The Old Wives’ Garden

This page is where you will find information about my student plot as part of my Diploma in Herbology at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.

I have chosen a theme that pays homage to the native and naturalised plants of Scotland, as well as the history, mythology, and folk traditions that imbue our relationship with them. Each plant in this bed is a medicinal plant native to Scotland that has traditional uses as well as mystical associations and folkloric legends. We often dismiss folk remedies as ‘old wives’ tales’, but these traditions have been passed down for generations, and herein lies the value.

Folklore and mythology hold an important place within society. It is a way to understand and connect with our past, as well as to create a relationship with and understand the natural world. To the ancients, the natural world held a place of great reverence. With a lack of scientific understanding came space for mystical interpretations. We can use a modern lens to look at these old practices and beliefs, allowing for a deeper understanding of our social history and for the unique energetics of the plants around us. Why were some thought to be the domain of witches and the devil? Why were some thought to offer protection against them and other evil spirits? When we can see the connection between the magical and the scientific, we have the opportunity for a more holistic understanding of the world.

Click here for a list of the plants in the Old Wives’ Garden, where you will learn about the botany, pharmacology, traditional and modern uses, as well as the folklore and mythology of each plant.