Kew: The Witch's Garden: Plants in Folklore, Magic and Traditional Medicine

The Witch's Garden describes over 50 of the world's most powerful, harmful, legendary and storied plants--from the screaming mandrake to calming St. John's Wort, to predicting the weather with seaweed, the creation of salves for broken hearts, sore heads, protection from evil spirits and to even induce immortality. The Witch's Garden offers:

• The story of our folklore fascination with these magical specimens
• The beliefs and rituals surrounding the natural world
• Illustrations and archival images from the Royal Botanical Garden

Wise women, apothecaries, witches, herbalists--whatever you like to call them, those who cultivate plants for their apparent mystical properties have existed for thousands of years. The Witch's Garden tells this story and beautifully evokes the bewitching nature of mysterious plants.