Customer Reviews

Bud, Blossom & Leaf: The Magical Herb Gardener's Handbook

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Dorothy Morrison's BUD, BLOSSOM & LEAF contains something old, something new and some things borrowed from other gardeners, as well as a good deal of original material based on her own experiences. She combines all these bits of gardening wisdom and lore into a practical but fun book that has more to do with using herbs than growing them. I appreciate the old bits, such as being reminded of the multiple uses of Chamomile, a natural antibiotic remedy and a soothing balm, and new information seldom found in gardening books - such as how to make wine from excess fruit and other plant materials. The best part of her book is entitled "Mother Nature's Household" where Ms Morrison offers ideas and suggestions for everything from 'Cleaning with Herbs' to 'Herbal Beauty'. She includes recipes for products for the bath and boudoir, as well as the kitchen.

If you are a new gardener, you will probably want to purchase another gardening book that goes into greater depth concerning the care and feeding (growing) of herbs, as Ms Morrison's discussion of gardening techniques is directed to the experienced gardener and, not the novice. There are a number of herbal gardening books on the market, for example Rodale'S ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBS, which is a good place to begin to learn more about herbs. Herbs are generally annuals (Basil, balms, Borage) or perennials (Lavender, Artemisia, Echinacea) so bed preparation is similar to that undertaken for flower gardening. However, every experienced gardener knows not all flowers have the same requirements. For example, if you are going to raise lavender, it helps to know that it prefers dry alkaline growing conditions. Like most flowers, most herbs require lots of sun (many come from the Mediterranean), so you'll have better luck growing herbs on a sunny balcony, than in a shady moist location.

I absolutly loved this book! It covers every possible aspect of growing a successful herb garden, from ground preperation to how to get the herbs ready for winter, and the information can even be used for a flower garden.

I probably read the entire book in about 3 days because of the entertaining way Dorothy Morrison wrote this book, and it was more like reading a favorite novel. Even if you are not in to Magick, this will prove an excellent read for gardening beginners or anyone just looking to start a successful garden. I would recomment this to anyone and give it 5 stars!

For the novice, I gave it 4 stars. This book would give you a good start on the love of growing herbs.

For those who were hoping for an in depth study on magical gardening, I'd have to sadly give it 1 star. I already have quite a library regarding gardening and herbs, and I was really expecting something more in-depth, something more serious. There are a lot of "rituals" and "spells" in this book, but they are either no-brainers for me (like a garden blessing ritual) or they are really just tried-and-true folk remedies revamped into a Wiccan spell.

Perhaps this book would have connected better with someone who was also in the novice stage of Witchcraft as well?

This is a great book for someone who is new to gardening, herbal magic, or Wicca who wants to grow a basic herb garden for magical purposes; with this book and perhaps a little information on local growing conditions you can make a good start. This is *not* an in-depth guide to gardening, herbs, Wicca, or spellwork, however, and I agree with a previous reviewer who pointed out some editing problems.

This books mixes the kind of gardening advice you could get from the most superficial coffee-table gardening book, with singsong rhymes the likes of which are found in mainstream greeting cards. Is the author sincere about her status as high priestess, or is she laughing all the way to the bank? We may never know, but if you like bad writing you will get some utility from the book. My favorite part was where she advises putting a small statue of the Goddess into your Goddess garden, because it makes "an excellent Goddess symbol". (Used copy for sale!)

It is one that I reference many times a week. Not only is it written and illustrated in an easy to use format, but it very thorough. Bud, Blossom, & Leaf reminds me how important Goddess is in the gifts she gives us, whether it be herb, flower, bush, or tree.

As you begin to read Bud, Blossom, & Leaf , you gain insight and knowledge of gardening and Spirit, whether you have an indoor or outdoor garden. Would you like a shaped and themed garden? Perhaps a Fairie Garden or maybe you are more interested in a Medicine Wheel Garden for healing. Learn Rituals to bless the gardens and the earth, learn to intertwine them in your daily life.

From recipes for culinary, cosmetic and medicinal uses to lessons in how to appease fairies so your gardens grow lush, everything you need is here within these pages. Learn how to predict the weather by using the Moon and the Winds. Learn to enlist the elemental energies to create your own magickal gardens. Become closer to Deity, as you become enlightened in and by the garden.

M.L. Benton, Publisher, Echoed Voices.
Copyright © November 2001

First of all, I am a novice on growing herbs so this book was perfect for me! Morrison suggests ways to plan, plant, & prepare your own herbal garden. She even includes tips for city dwellers like myself. (However, I can't wait until I move into a house because I want to try out her suggestions for a Butterfly garden!) Also included in this book are tips on harvesting and trouble-shooting. However, my favorite parts of this book were the chapters on Bath & Boudoir, Herbal Beauty, and Herbal Hygiene & First Aid. The miracle cure for dry feet worked wonders for my friend, but my favorite was the Bath Tub Fizzes recipe, especially when used with lavender herbs! My only complaint about the book was I wish Morrison would of gone into a little more detail on the actual herb growing process. Guess I will need to find another book for that. Otherwise, a truly wonderful read.

This book is probably the most complete Witches herb planting reference book I've seen in a long time. It was made for a Witch to put together his/her herb garden.

Ms. Morrison starts with the basics; choosing the right places to plant, the kind of garden you want (kitchen, healers etc.), choosing plants, seeds, pots, tools; all those things that makes a garden a garden. She talks about watering, spacing, weeding, insect pests. She also gives some very basic yet excellent advice on practical control of both weeds and insect pests. Companion planting, beneficial attractants and repellents, she includes many simple and common sense ideas for keeping your garden in order.

Then she makes it magical... Gardening permission Ritual, Blessings of the seeds, protection spells for sprouts, invoking the Spring Ritual, magical help for indoor plants. All the additional things a Witch gardener would want to know in addition to the usual gardeners information.

I was pleased that Dorothy included the basics of gardening as well as the magical aspects. Most books I've seen cover either one or the other. You get a book on gardening, and it tells you about laying out the various types of plants, all the basics on compost etc. etc. Magical digests cover the usual properties of herbs, astrological inferences for different plants and so on. Ms. Morrison put it together in one handy reference book. She has even included some recipes that can be made from materials you harvest from your garden. A very complete book if you ask me.

I have always enjoyed Ms. Morrison's work. She is continually coming up with new ways to look at things, and this book has not disappointed me. She even has a section on floriography - the language of the plants. OK, it means what the plants energy and vibrations are. Very important to know if you want to use any of your garden in your spell castings. Magical associations is just another plus to make this more than just another gardening book.

A little magical help on my first planting of this kind can only help, I think.

Dorothy has once again written a book without the all too often seen arcane ancient references to obscure systems of magick. Simply a straight forward approach to making a personal garden grow through infusing yourself into your chosen herbs, without needing a tome on extensive gardening or magickal techniques. A recommended study.

Dorothy Morrison's Bud, Blossom & Leaf draws unusual connections between Wicca and gardening, and holds the potential to appeal to gardeners as well as spiritual practitioners. From magical garden shapes for different proposes to herb recipes, this is packed with outdoors-oriented information.