BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Pagan Magic Garden

Has anyone ever created a Magic Card (according to the ritual the Scott Cunningham wrote)? I would love to see one and wish I had my own private yard to plant one myself.

Do you mean the one he describes in Magical Herbalism? That does look like it would be beautiful. He does state that you can miniaturize the garden if you don't have the room. This is our first year in our house, and I'm so looking forward to growing my own culinary and magical herbs.

Do you live in an apartment Phyllis? Do you have a deck?

Hi Trish, yes, I did read it in Magical Herbalism. I love the way he describes it and I bet the results would be lovely.

I do live in an apartment. I have a fairly good size private pation with a high wall that has a wide railing to set plants on. I get all day sun on the patio, so most herbs would be fine. I put up a bamboo shade which I will be able to use to provide some filtered sun and shade for the herbs that do not need full sun. I am looking forward to the spring when I can start planting. Seeds I will start indoors.

I always must have Lavendar, Rosemary and Basil. I want to try Lemon Balm also - have you had any experience with growing that? I will try the other herbs Cunningham suggested.

I have grown Lemon Balm for many years, Phyllis. It's good that you will be raising it in a container on your patio because it is extremely invasive. But that can be part of its charm. When it wanders from the garden into the lawn it smells wonderful when some of it gets mowed.

When my kids were little they used to love to pick a few pieces and snack on it while playing in the yard.

It's part of the mint family so it as easy to grow as that. If its in full sun and afternoon heat it may need daily watering to keep it from wilting. Lemon Balm is one of my favorite herbs to grow.

Hi Helen. I remember the first time I wanted to get some lemon balm and that was when I read "Gone With The Wind" - Scarlett mentioned a few times how her mother always smelled so fresh and clean and sweet because she carried around lemon balm in a little sachet she tucked in her bodice.

I love the scent of lemon balm.

I also am going to grow some English Lavendar and as always, Rosemary, plus my sage and other herbs. I just long for my own, private yard so I could have three or four different herb gardens. To sit in an herb garden in the morning when the sun is just coming up and the dew is on the plants and a cup of tea in my hands is a wonderful thing to experience!

PS: I just noticed I typed "Magic Card" in my first post instead of Magic Garden. According to Cunningham, there are different types of gardens to plant - like the Magic Garden or the Love Garden. Ohhh - I want my own yard...

What a beautiful picture this is, Phyllis! I long for those moments, too. One day, we shall both have our own expansive yards to grow things in...

Shay

If I get my yard first, Shay, I will invite you over to plant your own garden in a sunny little corner.

Ah, what a lovely idea, Phyllis! Same of course, goes for me... What will be the first seeds you put in the ground?

Shay

Oh you guys paint a lovely picture! I too am looking forward to the day when I have my own outdoors garden. I'm going to be in an apartment this spring and summer so I'll have a patio garden too this year but even that is lovely. I'm planning to have a mini version of at least two different gardens - a magic one and a love one:).

At some point I would love to plant a moon garden too. To see lovely white blooms in the moon's light would be heavenly I'm sure!

~Leah

Happy Birthday, Leah! I think I see a BellaOnline Community Magic, Love, Moon Garden beginning...

Shay

Oh! I would love a moon garden, too! That would be so nice and quite peaceful. Hey - maybe the three of us can go together and buy a huge old house with an enormous backyard and each have our own secret gardens.

What would you plant in the Moon Garden, Leah?

Shay, I think I will work on the Healing Garden first with carnation, rosemary, sage and some miniature roses.

I think besides the Native American and Christian beliefs I have, a large part of my soul is Pagan. I love these customs and rituals and want to learn more.

Helen, would I be able to grow lemon balm in a 24" X 4" X6" deep planter, do you think? I have never grown it before. Would it take full sun or should I give it some filtered sun?

Hahaha, yes I think that is an excellent idea Phyllis! I would definitely plant wormwood, lambs ear, and Mugwort (Cronewort for the green witches amongst us:)).

There's a whole list of plants that only bloom at night but I can't remember their names right now - I'd definitely plant whichever of those would grow where my garden is:).

I did a quick internet search and found these two cool sources and they too would grow my first three:)...

Planning a Moon Garden

Moon Garden

Ooohhh, moon flowers are beautiful too.

Phyllis, my husband took charge of the lemon balm and I took charge of the basil. He used a shallow planter on a partially covered deck and it still grew prolifically, but I don't know if that is the best way. It was wonderful to have fresh basil for pesto. I put both the basil and lemon balm in rice and it was delicious.

Ahhh! this is great, Leah! I will study the Moon Garden site and see if I can get some of those seeds. Thank you!

Trish, the lemon balm and basil in rice sounds really good. I love basil to make fresh pesto with. My sister and I are the only ones in the family who like it, so I always try to grow extra to give to her when we visit.

Here is a good list of night blooming plants!

Night Bloomers