Autumn Colors in my Haunted Garden

This was the view of our woods before we got high winds.

Sassafras and a red maple leaf.

Viburnum turns a shade of orange/pink with dark purple berries.

Beautiful oak.

All good Witches must have witch hazel in their yards!

Beautiful hickory!

Do Touch...Touch Me Nots

Spotted Touch Me Nots or Jewelweed (Impatiens Capensis) is a native wildflower. They grow here along the roadsides and along the edge of our woods. Their flowers can be a wonderful orange as pictured above or yellow. The touch me not part of them is their seed pod. It bursts open in your hand and scatters the seeds. They feel alive and it's quite fun!
A poultice made from Jewelweed is said to help with poison ivy although I haven't tried it as I am not affected by poison ivy for some reason.

Mums the word

Ok I'm am ready for Fall and yes that means Fall planting!

What says Autumn Joy more than Mums?

Chrysanthemums that is.

Look at all the lovely Fall colors and varieties.

And what better companion to mums than ceramic Jack O' Lanterns!

Found them at my local Kroger.

I think mums planted in large plastic Witch cauldrons are perfect don't you!

Beautiful Black Eyed Susan's and Spooky Spider

There is such beauty in the Haunted Gardens this time of year! 

The spider above is a male nursery web spider. He's lovely I think.

I like Weird Veggies

Just a little sample of my small harvest.
The cukes are a creamy white and called white wonder. They are an Heirloom from 1893.
Yellow pear tomatoes are mild and fun to grow.
Finally blue and golden sweet snow peas.

Spooky Yellow Crab Spider

Oh the carnage!  Do you see the little leg or bug body part to the left of this spooky crab spider. Well I guess he has to eat too! He loves my shasta daisies.

Old Fashioned Columbines

I love Columbines  They self seed and are easy to grow. They come in all colors and a bonus is bees and humming birds love them.
Above are just a few from my garden. They look fake or fabric but they are real.
Also known as Jesters Hat, Lions Herb, and Granny Bonnet.
They are poisonous.
According to folklore they are used to encourage Courage. They are used in love spells.

Iris has a Darkside

Iris Goddess of Rainbows and a messenger to the Gods. This lovely flower comes in many colorful versions. But who really knew that some come with a beautiful darkside! Below are just a few types that are must haves for any Haunted Garden!

This lovely beauty is called Draculas Kiss.

This one is called Witches Wand.

This variety is Pagan Dance.

This one is perfectly named Hello Darkness.

Lastly Witches Sabbath! So why not add a little mystery to your Haunted Garden and add these dark beauties. I know I'll be looking to add these to my garden!

Save the Bees...Plant These!

First off go Organic! Do not use and stray pesticides!

Lemon Balm. Easy to grow and smells great used in teas and has all kinds of uses.

Catmint is amazing bees love it and so do cats!

Greek Oregano is one of my favorite culinary herbs! It doesn't spread like regular oregano. Dried it's great in many dishes!

Lavender for me it will overwinter if I don't cut it back.

Yarrow many bees and butterflies love them. Comes in many colors. Easy to grow.

 

So consider planting these herbs not only for their usefulness but for the bees!

Hyacinth... a dark demension to the Spring Garden

Hyacinth( Hyacinthus Orientalis) is a lovely and beautifully fragrant bell shaped Spring flower(bulb).
It comes in many colors but I found some with a mysterious dark side!

                                                    This beauty is called Dark Dimension.

                                                   This variety is called Midnight Mystic.

The tale of Hyacinth is tragic. He was killed accidentally by Apollo in a sporting competition.
This lovely Spring flower came into being through blood and death. Where Hyacinth's blood was spilled this flower was born.
The meaning of the purple and dark colored flowers is sorrow and forgiveness.

I don't have these dark beauties in my garden yet but I do have many white ones whose fragrance is intoxicating!

Drunk on Spring!

Sweet Woodruff or Galium Odoratum is a lovely little Springtime ground cover herb. It's tiny ghost white flowers smell like vanilla. Mine blooms in May here. And according to folklore heals, protects and helps you prosper. 

On May first it is traditional in many Countries to drink May Wine to welcome Spring and the return to gardening and warmer weather. May Wine has been traditionally made with white wine infused with sweet woodruff and strawberries.  Above is one I found by Galena Wine Cellars.

I also found this one with a lovely label! Brotherhood makes this one. So why not join in the fun put up a Maypole, have a bonfire and drink some May Wine. Oh and don't forget to grow some sweet woodruff!

Windflower and Lore

Spring has sprung and I think it's time to dust off the old Haunted Garden!
Windflowers or Anemones are blooming all over my yard this Spring.
According to Myth Adonis turns into this flower after his body is torn apart by a wild boar. This story is found in Ovid's "Venus and Adonis" by Shakespeare.
I don't mind having these types of body parts in my Haunted Garden! Too bad for Adonis though!
Happy Spring and Gardening!