Plants
Agrimony, common, Agrimonia eupatoria L.
This plant can sometimes be found along the rivers, waving happily with its long clusters full of yellow flowers. It is a good plant to have in your arsenal if…
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Arnica, common, Arnica Montana
Arnica ointment, which naturopath doesn't have it in her arsenal? I certainly do. I also had the pleasure of seeing this cheerful plant in real life in the Drents-Friese Wold.…
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Bear’s garlic, Allium ursinum L.
Bear's garlic, also known as wild garlic, is the little brother of garlic. Outwardly, they have some things in common, yet they don't look quite the same. For example, bear's…
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Bistort, Polygonum bistorta L.
As a child I already thought bistort was intriguing, which is why I am writing a monograph about this particular plant and not about the tormentil, Potentilla erecta, a more…
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Chamomile, Matricaria recutita
Who hasn't sat on acouch with a cup of chamomile tea in hand? Well, I have. Although it is becoming more and more difficult to find chamomile in the wild…
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Cichory, Cichorium intybus L.
This beautiful plant with its lively lilac purple flowers is widely applicable. Chicory can be used for medicinal and magical purposes and is also edible. You can even make a…
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Elder, common, Sambucus nigra
One of my favourite trees is definitely the elderberry, Sambucus nigra. It has it all: magical properties, healing properties and it’s even edible. Before the existence of antivirals like Tamiflu,…
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Garlic, Allium sativum
Garlic is the prototype of the garlic family. You really want to eat this powerhouse plant regularly, because - in addition to numerous medicinal applications - it has general health…
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Juniper, Juniperus communis L.
Juniper is such a versatile shrub! You can eat it, distil it into liquor (gin), dye your wool and varnish your furniture with it and much more. In this monograph…
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Knotweed, Japanese, Polygonum cuspidatum
Japanese knotweed is a plant that not everyone is wholly enthusiastic about. In many articles on knotweed you will also find words like 'aggressive', 'invasive', 'destroy' and 'combat'. I myself…
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Lady’s mantle, Alchemilla vulgaris L.
The lady's mantle is a plant that initially does not catch your eye because of its beauty. It has no conspicuous inflorescence or colour. And then you look really closely…
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Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis L.
When I think of lemon balm, the sun immediately starts to shine. Thing is, I like to put some leaves of this plant in water when the weather is nice,…
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Linden tree, Tilia cordata
There are many old linden trees along the street where I currently live. When they're flowering you almost get intoxicated by the deliciously sweet scent. And when you have a…
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Mallow, common, Malva sylvestris L.
The common mallow is one of my favourite plants and not only because of its cheerful pink to purple flowers. For a while, I drank many a cup of mallow…
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Monkshood, Aconitum napellus
This beautiful plant should not be left out on a website about, among other things, magical plants. Notorious for her strong toxicity, it is of course a well-known ingredient of…
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Nettle, stinging, Urtica dioica L
Everyone has had a run in with the stinging nettle at some point and knows that he lives up to his name. After touching this plant, your skin seems to…
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Pansy, wild, Viola tricolor
A monograph that should definitely be among the plants in this vademecum is that of Viola tricolor, or the wild pansy. This plant always reminds me of my mother. Not…
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Periwinkle, common, Vinca minor L.
The periwinkle is a popular garden plant. Understandably so, because it's not only an evergreen, it also has very cheerful, purple flowers. And many people consider it an useful border…
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Sage, common, Salvia officinalis L.
There are plants which are so versatile that you almost dread starting a monograph on it. Nettle is such a plant and today I am writing about another plant in…
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Sweet flag, Acorus calamus
This versatile, water-loving plant is well established in Europe. However, she isn't native to the continent. Alexander the Great already brought her this way from South Asia. Today. we see…
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Thyme, common, Thymus vulgaris L.
Some herbs are well-known because they appear in every spice rack. Thyme is one of them. Originally it was mainly used in the cuisines of the countries around the Mediterranean,…
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Valerian, Valeriana officinalis L.
Valerian is one of those plants that could be found easily in the area that I grew up in. The moist river clay made this plant feel very much at…
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Vervain, Verbena officinalis L.
When it comes to wise women's herbs, vervain should not be missed. This plant was praised in ancient times for its medicinal and magical properties. Vervain was already seen as…
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Willow, white, Salix alba L.
If I had to choose one tree to put in my garden, it would be the willow. She may not be as majestic as other trees, but if you only…
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Woodruff, Galium odoratum L.
A dear little plant with great deeds, that is sweet woodruff. With her small flowers and soft green leaves, you would almost overlook her, while she is everywhere. Sweet woodruff…
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Wormwood, Artemisa absinthium L.
I personally think this is a beautiful plant with its fine grey-green mass of leaves, but many would not put this plant in their garden because it does not bloom…
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Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is a very common plant that you can see everywhere on the roadsides. It is also a real powerhouse with many applications, both as a medicinal and…
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