This year's garden

sedum, belladonna, campanula, lysimachia, patchouli, voodoo lily, native nightshade, coltsfoot, and pokeberry.

Dittany of Crete-The Glamoury Herb

This unusual, whimsical, and rich-looking herb is an old European love and glamoury charm. Although it appears in many recipes for potions and spells, it is actually quite costly and difficult to find, because it grows wild only on the remote Aegean island of Crete. Of course, now you can buy it an any up-scale nursery or on-line shop catering to exotic plants. www.Richters.com carries it. It is in the mint family and is a relative of oregano, but its magical uses differ greatly from theirs, as they plants of protection and prosperity, and this is a true plant of manifesting love and goals. When used as a culinary herb, it is said that when fed to the one you love, it will help cause passionate desire to develop. Burned on charcoal with benzoin, myrrh, sandalwood, or dragon's blood it is said to aid in the generation of trances and visions in which you may divine your future mate. I use Dittany of Crete in all of my glamoury recipes-incense, oils, and candles, and it has proven to be the best herb at manifesting one's desires and changing how you feel about yourself and your life. use this herb in any ritual to honour the Fates and tempt them into smiling upon you. This picture is taken from my very own plant, and isn't she is lovely!

My Apothecary

I was blessed to find this lovely Hoosier cabinet at a friend's store that serves perfectly as my apothecary for the creation of my wares I sell at ConjuredCardea.etsy.com. It has the original flour/grain storage, pull out enamel top, dry bins, cutting board and drawers. The enamel top is perfect for my oils, as they can be wiped up instead of soaking into the wood. I could take out the old fixtures for more room, like the flour mill, but I don't want to disrespect or ruin the integrity of the piece. It's in great shape despite a little water damage and some replaced hinges. I have absolutely fallen in love with it. I can now work in my dining room and watch my kids in the living room or see them out in the backyard AND, most importantly, I am ORGANIZED! Everything I need to create my concoctions and potions is right at my finger tips! I can finally enjoy seeing my vintage bottles I've collected over the years, instead of hiding them away behind a wooden cabinet door. They are now proudly displayed and being used to hold herbs, resins, and roots, just as they were created to.
I am a firm believer that homes have their own entities and this has moved right in and become a part of us and our home. Now, I just have to find a name for her...