10. Lesser Celandine and Primrose. Ranunculus ficaria and Primula officinalis

Lesser Celandine and Primrose. Primrose is a favourite wildflower with many people. The name comes from ‘Primus’ meaning ‘first’ as it is an early flower. Disraeli was particularly fond of this flower and his birthday (April 19th) was once called ‘Primrose Day’. In the language of flowers Primrose means ‘Dawning love’ - “I might learn to love you”. Poets haven given much time to writing about Primroses. Primroses were once used to dress corpses and strewn onto graves and for this association it was thought dangerous to bring less than 13 flowers into the house if picking them. The flowers make a delicious wine.
The Primrose is considered useful as a blood purifier for gouty or rheumatic pain due to contaminated blood. The leaves have been made into ointment for skin problems and a decoction of the rootstock is a good expectorant for lung problems. Some people are allergic to Primrose though and should avoid any treatments containing it. 
Gerard observes; “The roots of Primrose stamped and strained and the juice sniffed into the nose with a quill or such like, purgeth the brain and qualifieth the pain of the megrim!” I bet it does!
INDEX OF FLOWERS
Selfheal Common Vetch Penny Cress
Bittersweet Lesser Celandine Campion
Campion & Cow Parsley White Clover Vervain
Lesser Celandine and Primrose Dandelion Dandelion seeds
Periwinkle Evening Primrose Thrift
Foxglove Fennel Green Alkanet
Gunnera Hawthorn berries Plantain
Indian Balsam Herb Robert Speedwell
Nettle Lady's Smock Cherry Blossom
Scarlet Pimpernel Opium Poppy Quince blossom
Ramsons Meadow Cranesbill Rosebay Willow herb
Meadowsweet Lesser Stitchwort Broad leafed Willow Herb
Greater Stitchwort St. Johns Wort berries Tormentil
Dog Rose Thistle head Valerian head
Red Shank Valerian Sweet Violet Windflower
Yarrow Feverfew Rock Rose

simonthescribe

BOOKS FROM SIMONTHESCRIBE

Secrets of the Green Kitchen

SECRETS OF THE GREEN KITCHEN
by Simon Mitchell

One way to a greener lifestyle starts at home – in the kitchen! Here’s holistic thinker and wild food enthusiast Simon Mitchell with a radical new book that celebrates the awesome power of natural foods for managing health. Here is the WHY and the HOW of reaching for a holistic lifestyle from the heart of your home. Discover for yourself the power of Mother Nature’s Gifts – a real integrated medicine working for you from your very own kitchen. Hiding in your recipes, is a whole FOOD MEDICINE for health, for healing – and for fun!

FIND OUT MORE

BUY IT NOW

Secrets of the Valley

SECRETS OF THE VALLEY (Episode 1: The Lily) by Simon Mitchell (Fiction)

An ancient matrix of energy lies hidden in the earth, its existence and purpose all but forgotten. One strand, named ‘The Dragon Line’ passes through Cornwall, a land steeped in history and mystery since the dawn of time. Here the line passes through the valley of the River Fowey.

A lone ghost, abandoned in the valley of his birth, tells how the line of energy has been usurped, unbalancing the whole planetary energy matrix. In The Lily, the first novel of an extraordinary trilogy, we share his lives as he tells his tale of 2000 years in the Fowey valley. He sets a crucial task, to mend the Dragon Line and restore the balance of power, before time itself runs out.

READ THE FIRST 5 CHAPTERS OF THIS AMAZING NOVEL ONLINE FOR FREE

BUY IT NOW

If you want a digital image file of this photograph for print publishing please email me requirements - £22 or $45 single use copyright

www.simonthescribe.co.uk