Meadow Meanders
This course is an opening into the world of Botanica Fabula, an opportunity to come with me into a verdant world and explore some of the plants Elizabeth Blackwell illustrated, and take a wander with me into each section of the garden. Find aspects of plant lore and use, folklore, and social history, listen to stories and contemplate the plants near you or in a place you love.
This is my invitation, to join me in the pages of A Very Curious Herbal and create your own LORIC MATERIA BOTANICA...a new type of personal archive, one of plant knowledge, social history, folklore and deep-rooted understanding.
It will become a journal, a resource of plants, ideal for gardeners, cooks, herbalists, walkers, artists, spell casters, and anyone drawn to accumulating an understanding of plants, listening and learning from the secrets they have subtly shared for thousands of years.
We've already wandered down a Forest Path and The Silk Roads and now as the seasons shift once again we head out to the wilder places, the hedgerows and meadows, now redolent with the scents of Spring and new life.
We will discover medicine-rich nourishing plants flourishing even amidst the concrete and bricks of our built environment and find a fairytale-infused new way of working with plants often overlooked as weeds. Tune back in later in the year as the harvest calls to be gathered and we will wend our way into the kitchen garden to sample late summer salads and nourishing vegetables. We will be listening to stories and contemplating how histories can inform new sustainable narratives as we go.
New chapters in this course will appear over the course of the season… make sure to continue returning to this page!
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I now want to introduce you to my Very Curious Herbal.
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Resources
One of the things you may find useful if you're joining me for our labyrinthian wind into the world of The Very Curious Herbal is Elizabeth Blackwell's book…
One of the things you may find useful if you're joining me for our labyrinthian wind into the world of The Very Curious Herbal is Elizabeth Blackwell's book…
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The First Magical Step…
If you make a habit of taking just five minutes a day to look at things differently you will find you spot things that you had never noticed before!
If you make a habit of taking just five minutes a day to look at things differently you will find you spot things that you had never noticed before!
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The Coming of Spring
It is the 25th of March, Lutha na Cailleach, the day of the Cailleach, a day when it might be appropriate to sain with straw.
It is the 25th of March, Lutha na Cailleach, the day of the Cailleach, a day when it might be appropriate to sain with straw.
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Talismanic Charms
In this chapter of the Very Curious Herbal, I’ve chosen to work with my mum, Jean Edmiston, as the contributing creative collaborative partner.
In this chapter of the Very Curious Herbal, I’ve chosen to work with my mum, Jean Edmiston, as the contributing creative collaborative partner.
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Listen: Dandelion
Tap into dandelion magic, that everyday magic, the type that is hidden in plain sight and watch as Dandelion, gently opens and closes with the hours, and over days turns to a puffball of abundant, star-like seeds, parachute-held, marking time passing; they catch flight and soar on a breath of wind...
Tap into dandelion magic, that everyday magic, the type that is hidden in plain sight and watch as Dandelion, gently opens and closes with the hours, and over days turns to a puffball of abundant, star-like seeds, parachute-held, marking time passing; they catch flight and soar on a breath of wind...
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Dandelion
Stories, plants, memories, pictures, these things shape us, stay with us and help us relate to the world around us. A little like Dandelion, they persevere.
Stories, plants, memories, pictures, these things shape us, stay with us and help us relate to the world around us. A little like Dandelion, they persevere.
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Chase the Devil, an herb that lifts the dark days
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St John's Wort
St John’s Wort, the story of Hypericum perforatum. The herb that lifted the dark days, took away the consuming fear and sent me off on the journey that eventually felt like the epic adventure I was meant to be taking.
St John’s Wort, the story of Hypericum perforatum. The herb that lifted the dark days, took away the consuming fear and sent me off on the journey that eventually felt like the epic adventure I was meant to be taking.
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Summer meadows and Stories Told.
A session from Amanda's 'Very Curious Herbal' tour, recorded live for The National Library of Scotland in July 2020. The session shares the story of Ceres, the Roman corn maiden, a story that invites us into the world of the scarlet field poppy (Papaver Rhoeas).
A session from Amanda's 'Very Curious Herbal' tour, recorded live for The National Library of Scotland in July 2020. The session shares the story of Ceres, the Roman corn maiden, a story that invites us into the world of the scarlet field poppy (Papaver Rhoeas).
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Join us on a Meadow Meander, amongst the wild herbal plants of Scotland’[s fields and hedgerows.
The third of a four-part course sharing stories, social history, folklore, and plant use inspired by the work of 18th century pioneering Scotswoman, Elizabeth Blackwell.
