Enchanted Plants

“Guided by fairy folk and Ventura’s own botanical wisdom, this book is an enchanting walk on the path of green magic and folklore.” —Coby Michael, author of The Poison Path Herbal From fairy tales to your garden, Enchanted Plants is an illustrated treasure trove of the lore and magic in the kingdom of plants. Take a walk through mystical, magical, and folkloric gardens and discover the plants and flowers that have captured our hearts and minds for centuries. Will you dare to pick a golden apple or seize the perfect rose? Will you sneak through the gilded gates of the poison garden where plants both alluring and life-saving intertwine? From the baneful bog to the garden gate, plant lover and lover of the bizarre Varla Ventura brings together forgotten lore of plants for the ultimate romp through a botanical wonderland, including excerpts from fairy tales and a lively discussion of each plant’s legendary magical and medicinal properties. Don’t forget your scissors. Enchanted Plants is arranged by general environment: cultivated plants and edibles; toxic plants; meadowlands; the woods; marshes and swamps; and tropical plants. Each chapter contains a cultivated selection of plants, arranged alphabetically by popular common name, with additional information including botanical name, common names, folklore, ethnobotanical properties, magical and occult properties, and modern usage if applicable.