Beeches Green Friendship Circle

On arrival we were given invitations for our Christmas Party which is to take place on December 16.

We signed a card for Margaret, one of our ladies who is unwell at the moment.

There was the usual Bring and Buy Stall and also the Secret Raffle.

Our speaker was Pam Slater and her subject was Garden Lore.

Pam is a keen gardener who likes quirky stories and has a good sense of humour.

Her talk today centred on herbs and she began by talking about rosemary.

In the Mediterranean villages the washing was dried over large rosemary bushes as the creepy crawlies etc. seemed to have an aversion to this bush.

The oil from this bush was also absorbed into the fabric and though to be a brain stimulant.

Shakespeare eluded to this in his play Hamlet, hence the phrase Rosemary for Remembrance.

In Elizabethan times, Rosemary was often used in bridal bouquets and as part of the groom's button hole, it was thought to be a sign of love and faithfulness.

Another story about rosemary is that apparently Mary on her flight from Egypt had nowhere to shelter and used a large rosemary bush covered in white flowers to shelter under.

The flowers on the bush changed form white to blue.

Pam then went on to talk about mint, a very strong smelling herb of which there are a great many varieties, spearmint, pineapple, chocolate etc.

According to Greek mythology Menthe (one of the Nymphs) was fancied by Hades, God of the Underworld and his jealous wife on knowing this turned her into a plant.

Mint can be used in many ways.

If made into a drink it is very good for digestion and keeping you awake.

Secret drinkers found it beneficial as the strong smell masked their habit.

There is even mention in the Bible of taxes being paid by mint.

Chocolate mint is very nice chopped and sprinkled over ice cream (tastes like After Eights).

Growing a small amount of mint under rose bushes is very good for keeping aphids away.

Over a thousand years ago gardeners believed in lunar planting as it was thought the moon had magical properties - tides by the moon, soil by the moon.

A bare bottom test was used on the soil to see if it was ready for planting.

The gardener would sit on the soil for two minutes.

If bottom too cold, not ready to plant - if bottom warm, ready to plant.

Many stories have been passed down over the years such as, never plant a potato unit the cuckoo shouts or never cast a clout until May is out.

May for gardeners was a big celebration time.

It was the start of Spring.

Festivals took place and on May 1 the children danced around the May Pole.

This tradition still continues in many areas.

May or Hawthorn was used for wreaths for doors - hence the rhyme Here we go gathering knots in May - not nuts in May - as often sung.

Pam continued to impart information about herbs including folk lore that surrounds many of them.

With regard to sage it was said that - where the sage bush dries and grows the master's not master and he knows.

It was also said that Good Friday was a good day to plant parsley/rose bushes/potatoes but perhaps this was because men did not want to sit through the long sermon that day.

Parsley for poison.

It is said that parsley should not be given away as you are giving away your good luck and good fortune.

The bay leaf was then discussed and its association with greatness.

It was given to Sir Henry Wood on the Last Night of the Proms and also given to Olympic Medallists.

To conclude her talk Pam had brought along some interesting books for us to browse through.

The National Trust Book of Garden Lore, The Oxford Dictionary of Plant Lore, and Flower Wisdom.

Pam answered questions and was thanked by Zita our Deputy Chairperson.

We had all enjoyed the interesting talk she had given us.

The raffle was drawn and Rosalind our Chairperson asked those present to confirm their intention to attend the Christmas Party.

After some more tea and cake we all made our way home.