Mary, a former TD, originally from the Wicklow Mountains, lives with her husband in County Carlow where they run foraging workshops, eco trails and generally encourage us to reinvigorate ourselves by engaging with the planet we live on. Mary is a wonderfully passionate and fun character and she led us through a delightful hour talking about the benefits – which are many – of herbs. As a botanist and ecologist she explained this would be an introduction on the power of plants in cooking and lifestyle. More than just talking about herbs this peerless, indefatigable lady led us through an informative and entertaining guide which emphasised how our hands are designed to garden so we all need to get out gardening and that we need to get our children outside more and actually feel the soil underneath us! She was utterly inspirational and her knowledge base was endless therefore I can do her no justice in my blog; instead I will give you a brief idea of what Mary talked to us about!
Mary started with a favourite which is the diverse Rosemary - a herb that was traditionally planted in graveyards (think of the tragic Ophelia in Hamlet!) but is wonderful for our immune system. It energises roast vegetables and is fantastic for your hair - just infuse some rosemary sprigs in water, use it on your last rinse and it will reinvigorate your hair. Give it a try! It is also great for the scalp, good to chew leaves for indigestion and did you know it helps clammy hands? Rub a sprig of this wondrous herb in your hand and there will be no more sweaty palms and your hands will smell great. All you need is a sunny place for it to grow and to make sure you cut it back as it can grow big and straggly.
Dandelions are classed as a miracle plant with powerful, therapeutic powers. They are famous for helping with prostate problems and the milk helps in the treatment of warts. Lovely in salads and bursting with vitamins, the yellow flower is delicious cooked in a little oil with seasoning and served on toast for a yummy lunchtime snack but make sure you pick them in the day – the lunchtime sweetness disappears as the sun goes down. Our immune system has become so low because we eat so much prepared food and dandelions are a natural wonderful addition to our diets.
Attributed to Einstein, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man” Mary introduced us to Lemon balm - the bee’s best friend. They are our workers and their nectar and pollen ensure that we have fruit and veg to sustain our diets. Mary’s mention of lemon balm was more about making us aware of the potential damage to the planet if we destroy our busy bees!
Primroses are wonderful crystallised. Whip up an egg white, paint the petals, centre and back, then dry for 24 hours, sprinkle with caster sugar and you will have the most beautiful crystallised primrose flowers. Full of vitamins and minerals too!
Thyme which is wonderful to sniff is known for its many medicinal values. It is also good for rinsing hair and if you put a handful of thyme in your pillow case it is said to reduce nightmares. Also great to infuse in hot water and very tasty in scones but not too much as the it can be overpowering.
Parsley is fantastic whether the flat leafed or curly leafed version. Great for garnishes or treating rheumatism or colds. Cleopatra famously used is for stomach cramps/pains.
The wild garlic was a treat. Mary gave us a small bulb to plant when we got home but warned us that it is rampant when it grows! Much milder in flavour than cultivated garlic but you will never need to buy cultivated garlic again if you start growing wild garlic. The leaves make a fabulous pesto – just add oil and parmesan.
The sweet woodruff plant is very versatile and makes a divine ambrosia wine. Also if you hang it in your cupboards it will get rid of moths!
Finally we talked about Beech trees – especially at Powerscourt where they line the Avenue – which are due to flower soon and these lime green flowers are perfect to eat when you can see the light coming through them. Beech leaf liquor is very tasty too.
Mary was very insightful regarding how we live our lives. The body has incredible powers of recovery and she rightly said we must have more of a reverence for old people and allow and preserve dignity in aging. It was certainly food for thought in many ways!
Mary’s blog has many ideas; take a look here:
http://www.blackstairsecotrails.ie/author/blackstairsblog/
For more events at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion (it is advised to book tickets in advance) see www.powerscourtgardenpavilion.com/events. I strongly recommend trying one out as they are a fabulous introduction to such a wide range of subjects and the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming.
Until next time,
Kerry Gordon
About Mary White: Mary is Director of Blackstairs Ecotrails. She is an expert on Ireland's Flora and Fauna and has been a guest speaker at environmental conferences and debates on the Irish environment. Her Ecotrails lead you through the wilderness of the Blackstairs Mountains and along the River Barrow. Mary also leads geographical investigations for Leaving Cert geography students and runs fungi, foraging and wild herbal workshops around Ireland. About Kerry Gordon: Kerry lives by the sea in Co. Wicklow with her daughter Molly and Greyhound Lola. She is a long term blogger for Powerscourt Estate and Gardens and enjoys nothing more than visiting Powerscourt Waterfall and then going to the Gardens followed by a tasty scone and pot of tea. Article copyright: Kerry Gordon
