A Green Faerie's Herbal, - from author and gardener Antoinette Beard...: December 2016

A brownie can be very helpful in the house. They love to clean and will keep things nice and tidy, asking no pay, only a bowl of warm milk and a few tidbits set out for them at night when they do most of their work. A brownie is well named for they are mostly brown in color, with rather shabby brown clothes or wearing nothing at all. Most brownies are male. A lot of brownies have no nose, only nostrils. They are about 2 feet in height. If you have a pet cat in the house or a small terrier dog it is unlikely that a brownie will take up residence in your home. They do not like to be chased!

Do not anger a brownie! [They dislike selfish, greedy or cruel people, and are very proud.] If a brownie annoyed with you he can turn into a boggart, a very wicked creature indeed, who enjoys playing nasty tricks, - for what he considers fun!

The "Green Life" Is Such Fun...

I can hardly remember when I wasn't interested in plants. I love it all, - from wild woodlands where everything grows in a tangled jumble, to sculptured, formally structured gardens, like you might see on a castles grounds. [Although, I must confess a definite preference toward the wild side of gardening.]

***Please note: I live in Zone 5, in Ohio, U.S.A., if you plan to garden, according to my suggestions, you might have to adjust to your own growing conditions. The weather where I live gets to be hot and humid to frigidly cold, - 90 degrees, F., in July, - and can reach lows of -15 in January with mild lovely Springs with plenty of rain, and brisk glorious Autumns.

It's amazing, the variety of plants that can be called herbs: Did you know that roses are considered herbs?... Yes, roses are, of course, used in aroma therapy, and they are among the edible flowers. [I have eaten rose hip jelly. It's delicious!]

Some of my favorite herbs are: oregano, basil [Ah, that basil pesto!], rosemary, lavender, sage [I love the purple stemmed variety.], Lemon balm, the wide variety of mints and the scented geraniums - rose, lemon, apple and mint.

If you know me at all, you know that I love folklore. There are many faerie folk tales involving woodlands and the "green" life. Faeries love all wild natural places, all over the world, and detest that their environment is constantly being taken over by civilization and mechanization. I believe that this is the main reason why faeries are so vulnerable to iron and metals, and why anything to do with the fey should never, ever include such things!

If you want to make a faerie garden it should be in a peaceful place with sun and shade and where there is water, even if it's just a bird bath. It should have pretty shiny rocks and, perhaps, ferns and moss. Include some garden sculptures of gnomes, winged faeries and animals.

Happy gardening!...

Yes...

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