Gardeners' Folklore 9781446312599

Ever wondered if there's any truth behind planting by the moon? Or why wassailing is still a common folk practice in some parts of the world? In Gardener's Folklore, the record of these practices is unveiled, with plenty of tips and tricks to try in your own 21st century garden for blooming bushes and plentiful potatoes. This delightfully written book shows just what people have believed and still believe will help their plants to grow. The observance of lunar and astrological conditions when planting, ways of encouraging fruit-bearing and discouraging pests, beliefs about the effects of climate and calendar, spells, the influence for good and bad of certain plants, the links between owners and trees - these are only a few of the aspects of gardening lore that are discussed.Gleaned from the people who grew up with them, they have much to say about our rural origins as well as having, here and there, implications for our future. Capturing the knowledge that old-time gardeners used to have remarkable successes, the ancient secrets of a happy healthy garden are shared for a new generation of green-fingered plant-lovers.