Keen gardeners the world over fall in love with a species of plant because of the colour or the scent and plant them in their gardens, but what lies behind some of these beautiful plants and do we really know the history of some of our favourites.
Keen gardeners the world over fall in love with a species of plant because of the colour or the scent and plant them in their gardens, but what lies behind some of these beautiful plants and do we really know the history of some of our favourites.
The Lavender plant, a great favourite of many gardeners the world over, has a long history. In the 17th century during the Great Plague of London, it was suggested that a bunch of lavender fastened to each wrist would protect the wearer against the deadly disease. Grave-robbers after doing their dirty work were known to wash in Four Thieves Vinegar which contained lavender and they rarely contracted the disease. In 16th century France, lavender was also used to resist infection and glove-makers, who were licensed to perfume their wares with lavender, escaped cholera which was rife at that time.
There are many stories passed down the generations about European royal history and plant life, for example Charles VI of France demanded lavender-filled pillows wherever he went. Queen Elizabeth I of England required lavender conserve at the royal table and, a hard task for a gardener, she also wanted fresh lavender flowers available every day of the year, considering the climate in England this was indeed a daunting task. Louis XIV also loved lavender and bathed in water scented with it and Queen Victoria used a lavender deodorant. Both Elizabeth I and II used products from the famous lavender company Yardley and Co. of London.
Another plant with healing properties is the Geranium plant. It is an astringent and as such it tightens the skin and helps reduce wrinkling. It is used for this purpose in cosmetic and massage oils and to treat skin disorders, such as eczema and dermatitis.
This plant is widely known for its rejuvenating properties, a few drops of this oil in the bathwater can help to revive tired skin, and also helps to reduce the appearance of scars, and furthermore Geranium’s regenerative properties make it an excellent treatment for acne and burns.
The geranium is commonly used by herbalists in the form of a steam distilled essential oil, its antimicrobial properties make it a useful ingredient in healing cuts, abrasions and boils, and has a contracting effect on muscles and capillaries.
We sometimes do not know what wonderful versatile plants we are growing in our gardens and another plant that exceeds expectations is the begonia plant. The begonia is the sixth-largest genus of flowering plants, with about 1400-1500 species in 66 sections, and several species are popular with horticulturalists, mainly for their colourful flowers and leaves.
A spokesman for Blooming Direct located on the island of Jersey said “whatever plants gardeners are interested in we can supply and we have a vast range of lavender, geranium and begonia and many more species of plants. We offer a great online boutique type service and all orders are packed with care, furthermore all orders to the UK are FREE”.
For further information visit: www.bloomingdirect.com or you can visit their Facebook page to discover more offers.