Coming from Lisboa by train you will arrive in Messines-alte our closest train station.
 Above you see a pile of stones. Below you see what Corey did with them! Since then I have planted loads of Rosemary and Thyme within the curve.  These stones came from an area South of the Centre. Here Toninho with his huge machine has cleared this site of tonnes of stones. Over the next few months this area will transform further and will become a medicinal garden. Because the whole of Ceratonia is a herbal healing garden, We have decided to name this area Calendula's Garden, in honour of all she has given us.    Earlier this month we went to the Mediterranean Gardening Association - Portugal, plants fair in the gorgeous town of Estoi. Here I did my first herbal talk in Portugal and where we bought a huge amount of plants. Many for phase II holes and some which will be planted in Calendula's Garden. Below a snapshot taken by me, this is part of our nursery with some of the plants we bought.   The Centre is still not finished, the gardens have a way to go. But we took the plunge and the opportunity and had our first Plant study last weekend. It was a great joyful time and much was learnt about our dear Kermes Oak known as Carrasco - Quercus coccifera.  We worked with the Goethean contemplative method of studying and observing a plant. This is a great way to explore all aspects of a plant as well as gaining a deeper connection and communication with the plant. This first study was mainly led by Maureen Robertson and was over two days. We drank the tea of the young leaves and understood the strong astringent action, giving confidence in its drying and toning nature. We also made a flower essence with the male yellow flowers. The key to this essence is to give the courage to make an incision into what no longer serves, whilst at the same time giving protection and nourishment to allow new energy to come in.  Being with the plants in this way is exciting and working with these types of methods to gain more understanding about the plants, brings about ground breaking results.
This is what Ceratonia is all about learning, sharing and inspiration. The next Plant Study is Imbolc 31st Jan\1st Feb 2015 Photography by Jose Melo |
Archives
September 2024
Links- some you have to cut and paste. others just left click
https://www.wild-rose.at/uebermich
_The Herbarium
|
RSS Feed