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
Since ancient times, the Linden has been known as a tree of truth and peace.Herodotus tells us that “The Scythian diviners take also the leaf of the lime-tree (linden), which, dividing into three parts, they twine round their fingers; they then unbind it and exercise the art to which they pretend.” The Germanic peoples associated the tree with the Goddess Freya, and… Continue Reading…
Linden has long been honored as a gentle and relaxing herb.Gerard in his Herball tells us that:The floures are commended by divers against paine of the head proceeding of a cold cause, against dissinesse (dizziness?),the Apoplexie, and also the falling sicknesse, and not onely the floures,but the disstilled water thereof. Even today, a cup of linden flower tea is recommended for… Continue Reading…
Linden cannot be bought for the kitchen but must be foraged for. So the first step you must take in order to sample the delights offered here is to find your linden tree. First things first, here’s a really excellent video on identifying the linden. It was done in the winter which is the hardest time of the year to… Continue Reading…
The Linden tree makes a beautiful addition to the garden if you have enough room for it. It can achieve heights of 50′ to 80′ with a horizontal spread of 35′ to 50′, although it frequently stays smaller. It generally grows between 13” and 24” inches a year, depending on conditions. This beautiful specimen is 700 years old and is the… Continue Reading…
This tree is something of a holy grail for me. As a nature center educator and a beekeeper, I’ve heard legendary stories about this tree. You can smell it for miles. You can hear it from farther away. It’s beautiful! It’s useful! It’s everywhere! I’ve never found one. Ah, well. I’ll learn a bit more this week and maybe I’ll be… Continue Reading…
