Ellen Dugan (Missouri), also known as the "Garden Witch" is a
psychic-clairvoyant, and has been a practicing Witch for over 18 years. She
received Master Gardener status through the University of Missouri, teaches
classes on perennial gardening and flower folklore at a local community
college, and has many years of nursery and landscape design experience.
As we roll into the last weeks of summer and anticipate the cooler days of
autumn, an amazing amount of natural magick and garden witchery supplies
become available to us. These materials can easily be found growing in the
backyard Witch's garden, or thriving in pots and containers set around the
porch or patio. Magickal plants are much more common than most people
realize. Take a closer look at the plants, flowers, and trees in your
neighborhood - there is an incredible array of natural supplies that can be
incorporated into your own style of garden witchery.
At this time of year, the garden is just starting to wind down from its
summer display. The culinary herbs, blooming annuals, sunflowers,
black-eyed-Susans, roses, butterfly bushes, and coneflowers are still holding
on and will continue to thrive through the hottest days of late summer. In
just a few more weeks, the emphasis will shift in the garden, and it begins
to look more blowsy, casual, overgrown and wild. In the fall garden, there is
a focus on texture - from ornamental grasses to showy seedpods on the faded
coneflowers and black-eyed-Susans, which the birds will make good use of.
Then, the deeper more jewel-toned colors of the berries, changing foliage,
chrysanthemums, and sedum will begin to take center stage.
Why not save yourself some time and money, and take a look at what is
available to you in your own backyard? Garden Witchery is fun, and it's a
great way to connect to the earth. Plus I'll let you in on a little secret;
It's much easier than you think. Put exotic and hard-to-find plants right out
of your mind. This type of earthy magick is simple and works with common
garden plants, trees, perennials, and annuals. Here is a great example. You
know those pots of annuals you've had growing on your porch all summer?
Chances are they are filled with flowers you could easily use in earthy
spells and charms.
Do you have any geraniums growing out there? You can work with red geraniums
for a fast and simple floral spell to promote protection. And while we are on
the subject of geraniums, the other different colors of this annual flower
have their own magickal correspondences too. For instance, white geraniums
will promote fertility. Bright pink geraniums encourage passion and love, and
coral ones increase vitality and energy. If you've got a shady spot and have
been growing impatiens, (some folks call these flowers Busy Lizzy), add those
tender blossoms into spells and charms to help "speed things up."
The folk name for impatiens is "touch me not"- so handle those
blossoms carefully because they bruise easily. Go on, gather a flower or two
from the garden and incorporate them into your spellwork.
To get you inspired, here is a Garden Witch's list of favorite late summer
and autumn bloomers that you can slip in to your seasonal magick and
witchery.
Late Summer Flowers
• Aster (aster hybrids.) - Also known as Michaelmas daisies, asters come
in gorgeous shades of blue, white, pink, and purple. The aster is sacred to
most of the Greek pantheon, and attracts butterflies to your yard. According
to flower folklore the aster conveys the message of variety, delicacy, and
patience. Incorporate asters into spells and charms to enhance loving
vibrations and healthy emotions. Adding these beautiful flowers to your
garden brings love and contentment to your entire household. The aster
prefers a sunny location and likes moist, well-drained soil. USA cold
hardiness zones 4-9
• Black-eyed-Susans (Rudbeckia) - These drought-tolerant perennials
thrive in sunny spots and are a wonderful addition to any garden by providing
bold splashes of golden color from summer through fall. In the language of
flowers they symbolize "justice." So they would be ideal to add to
any spells where this was an issue. The seed heads of the black-eyed-Susans
are attractive to songbirds, so don't cut these back in the late fall, let
the birds have them. USA cold hardiness zones 4-9
• Coneflowers (Echinacea) - Purple coneflowers encourage health and will
strengthen any spell work. These native flowers are tough and drought
tolerant. They attract butterflies into your garden in the summer, and
goldfinches to your yard in the fall and winter. Those finches love to snack
on the thistles in the cones. When the flower petals whither in the fall,
leave the seed heads standing for the birds. Just about the time I think I
should cut them back because the flowers have faded, the bright yellow
goldfinches find the seed heads. Coneflowers will perform well in full sun to
part-shady conditions. (However, the more sun they get, the taller they will
grow.) USA cold hardiness zones 3-9.
• Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) - Incorporate these dusky
purple blossoms into charms and spells that call for wisdom and knowledge.
This perennial has a wonderful sage scent and the long lasting purple blooms
attract pollinators such as the honeybee. The foliage is a bluish-green, and
this branching perennial may grow up to 6 feet in height. Russian sage
performs well in full sun and is best planted in the back of the border -
give it lots of room to grow. USA cold hardiness zone 4-9
• Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) - This annual flower has been honored
as a symbol of the sun for thousands of years. Magickal uses include, truth,
fame, recognition, and granting wishes. Sleeping with a sunflower beneath
your pillow will tell you the truth of any matter. The annual sunflower is
easy to grow and will require lots of fertilizer, they are heavy feeders. The
height of the sunflower will depend on the variety. Anywhere from 2 to 10
feet in height. Sunflowers will not winter over, but save a few of the seeds
and plant them next spring if you like. Birds love the sunflower seeds for a
snack, so after they fade in late summer/ early autumn, save and dry the seed
heads for a winter treat for the birds.
• Zinnias - These are easy annuals to grow from seed. These colorful
flowers attract lots of butterflies into the late summer sunny garden. In the
language of flowers, the zinnia symbolizes "faraway friends." A
great flower to use in any floral fascination (spells worked with fresh
flowers), or spells designed to begin a new friendship or to help cool off
feuding friends. Zinnias are available in a rainbow of colors. This makes
coordinating your color magick with your flower fascinations a snap.
Fall Flowers
• Autumn Clematis (Clematis paniculata) - In the language of flowers,
the clematis stands for the beauty of the mind and ingenuity. Work a tiny
blooming cluster or two this fall into enchantments that call for a little
cleverness and resourcefulness. This free-flowering vine blooms in tiny
snow-white clusters of fragrant blossoms in the autumn months. The 15-25 foot
vines are aggressive and grow quickly, so keep it trained on an arbor or
fence. If it starts to get away from you, it can be clipped back to a
manageable size in the spring. This plant blooms on new growth, in the fall.
USA cold hardiness zones 4-8
• Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema hybrids) - These blossoms are
affectionately known today as "mums." The name of this flower comes
from the Greek words chrysos meaning gold, and anthos meaning flower. These
"golden flowers" of the fall are classics for the autumn garden. In
ancient times Greeks would wear garlands of chrysanthemums to keep away those
dreaded "evil spirits." For the modern Garden Witch, the mum is a
fabulous, protective fall flower that wards the home and keeps away wandering
ghosts. Since they are available in a wide range of jewel-toned colors, you
can match the color of the mum to specialize your floral spellwork. In the
language of flowers, the mum brings "cheer," plus the different
colors of the chrysanthemum all have specialized meanings. Red mums mean,
"I love you." White signifies "truth," and yellow means
"happiness." For the other available jewel tones I would go with
"energy and bounty" for the orange mum. A "happy hearth and
home" for the bronze colors. The amethyst-colored mum could be added to
spells worked to promote "power and protection." The chrysanthemum
grows best in full sun, and likes well-drained, rich soil. USA cold hardiness
zones 4-9.
• Morning Glory (Ipomoea) - The morning glory is an old-fashioned,
fall-blooming annual vine. It is available in a wide range of colors from
white, pastel shades of pink, and blue to true blue and deep purple. In the
language of flowers, the morning glory "greets the new day." Also
any truly blue flowers are sacred to the goddess Aphrodite. For flower
fascinations, use the blue blossoms for love, peace, and for promoting mental
health. The morning glory is associated with the planet Saturn, which means
that foliage, vines, and blossoms can and be incorporated into protection
spells. Try the deeper blue and purple colored varieties to safeguard your
home or property. Morning glories grow well in full to part sun. Be sure to
keep them well watered during the hot, dog days of late summer.
• Pansies (Viola) - These cool-temperature-loving flowers are sacred to
Eros/Cupid. Pansies have many folk names including,
kiss-me-at-the-garden-gate, love-in-idleness, Johnny jump-ups, and heart's
ease. According to legend, the god Eros accidentally shot one of his
love-inducing arrows into the pansy, causing it to smile. The happy face of
the pansy has been grinning ever since. These sassy, multi-colored flowers
are incorporated into garden witchery spells and charms for easing a broken
heart and for spreading cheer. Pansies are wonderful in the garden or tucked
into pots and containers for seasonal color. If planted in the ground in the
fall and then mulched with leaves in early winter, pansies will bloom again
the following spring. Here's a fun Garden Witch tip; during the fall months
look for the "Trick or Treat" variety. These pansies are a mixture
of orange, black and purple colors, and absolutely enchanting to add to your
garden just in time for Halloween/ Samhain.
• Pineapple sage (Salvia rutilans) - This tender perennial is a
wonderful blooming herb. In the language of flowers, the pineapple sage
represents "hospitality." So work the scented foliage into charm
bags to promote a "happy home" vibe for your place. This fabulous
herb starts out as tiny bedding plant and then grows into shrub size by the
autumn months. The pineapple sage's blossoms probably won't appear until
after the autumn equinox, but once they do, those red tubular shaped flowers
will attract lots of hummingbirds. Pineapple sage is classified as a
"tender perennial," which means it will not survive most cold
winters. However, I feel that the show the hummers put on is well worth the
cost of re-planting it each year.
• Sedum - One of my favorite varieties of sedum is the "Autumn Joy." Folk names for this plant include Betty's bustle, but most folks know this autumn classic as Stonecrop. In the language of flowers, the sedum announces, "welcome and tranquility." Incorporate the sedum into charms and spells that encourage a peaceful marriage and happy home. The waxy, succulent looking foliage of the sedum bears clusters of flowers that start out pale green and eventually turn to a rosy pink. Bumblebees and butterflies adore these autumn flowers. As the nights grow colder the flower color will eventually turn to deep mauve and then to burgundy-brown. This plant makes for great architectural interest in a winter garden, when covered in snow or ice. Sedums are very easy to grow, long lived, make great cut flowers, and are drought tolerant. The plant thrives in full sun and grows 18-36 inches in height. USA cold hardiness zones 3-9.
Would you like to learn more about herbalism and the magick of flowers? Well,
go outside and get your hands dirty right now! Tie up some pretty flowers and
gorgeous foliage into enchanting Tussie-Mussie bouquets. Stuff bewitching
flower petals and fragrant herbs into charm bags for protection, love, and
prosperity. Oh, and be sure to set some of these enchanting flowers in vases
and jars around the house, so their magickal energy is spread throughout your
home. Work with fresh flowers and foliage, straight from the garden, and
conjure up some seasonal spells and charms of your own design this year.
Happy Magickal Gardening!
For more information about flower fascinations, the language of flowers,
charm bags, and Tussie-Mussies, and even more garden magick ideas - refer to
my book, Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up.
RECOMMENDED TITLES BY ELLEN DUGAN:
7 Days Of Magic:
Correpondences, spells, tarot card associations, and more, for magically making use of each day of the week.
Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment Of Mabon:
The new sabbat book for Mabon, with harvest myths, divinations, crafts, recipes and rituals.
Cottage Witchery:
Spice rack sorcery, housecat magick, warding your doors and oodles of other magic for your domecile.
Elements Of Witchcraft:
"Interested teens will enjoy this primer, and involved parents should feel at ease with the overall tone and treatment."
Garden Witchery:
Flower folklore, faery magick, Sabbat celebrations, enchanted houseplants, and more magic from the ground up.
These title and others can be found at Isis Books & Gifts! With over
500 Wicca and Witchcraft book titles in stock, your sure to find one right
for you!
Click here to
receive a free 90-page catalog.
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