UFAM: Which came first- the garden or the witch?

"In truth they sort of evolved together. To me, gardens have always been magickal places. Gardening and the craft are two of my very favorite things. I think that they compliment and strengthen each other. Such as working with the natural cycles of the garden and celebrating the wheel of the year. For example, currently in the garden the pumpkins are setting lots of fruit, and the ornamental corn is ripening. In another month, just in time for Mabon, We will start to harvest these in."

UFAM: You cover a variety of gardens in your book. Do you have a favorite?

"I love cottage style gardens. There is something about seeing all of those flowers, and herbs growing all together. Cottage gardens are romantic, casual and are not fettered down by rules. The more the merrier!"

UFAM: I am always stumped by the �one plant that just won�t grow�. Basil, for example, doesn�t like me no matter what I do and this can be frustrating for those of us starting out. Are there any special tips you can share with beginners?         

"Tip #1 Move the plant. See if the problem plant needs more sun- or less sun. That may be the problem.

Tip#2 Improve your soil with organic matter. If you want a great garden, then you need great soil. Add composted manure, and humus to the garden and work these amendments down into the soil that you have.

Tip #3 Don�t forget to water your plants and mulch them, no more than two inches deep. Mulching with hardwood or pine mulch helps retain moisture and eventually this breaks down, thus adding more organic material to your soil.

Tip #4 Try growing your annual basil in pots. Use a good potting mix for your potted plants. Basil likes full sun, moist soil and is classified as �tender�- meaning it will not survive most colder winters. See if this helps.

Tip #5 Live and learn. Some gardening things you just learn the hard way. For example, my new �formal� rose garden flopped this year due to late afternoon shade from my neighbors untrimmed trees. I have to move all of my roses this fall. I think that formal rose garden is going to turn into a culinary herb garden instead. Any herbs planted there just thrive, but the roses go right down hill after June. (sigh)"

UFAM: You mention your children in your book. Do they share your love of gardening? What are some easy-care plants that we can use to teach our young ones about the joys of the garden?

"My three kids have grown up with parents and grandparents who garden. Both at home and at the family�s farm where we raise vegetables. My oldest son starts college this fall and the other two kids are in High school. The three of them enjoy different aspects of the garden. For example, they all hate to dig potatoes, It�s a hot, nasty July job. They love to harvest the pumpkins. They hate to pull weeds, but love that the bigger the flower beds get, the less grass they have to mow. They enjoy going to the nurseries with me to scout for plants, and are very knowledgeable. This fall we have to repair some steps in the garden and want to add another shade garden. Plus move those sulking roses. So the three of them have been brainstorming with us, and will all help in the construction. Gardening sort of rubbed off on them.

"For easy plants try perennial lamb�s ears, coneflowers, and annual marigolds, zinnias and petunias. Let your kids grow a pot or basket full of annuals. Or a patio tomato with marigolds. If you have room, try growing a miniature variety of pumpkins like �Baby Boo� or �Jack be Little�. (These pumpkins need to be planted in June to give the vines enough time to produce fruit.) Basically get the kids involved in your gardening. Let them plant some flowers and have them help you take care of the plants."

UFAM: What first drew you to gardening?

"Probably my Grandmothers and my Mom. My grandmothers both gardened. One grandmother lived in the city with lots of pink rose bushes and lilac shrubs. The other lived in the country and she had lots of wildflowers such as brown-eyed-Susans, coneflowers and such. My parents had the typical suburban garden, a rose bush or two, annuals in pots, and tomatoes and green peppers in the back yard. When my husband and I first moved to our house about 20 years ago, we started to build flower beds around the house and  they slowly expanded out. As I learned more about gardening and started working at local nurseries my knowledge grew, along with my passion for plants. - Now the gardens wrap around the house and all over the front, side and back yard."

 UFAM: Do you have a favorite flower and or herb?

 

"Some of my favorites include pink and purple roses. Lavender, yarrow and rosemary."

 

UFAM: One of the questions I�m asked most is which correspondences to use for a specific spell. And while these are important, I have always believed that the real magic comes from within. Do you believe the same is true with gardening? That the energy you put into the garden is just as important as the day you choose to plant or harvest?

 

"Absolutely, gardening is a creative process just like magick, and you definitely get out of it whatever you put in. I am a firm believer in creating your own individual, personalized spells, charms and magicks. Which is why I included a �Spell Worksheet� in Garden Witchery. This is to encourage the reader to get outside and to get their hands dirty! Floral correspondences are wonderful, take the information from Garden Witchery  and run with it, but do not be afraid to adapt this information, to follow your own heart and see where this leads you."

 

UFAM: The practices of cooking and gardening aren�t as widely taught (from mother to daughter) as they once were. For example, microwaves and fast food have taken the place of cooking from scratch. Do you feel we�ve lost some of the magic of tradition as we�ve become more automated?

 

"Not necessarily. While I grow my own zucchini, I certainly appreciate my food processor that shreds it up so neatly.  That way I can bake my zucchini bread without a lot of  fuss. Growing your own veggies and herbs does help to tie you into the cycles and seasons of nature. But since everyone does not always have the space for a vegetable garden of their own, I am sure they can take natural elements from the yard, or even fresh fruits and veggies from the market and create their own brand of natural or culinary magick. Creativity is the key, and magick is where you find it."

 

UFAM: What inspired you to write Garden Witchery?

 

"I thought it would be fun to share with the readers, my passion and enthusiasm for gardening, flower folklore and natural magick. I wanted to encourage folks to get outside and to discover the wonder, divinity, and magick of the natural world around us. Garden Witchery will help inspire folks to add a touch of nature to their magickal lives. To be creative and to look closer at the wildlife and plants that they see in their own backyards in a enchanting way. So, in closing, Walk your chosen path wisely. Open your heart, tread gently, and see what you find."

 

             Happy Magickal Gardening!

 

 

Ellen Dugan, author of

Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up 

and 

Elements of Witchcraft: Natural Magick for Teens