"Taming" Wild Plants

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

The fashion for exotic plants is gradually dying out, giving way to the naturgarden style. Is it worth spending your time and energy to grow an overseas miracle, yearning for the homeland and not wanting to please the hardworking gardener with fruits, and often with its flowering? It is much more effective to look after the plants that grow wildly around the site without any tutelage, relying only on their own abilities, but on Mother Nature. Moreover, many "savages" are very picturesque, edible and have healing powers

Naturgarden

Recently, Russian speech abounds in English-speaking words, among which there is such as "naturgarden". It has become fashionable today, although it was born in the Eighteenth century. Translated into a language understandable to all, the word means - "natural garden". In such a man-made garden, in the vicinity of cultivated plants that require the care of a gardener, various representatives of the plant world, independently and successfully growing in a given area, coexist perfectly.

The unpretentiousness and vitality of wild plants command respect, and their edibility and healing abilities attract the attention of observant people, prompting the latter to press their fastidious cultural pets, giving place to “savages”. Moreover, for this, the most unkempt corners of the garden are suitable, for which from year to year there is not enough time and effort.

Of course, planting savages in the garden will take time. But, in the future, when they are firmly rooted and grow, they themselves will displace weeds and will not need regular watering, saving the gardener's time. Among the savages who have firmly taken the garden positions, you can find everywhere a variety of species of narrow-leaved sedge, eared grasses, and mysterious ferns. Much less often, very decent and unpretentious savages become garden plants, which will be described below.

Burnet

Botanists gave this monstrous name to the plant not at all for its bloodthirstiness, but for its ability to stop bleeding in an injured person. In Latin it sounds like "Sanguisorba", which in translation turns into two words: "blood" and "absorb". This is not Goreworm's only healing ability.

Decoctions and infusions made from the underground part of the plant, which is a thick rhizome, from which thin and long numerous roots spread out, have hemostatic and bactericidal properties.

On the surface of the earth, the rhizome gives birth to a picturesque branchy plant that can decorate any flower garden. Plumose large leaves, which are a community of graceful leaves with a shiny dark green surface, are very effective. The edge of the leaf plate of the leaves is coquettish-toothed, and light green veins create a pattern on their surface. The leaves are not only beautiful, but also edible, exuding a fresh cucumber aroma that will refresh a salad or meat dish.

The dark red heads of the inflorescences sway on straight long peduncles, treating the bees with their nectar and pollen, and with their aroma contributing to the strengthening of human health, including the strengthening of the nervous system. The "wild" beauty and healer is the perfect addition to any garden.

Angelica

The most important archangel named Michael told people about the useful plant with the Latin name "Archangelica". In memory of him, botanists gave the tall plant a consonant Latin name, which we call - "Angelica".

The plant is moisture-loving, and therefore will fit well next to any body of water or swamp. For all its unpretentiousness, the plant will require renewal of plantings every two to three years, since the natural vegetation cycle of each individual lasts two years.

The numerous fresh angelica leaves are readily used in many countries as a vitamin vegetable. They are added to salads, soups, they are used to prepare fried garnishes for meat dishes, and they are used to flavor culinary pastries. They even make jam from green shoots and make wonderful candied fruits. Angelica roots boiled in sugar are used to make sweets that promote good digestion.

Among its fellows in the Umbrella family (anise, cumin, parsley, chervil, fennel) Angelica stands out for its unique pleasant aroma, which differs from the aroma of the plants listed in parentheses. Its aroma is closer to the aroma of musk and juniper. Moreover, even the roots of the plant exude an aroma.

Angelica also has healing abilities, helping to strengthen the exhausted nervous system, relieving a person from insomnia and hysteria.