Stories
About Those Cravings
The obvious choice for this week's tale is Rapunzel. I will point out that there is controversy here, though. If you do a search for “fairy tale” and “radish” you will get a bajillion sites about Rapunzel. The common wisdom is that Rapunzel's mother craved radishes. Add to your library However, if you look past that you'll find mention of ...
The Processing of Magic
The tale most associated with the stinging nettle plant is the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale The Six Swans. It's a well-known tale of magic and love that has inspired countless re-tellings. I particularly enjoyed Juliet Marillier's adaptation "Daughter of the Forest". Add to your library I've read versions where the plant needed to break the spell is stinging nettle and ...
Love and Hospitality
The story of Philemon and Baucis comes from Greek mythology and is a lesson on the duty and rewards of hospitality. It's also a poignant reminder of what's truly important in a loving relationship. Add to your library This particular myth has been one of my very favorites since I was a child. I still stop when I pass a ...
Of Tea and Snow
Hans Christian Andersen gives us this story of “The Little Elder Mother”. Elderberry is not the herb most closely associated with remembrance, but I like this tale of our Noble Interest as a kindly Bringer of warmth, Teller of tales, and Healer of discomforts, all achieved with a cup of tea. I find the theme of the eternal cycle of ...
Salads, Good and Bad
While I was unable to find any tales of Min, I did find the following stories. In each of them, the lettuce is not the hero but the tool which enables the hero to gain what he desires. A magical plant indeed! First is Grimm's tale The Salad. Here is the written version for your reading pleasure, or you may ...
Blue Fingers and Long Afternoons
A lesser known offering from Robert Frost. I'm not sure what to think about it. It is, as usual for the author, full of imagery but it seems to be about two people planning to steal fruit from their neighbor. Did I get that right? By the way, “chewink” is an old name for the Eastern Towhee. This cute alliterative ...
A Princely Gift
Felicia and the Pot of Pinks was another of my favorite fairy tales. I always wondered- why a pot of pinks? Why not a pot of, say, geraniums? Through my research this week one of the things that I discovered is this from a book entitled Flower Lore by Hilderic Friend: It has been generally supposed that the name has ...
Onions All Over
As ubiquitous as onions are in the kitchen, there seem to be few tales of it around the fire. The simple fact that it is so common has made it humble. A far cry from ancient Egyptian days when it was revered as a worthy offering to the gods. It may actually be that the humble onion is not unimportant ...
Tales of a Worldly Willow
The Greek myth of Niobe and her pride is possibly one of the best known tales of the willow tree. It’s also one of the saddest. My first encounter with Greek mythology came through a book called D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths when I was about six. I loved that book then and I still love it now. The lessons ...
