Herbs have been grown for centuries, for many different purposes, including for cooking, for scenting cosmetics and candles, and to use making insecticides and medicines.
In ancient times it was normally monks and nuns and other religious people who took on the task of treating the sick and infirm.
And it was also these caring people who grew all the herbs they needed to use for their remedies.
They created the earliest medicinal herbs gardens we know about.
Illustrated manuscripts that have survived over the centuries feature drawings that show us what some early monastery gardens looked like.
Some were walled gardens with pathways separating beds where different herbs were grown.
Other gardens were bordered with thick hedges created with herbs like rosemary or thorny roses, with neatly planted herbs in the center.
Some manuscripts also have lists and descriptions of herbs that were planted.
For example, Charlemagne King of the Franks (also known as Charles the Great) listed medicinal herbs in his "Capitulare de Villis" written in the 9th century.
These included poppy, burdock, widely used for skin diseases and which is mentioned in three of Shakespeare`s plays, marsh mallow, recognized as a food and a medicine, which is mentioned in the Bible and in both Arab and Chinese literature, clary, also known as clary sage, which was used by the Romans to make a kind of eyewash, and houseleek, a species of about 40 succulent plants of the Crassulaceae family that grow like rosettes, is another herb used to treat skin diseases.
The Romans reputedly grew these herbs indoors.
Charlemagne also had plans drawn for the enlargement of a physic or medicinal herb garden at a 7th century Benedictine monastery in Switzerland.
Specific herbs are shows on these plans including: - savory - iris - rosemary - fenugreek - sage - rue - lily Of all of these, rosemary is probably the most interesting.
An ancient garden plant with a great legacy of mythical powers and supposed influences on life, this sweet-smelling herb is not only widely appreciated for its culinary uses, but it has always been a symbol of love and loyalty.
In ancient times it was often included in bridal wreaths.
It has varied medicinal uses and, amongst other things, is used to combat migraines and skin diseases.
It helps improve poor liver function and poor circulation.
It is also useful as a hair rinse for those who suffer from dandruff.
In Medieval times (in the Middle Ages), pleasure gardens were common, particularly in the gardens of palaces and hunting lodges owned by the nobility.
These were much more elaborate than the earlier monastic gardens, but herbs including rosemary, lilies, columbines and lavender did feature, as we see from drawings.
In the late Middle Ages, during the 15th century, a man called Ion Gardener wrote a treatise on The Feate of Gardening and discussed different types of herbs that were used for flavoring, cooking, medicines and for scent.
These included fennel, parsley, thyme, borage, orach and garlic, lilies, honeysuckle and lavender, plantain and the toxic henbane.
Which of these are you planning to plant in your new herb garden?
In ancient times it was normally monks and nuns and other religious people who took on the task of treating the sick and infirm.
And it was also these caring people who grew all the herbs they needed to use for their remedies.
They created the earliest medicinal herbs gardens we know about.
Illustrated manuscripts that have survived over the centuries feature drawings that show us what some early monastery gardens looked like.
Some were walled gardens with pathways separating beds where different herbs were grown.
Other gardens were bordered with thick hedges created with herbs like rosemary or thorny roses, with neatly planted herbs in the center.
Some manuscripts also have lists and descriptions of herbs that were planted.
For example, Charlemagne King of the Franks (also known as Charles the Great) listed medicinal herbs in his "Capitulare de Villis" written in the 9th century.
These included poppy, burdock, widely used for skin diseases and which is mentioned in three of Shakespeare`s plays, marsh mallow, recognized as a food and a medicine, which is mentioned in the Bible and in both Arab and Chinese literature, clary, also known as clary sage, which was used by the Romans to make a kind of eyewash, and houseleek, a species of about 40 succulent plants of the Crassulaceae family that grow like rosettes, is another herb used to treat skin diseases.
The Romans reputedly grew these herbs indoors.
Charlemagne also had plans drawn for the enlargement of a physic or medicinal herb garden at a 7th century Benedictine monastery in Switzerland.
Specific herbs are shows on these plans including: - savory - iris - rosemary - fenugreek - sage - rue - lily Of all of these, rosemary is probably the most interesting.
An ancient garden plant with a great legacy of mythical powers and supposed influences on life, this sweet-smelling herb is not only widely appreciated for its culinary uses, but it has always been a symbol of love and loyalty.
In ancient times it was often included in bridal wreaths.
It has varied medicinal uses and, amongst other things, is used to combat migraines and skin diseases.
It helps improve poor liver function and poor circulation.
It is also useful as a hair rinse for those who suffer from dandruff.
In Medieval times (in the Middle Ages), pleasure gardens were common, particularly in the gardens of palaces and hunting lodges owned by the nobility.
These were much more elaborate than the earlier monastic gardens, but herbs including rosemary, lilies, columbines and lavender did feature, as we see from drawings.
In the late Middle Ages, during the 15th century, a man called Ion Gardener wrote a treatise on The Feate of Gardening and discussed different types of herbs that were used for flavoring, cooking, medicines and for scent.
These included fennel, parsley, thyme, borage, orach and garlic, lilies, honeysuckle and lavender, plantain and the toxic henbane.
Which of these are you planning to plant in your new herb garden?