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Witch's Garden describes over 50 of the world's most powerful magical plants and their uses, mythical and proven.
Wise women, apothecaries, witches, herbalists: whatever you call them, those who use plants for their fabled mystical and healing properties have existed for thousands of years. From the screaming mandrake to calming St John's Wort, and from healing yarrow to poisonous henbane, the history of esoteric species is often as dark and mysterious as the art of herbalism itself.
Including tales of remedies for everything from bad weather and broken hearts to protection from evil and achieving immortality, Witch's Garden features exquisite botanical illustrations and fascinating specimens held within the archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, while archival images depicting occult practices evoke the bewitching nature of these curious species.
Sandra Lawrence is a journalist and author. She writes for the Evening Standard, Guardian, Financial Times, The Times, Londonist.com and the English Garden. She is the London columnist for British Heritage magazine and is on the Q&A panel of experts for History Revealed magazine. Her travel writing is collected on madamepassepartout.com.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Author)
THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW is a world-famous scientific organisation, holding an unrivalled position for its outstanding collections of plants and fungi, artefacts and art, world-class Herbarium as well as its expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development. From its beginnings as a small physic garden in 1759 it has grown to become a top international visitor attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kew's 132 hectares of stunning landscaped gardens and iconic glasshouses make it one of the world's best-loved gardens, a paradise for plant lovers, offering a wealth of ideas and inspiration to all.