This article contains my work last year with my backyard plants. Some of these such as Marigold were grown in my garden, others were found established within the yard.
Many of these are commonly found in England and in other areas of Europe. These are plants that have been brought to the states and have established themselves here.
Confederate or blue violet, in love oils. Violet oil is said to be good for the skin. With smoothing benefits it also is said to help alleviate acne.
Blue violet is commonly found planted around the graves of the very young. It can symbolize grieving and grief.
It also can symbolize love and to me the color blue is great to represent continuing to grow friendships.
In a specific part of England, periwinkle, blue like in color, is planted around the graves of children. To me it would seem this tradition has been adapted over here in the United States to use for this, blue violet.
Periwinkle, used for grieving and death in English folk magick, is not commonly found here in this state.
Blue violet is native to the area and can be substituted.
Bell flowers, again more common to England and the British Isles, can be switched out here in Maine for other blue flowers. Blue bachelor buttons are easily grown and found in garden sections at department stores and supermarkets and make an excellent contender as a substitute.
Bugleweed, this plant grows freely among the property hedge. I use the leaves of this ground cover to add to protection jars to absorb negative energy and intent aimed my way.
Named for its flowers shaped like a horn, this plant can aid in various magicks. Purple bugle shaped flowers can lend their aid in inspiration and creativity works, and its ground cover quality is wonderful for absorption.
As well to absorb negative energy to protect I have been using bugleweed to absorb negativity for hexing. It serves then, a dual purpose.
Take care to note not to leave the leaves of this plant in a jar for too long a period. I recommend substituting the dried flowers for the leaves, as the leaves contain a lot of moisture, and air drying can prove difficult.
Virginia spiderwort, I like to add its petals into love oils. Interestingly it is said their petals do not normally dry out, but rather, form into a jelly like substance. I am still experimenting with this, and this remains to be seen but I am considering its use in a skin oil if the gelatinous nature of the petals proves to be true.
A combination of violet and Virginia spiderwort may improve the appearance of the skin.
Narrow leaf sundrop, I recently discovered this among the hedge growth. This and other variations of evening primrose I like to add, again, to love oils. Interestingly this is said to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, I would avoid using an oil on the face, however in a facial wash using spring water this can prove beneficial.
Sundrop Facial Water
Intentions: Protection, love, and youth.
Ingredients
Spring water.
Narrow leaf sundrop or common evening primrose petals.
Boiling pan.
Lidded jar.
On the stove top boil some spring water. When boiling take the pan off the heat and add the petals. Let this steep now for 30 minutes and then, when cooled, remove the petals. Store the water in a lidded container, such as a jar or bottle in the refrigerator. Use this up quickly as it wont store well for long. Use daily to wash the face avoiding contact with the eyes.
To help preserve this sundrop water one can add a quarter of the sundrop water to a bottle and then add 75 percent vegetable glycerin.
This will store up to two years.
Store this in the fridge. Dab on the face before washing to use.
Another plant found within my yard that is commonly found planted on or around graves. Bell flowers have many folk names including fairy bells and Venus looking glass.
With symbolism relative to everlasting love, kindness and constancy my favored use is to keep with mirrors to increase self worth.
Plus it ties in nicely with the story of Venus and her magick mirror.
Yellow toadflax.
It is planted by the entrance and is used magically for protection and hex breaking.
To break a hex with yellow toadflax step upon its flowers as you would with snapdragon.
In fact yellow toadflax is commonly referred to as wild snapdragon. It is in the snapdragon family.
This could be used as a local substitute for magickal uses associated with snapdragon. Another member of the snapdragon family, Mullein, can be used for protection and hex breaking purposes as well. The old tallow Mullein candles were said to repel witches, though in oral tradition it is also claimed to be used by them.
Yellow toadflax, Snapdragon (common), and Mullein, then, can be used to ward against other practitioners.
Musk mallow. Another plant great for skin care in my yard hedge is this, musk mallow. Its seeds in an oil can be used as a substitute for musk and they have been used in perfumeries for this purpose.
The leaves and flowers are anti inflammatory and reduce redness and irritation.
The flowers or leaves are also used medicinally in teas to help alleviate sore throat and as a mild laxative.
Intention of this plant can relate to love. In Victorian times this flower was often given to young women, holding delicate symbolism within the Victorian Flower Language.
This flower and plant is considered safe for grazing livestock and many house pets.
Seed harvesting:
In the Northern Hemisphere a week before September first is when the musk mallow begins to seed.
The flowers will close into pods. The green pods are still in the process of making seed and will not contain any, leave these until they turn yellow. Yellowed pods will contain seeds. Do not pick all the pods off the plant so that the left over seeds can fall to the ground and propagate the plant.
Marigolds. These are good for reducing the appearance of varicose veins. Marigold is also good for the appearance of bruises and to heal minor wounds. Magickally they can be linked to ancestor work as a flower representing grief.
Witch's money bags, also termed live long, is great for healing wounds and works remarkably to soothe the irritation caused by insect bites. Used in love divination to tell if a marriage would be for the better. Two stems are attached to a wall, if they grow together the marriage will be happy and long lasting. If they grow apart this signifies it to fail. And, if the stems die this is said to foretell of death.
Witch's money bags, succulent they be, do not dry out quickly. It is best to avoid storing them and to use them immediately in skin oils.
Storing these leaves while not properly dried, can cause the plant matter to mold in the jar.
Lady's Thumb, can symbolize drawing love. I use this in love drawing workings as this is growing throughout the garden.