” never seemed so true. When you first see them you would never suspect the fiery passion and creative juices that flow through their veins. They are very well adjusted and adaptable to most of what life throws at them so they are quite content with their lot and have the ability to comfort others at the same time.

They are curious and interested in a wide variety of subjects. They are also great listeners and people will seek them out in order to gain some release from their troubles. Hawthorn people have a great sense of humour and understand the concept of irony, are able to stand back and see the bigger picture with clear insight.

They can be bored very easily and need mental stimulation and a challenge. Multi talented they can take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself and excel as performers with great communication skills and the ability to influence others. They are known for their honesty and sincerity and are very understanding of others and for these reasons they make solid friends.

They do however, have a volatile temper and are prone to outbursts of anger. They are also very good at planning and scheming so they make excellent leaders and can take advantage of their knowledge regarding the weaknesses of their opponents although they are not ruthless, merely very clever strategist.

Hawthorn people make wonderful parents who cannot be hoodwinked by their children and because they are always looking for new and exciting things to do they are full of an ageless and childlike quality that will stand them in good stead.

Remember this is just for a bit of craic and not to be taken too seriously as each person may display different traits.

Folklore of the Hedgerow. Part Thirteen.

Folklore of the Hedgerow. Part Thirteen.

Some of the plants you will find in an Irish hedgerow include:

Bluebell. Coinnle Corra.

Constancy and everlasting love.

Believed to call the fairies when rung, and thought to be unlucky to walk through a mass of bluebells, because it was full of spells. It is also considered an unlucky flower to pick or bring into the house. The Latin name for this flower is Endymion who was the lover of the moon Goddess, Selene. The goddess put Endymion into an eternal sleep, so she alone could enjoy his beauty.

Bluebells were said by herbalists to help prevent nightmares, and used as a remedy against leprosy, spider-bites and tuberculosis, but the bluebell is poisonous.

Noted for the gummy sap from its bulbs, which made it useful as a starch substitute. It was also used as glue for bookbinding (as it is so toxic it stops certain insects from attacking the binding) and setting the tail feathers on arrows.

The bulbs are extremely toxic and this toxicity may be the origin of the superstitious belief that anyone who wanders into a ring of bluebells will fall under fairy enchantment and soon after die. Other tales come from a time when forests where forbidding places, people believed that the bells rang out to summon fairies to their gatherings, unfortunately any human who heard a bluebell ring would soon die.

However, not all the Bluebell’s folklore is quite so gloomy. Some believed that by wearing a wreath made of the flowers, the wearer would be compelled to speak only truth. Others believed that if you could turn one of the flowers inside out without tearing it, you would eventually win the one you love.

Where Bluebells are found in hedgerows it may indicate an ancient hedge as their presence is indicative of ancient woodland.


Foxglove. Lus Mór.

Insincerity.

The name derives from the shape of the flowers resembling the fingers of a glove - 'folk’s glove' meaning belonging to the fairy folk. Folklore tells that bad fairies gave the flowers to the fox to put on his feet to soften his steps whilst hunting.

The whole foxglove plant is extremely poisonous, but provides a source of digitalis used by doctors in heart medicine. The foxglove was believed to keep evil at bay if grown in the garden, but it was considered unlucky to bring the blooms inside. The commonest colour for the foxglove is pink, but you often see white blooms in the hedgerows.

In Irish folklore it was said that if a child was wasting away then it was under the influence of the fairies (fairy stroke) and foxglove was given to counteract this (it was known to revive people). One such remedy was the juice of twelve leaves taken daily. It could also work for adults, such a person would be given a drink made from the leaves, if they were not too far gone they would drink it and get sick but then recover. However, if they were completely under the spell of the faeries then they would refuse to drink.

An amulet of foxglove could also cure the urge to keep travelling that resulted when you stepped onto the fairy grass, the’ stray sod’ or fód seachrán. In Ireland it is believed that the foxglove will nod its head if one of the ‘gentry’ passes by.

Bramble/Blackberry. Dris.

Alternative name for Blackberries is Sméara Dubha.

Not to be eaten after Samhain because the Púca spits on them and they become inedible (in some parts of Ireland they believe that the Púca urinates on them).

An arch of bramble which had rooted at both ends was believed to have special powers and if you wished to invoke evil spirits you could do so by crawling through the arch at Samhain while making your wish. An arch of bramble could also be used to cure, for example, a child with whooping cough could be cured by passing it under the arch three times before breakfast for nine consecutive days while saying “in bramble, out cough, here I leave the whooping cough".

In Ireland if you found a piece of bramble attached to a cows tail at Bealtaine it was considered suspicious as it meant someone was trying to put a spell on the milk.

In Ireland the flower of the Blackberry was a symbol of beauty to the Gaelic poets, and a well-known love ballad name Bláth na Sméarhas the , or ‘Flower of the Blackberry’.

Bramble was classed as one of the bushes of the wood in the Old Irish Brehon Laws on trees and shrubs and you could be fined for cutting it.

Blackberries were traditionally eaten mashed up with oatmeal to make a tasty porridge and for making jam. The roots were used to make an orange dye; In Ireland the root of the bramble was used to make the core for hurling balls and for pipes and the long shoots were used for wickerwork and even for securing thatch.

Medical uses include using the leaves in a cure for diarrhoea in both cattle and people; it could cure dropsy and was considered to have fantastic curative powers for coughs and colds. It was also used for a variety of skin complaints such as scalds, burns, boils, shingles and spots.

Bealtaine.

Bealtaine.

To the Celts, time was circular rather than linear. This is reflected in their commencing each day, and each festival, at dusk rather than dawn, a custom comparable with that of the Jewish Sabbath. Bealtaine is celebrated around 1st May and is sacred to the god Belanus (the shining one). The word derives from Beltinne or Fires of Bel. Bealtaine is a time of fertility when the cattle are set free from their winter quarters and driven between the cleansing fires, a time of feasting, fairs, and mating of livestock.

Foods eaten at the Bealtaine feast may include honey products, mead, fruit, fish, and milk products.

It has been suggested that the sacred fires of Bealtaine were actually a form of sympathetic magic that encouraged the sun to cast its warmth upon the earth.
Bealtaine and its opposite Samhain, divide the year into two seasons, the dark winter and the bright summer and as Samhain honours the dead so Bealtaine as its opposite honours life. The sun reigns over the moon and now begins a time of magic and divination.

Bealtaine is the time when people get up early (at dawn) and gather branches and flowers to decorate their homes. Leaves of the rowan along with primroses and buttercups were hung over the door and placed on the window sills and the colour green would be worn to honour Mother Nature.

The sacred fire would be lit by the druids on the Hill of Uisneach. This had the power to heal and purify and its light would stretch out across the land for all to see. It celebrates the burning away of winter and the return of life to the earth. It was said that cinders and torches would transfer some of the sacred fire to every hearth in the land so that each and every person could share in its power.

There are many superstitions concerning this time and it is the one day of the year when you give nothing away even if a stranger called at your door looking for a light or a bit of butter they would be turned away.

Dependent on which part of the country you were in, the customs were observed, on May Day you should not dig, whitewash, bathe in the sea or take out a boat. At this time the gentry were on the move and no one should upset them. It was also believed that on this day you must not venture out but if you had to go out for some reason then you should carry a piece of iron in your pocket for protection against the faeries (the gentry) if you had no iron then a sprig of rowan would do just as well. People would also leave a gift of food or drink for the faeries on the doorstep or under a hawthorn tree. The first water taken from the well on this day was known to be full of luck and healing but in the wrong hands it could be used for doing harm. It was also believed that a child born on May Day had the gift of second sight but they would only have a short life.

This was also the time of year when tenants had to go up to the big house to pay the half-year rent.

Weather watching was an important pastime and the appearance of the sky, the moon, the strength and direction of the wind, the amount of rainfall were all indications of the coming summer. If it was wet and windy then that was a good sign as it was an omen of good harvests to come. A cold, east wind was a bad sign and frost was an indicator of hard times ahead. Snow was such a bad omen that the farmers expected the landlord to forego the rent for the next half year (fat chance of that).

Family health was important at this time as it was believed that any injury sustained at this time would be very difficult to cure and may be a long time healing. However, this was also considered the best time to gather medicinal herbs and replenishing the medicine chest. Also the first butter made from the milk gathered on May Day would make a powerful ointment.

Bealtaine was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken but it is rarely observed in that manner in modern times.

In the old Celtic times, young people would spend the entire night in the woods "A-Maying," and then dance around the phallic Maypole the next morning.

Older married couples were allowed to remove their wedding rings (and the restrictions they imply) for this one night. There is absolutely no way you would get away with using that as an excuse today so if any of you are thinking about it. Forget it.

Below is an extract from a poem by Kipling that tells of that night.

Oh, do not tell the Priest our plight,
Or he would call it a sin;
But - we have been out in the woods all night,
A-conjuring Summer in!
And we bring you news by word of mouth-
Good news for cattle and corn-
Now is the Sun come up from the South,
With Oak, and Ash, and Thorn!

Extract from A Tree Song by Rudyard Kipling.

Top image courtesy of Fine Art America

Folklore of the Hedgerow. Part Twelve.

Gorse, Furze, Whin. Aiteann.

From our folklore:

'Get a few handfuls of the yellow blossoms of the furze and boil them in water. Give the water as a dose to the horse and this will cure worms'.

From the National Folklore Collection, University College Dublin. NFC 782:356 from Co Kerry.


The thorny nature of the plant means that it is often viewed as having protective powers.

The flowers are a deep yellow and have a pungent coconut scent. Although the main flowering period is from March to August, flowers can be found on bushes throughout the year. There are three species of furze, which all have slightly different flowering seasons, so that to the casual observer it would appear that the bush is almost always in bloom. This lengthy flowering led to the country saying:

“when the gorse is out of blossom, kissing is out of fashion.”

The habit of adding a sprig of furze bloom in a bridal bouquet is thought to allude to this, the all-year-round blossom being a symbol of continuous fertility.

Popular with bakers to whom it was sold as fuel for their ovens. It has a high concentration of oil in its leaves and branches, and so catches fire easily and burns well, giving off a heat almost equal to that of charcoal.

Older plants can carry a lot of dead wood, so furze can be a hazard in hot, dry summers. The ashes have high alkali content and can be mixed with animal fat to produce soap, or clay, to form a soap substitute. They were also spread onto the fields to improve the soil.

Furze can also be used as fodder for animals. It was said that an acre of furze could provide enough winter feed for six horses. It has half the protein content of oats. Horses and goats can strip the leaves and eat them straight from the plant, but it was usual practice to run the branches through stone mills or hit them with wooden mallets. This crushed the thorns and reduced the wood to a moss like consistency, which made it more palatable, especially to cows and sheep. The bushes were often deliberately burnt down in order to encourage new growth, the fresh sprouts of furze and grass providing easily accessible food for stock.

The bark and flowers produce a fine yellow dye. In Ireland the flowers were also used to flavour and add colour to whiskey and the Vikings were reputed to use them to make beer. They can also be used to make wine and tea.

Studies in the nineteenth century confirmed that the high alkaline content of the plant had a purgative effect. An infusion of the blooms, as a drink, was given to children suffering from scarlet fever. It was also used to cleanse the home;

‘... against fleas, take this same wort, with its seed sodden; sprinkle it into the house; it killeth the fleas”

In homeopathy furze is used to help people who have given up hope, who have no faith in the future. It puts people in touch with their own inner resources and helps them move forward by releasing courage and determination.

As one of the sacred trees, furze was included in the Celtic Beltane bonfires. The stock would be herded between these for purification and protection before being released onto the summer grazing. When this tradition diminished, torches of furze were still carried around the herds and farm buildings in order to cleanse the air and protect the animals against sterility.

Furze is closely associated with the sun god Lugh, the Celtic god of light and genius and with the Spring Equinox, at which time it’s one of the only plants in full flower. However folklore attaches it to festivals throughout the spring and summer months as a symbol of the power of the sun. In Brittany the Celtic festival of Lughnasdagh, on August 1st, is known as The Festival of Golden Gorse.

As an evergreen that flowers the whole year round, furze is seen to carry within it a spark of the sun’s life giving energy, a spark that can be seen even through the darker winter months. It is a symbol of encouragement and a promise of good things to come. Furze tells us to remain focused and optimistic, even in the darkest days. To keep hopeful and remain constant throughout the inevitable periods of difficulty we all experience.

As one of the first spring flowering plants, the furze provides a plentiful supply of pollen for bees when they first come out of hibernation. The product of the bees labour, honey, is the Celtic symbol of wisdom, achieved through hard work and dedication. The furze tells us that if we apply ourselves and keep faith in the future, we will be rewarded. However bleak things may appear there is always the possibility of periods of fertility, creativity and well being. Whilst its thorns remind us that there is protection from unwanted ideas or influences.

In Ulster eggs were dyed yellow by boiling them in water with Furze blossom. The eggs were then used in Easter games and then eaten. In other parts of the country the blossom was used to dye clothes yellow while the young shoots were used to make a green dye.

A sprig of Furze was kept in the thatch, over the door or under the rafters to bring luck into the home and in some places it was wrapped around the milk churn or butter at May time to protect it from the faeries.

In Ireland if you wear a piece of gorse/furze in your lapel you will never stumble.

The presence of furze on waste ground raises its value.

In Irish law furze was considered one of the Losa fédo or Bushes of the wood.

The top image shows the danger of Gorse/Furze/Whin fires.

Folklore of the Hedgerow. Part Eleven.

Folklore of the Hedgerow. Part Eleven.

Meadowsweet. Airgead luachra.

From the Anglo-Saxon Meodu-swete meaning ‘Mead Sweetener’

Meadowsweet's herbal uses had a base in scientific fact, in common with many other folk and herbal remedies. In the 19th century, chemists isolated salicylic acid from Meadowsweet. The acid was a disinfectant so it not only made rooms smell better but helped the fight against bacteria. It was a painkiller and anti-inflammatory but hard on the stomach. Only after it was synthesised did it become an acceptable candidate for mass production and sold in tablet form as 'aspirin' – 'a' for acetyl and ' –spirin' for Spirea, the original botanical name for Meadowsweet.

It is one of the three herbs considered sacred by the druids; the other two are Vervain and Water Mint.

Creamy, perennial of damp waysides, meadows, marshes and woods, this tall, hairless plant flowers throughout Ireland from June to September. With a heavy fragrance. The flower heads are frequently visited by bees attracted by the heavy scent which can be so evocative of summer days in the countryside. In spite of this fragrance, the flowers produce no nectar. Insects, however, don't realise this but their visits serve to fertilise the plants which are heavy with pollen. A peculiarity of this flower is that the scent of the leaves is quite different from that of the flowers, the leaves having a heavy almond-like aroma whereas the flowers have a strong sweet smell.

Meadowsweet was historically used to flavour mead and it was because of this that one of its other names is Mead Wort. Cooks used the herb to flavour beers, meads and wines and added it to soups for an interesting almond flavour. The fresh leaves can be used to flavour sorbets and fruit salads. Infuse the flower to make a mild diuretic tea, let it steep to bring out the salicylic acid before serving. As a cosmetic, it was soaked in rainwater and used as astringent and skin conditioner.

It was also known as Bridewort because it was strewn on the ground at handfastings for the bride to walk on (wort is an old word that means herb or root) and it was also used in wedding posies and bridal bouquets.

This plant was given to Cúchulainn in liquid form and it was said to calm his fits of rage and outbreaks of fever and it may be for this reason that another name for meadowsweet in Ireland is Cúchulainns Belt or Crios Conchulainn.

It is also associated with death as the scent of its flowers was said to induce a sleep that was deep and fatal. However in County Galway it was believed that if a person was wasting away because of faerie influence then putting some meadowsweet under the bed ensured that they would be cured by the morning.

Legend says that meadowsweet was given its fragrance by the Land Goddess Aine. In some places the flowers were dried and smoked in a pipe (probably less damaging than tobacco.

Meadowsweet was also spread on the floor in medieval times to provide a nice smell and deter insects.

Its roots produce a black dye and its leaves a blue pigment and yellow is obtained from the top of the plant all of which were used by the Celts.

In Ireland it was used to scour milk vessels.

Folklore of the Hedgerow. Part Ten.

Folklore of the Hedgerow. Part Ten.

Honeysuckle. Féithleann.

Other names for honeysuckle include Irish vine, woodbine, fairy trumpets, honeybind, trumpet flowers, goats leaf and sweet suckle.

The old name Woodbine describes the twisting, binding nature of the honeysuckle through the hedgerows.

It was believed that if honeysuckle grew around the entrance to the home it prevented a witch from entering. In other places it's believed that grown around the doors it will bring good luck. If it grows well in your garden, then you will be protected from evil. In Ireland honeysuckle was believed to have a power against bad spirits, and it was used in a drink to cure the effects of the evil eye.

Bringing the flowers into the house will bring money with them.

Honeysuckle has long been a symbol of fidelity and affection. Those who wear honeysuckle flowers are said to be able to dream of their true love. Its clinging nature in the language of flowers symbolises, 'we are united in love,' and emphasis's the bond of devotion and affection between two people. It was also believed that if the blooms were brought into the house then a wedding would follow within a year.

In the Victorian era there was a ban on young girls bringing honeysuckle into the home because the heady fragrance of the flowers was believed to cause dreams that were far too risqué for their sensibilities.

The wood has been used to make walking sticks because of its nature to grow around and entwine saplings. The dried flowers are used for adding to pot-pourri, herb pillows and floral waters. Also, scented cosmetics are made from the fresh flowers.

A less known fact about the honeysuckle family is that Lonicera tatarica Tatarian honeysuckle, a leggy bush honeysuckle with sweet scented pink flowers, is used as a substitute for catnip. The wood contains nepetalactone which is the active ingredient found in catnip.

Medicinal Use.

Culpeper stated that only the leaves of the honeysuckle were used medicinally to treat coughs, sore throats and for opening obstructions of the liver and spleen.

Gerard had the flowers steeped in oil down as being good to help warm and soothe the body that is very cold.

Matthew Robinson in his New Family Herbal shared Culpeper's view that honeysuckle leaves helped the spleen and liver. Matthew also advocated that the flowers are boiled in water and used as a poultice with a little oil added as a cure for hard swellings and impostumes (abscesses).

The leaves and flowers of the honeysuckle are rich in salicylic acid, so may be used to relieve headaches, colds, flu, fever, aches, pains, arthritis and rheumatism.

The leaves have anti-inflammatory properties and contain anti-biotics active against staphylococci and coli bacilli. Honeysuckle flowers and flower buds are used in various infusions and tinctures to treat coughs, catarrh, asthma, headaches and food poisoning.

Pounding together two plants, woodbine and maiden-hare, then boiling them in new milk along with oatmeal will cure dysentery when ingested three times daily.

Despite its lack of any real economic use honeysuckle was regarded as a ‘lower division of the wood’ in some versions of the old Irish brehon laws on trees and shrubs. It was also linked by some medieval scholars with the ancient Irish Ogham alphabet.

Please note that honeysuckle berries are highly toxic and should NEVER be used on any count.

Top image is of a staff with honeysuckle wrapped around it. You can see this and many more beautiful sticks at: Caneman2.com