Do you want to see a Roman temple in London? Well, start off on Queen Victoria Street, with the Bank of England behind you. Head south down Walbrook towards Cannon Street. You’ll pass Starbucks on your left, and the Bloomberg building on your right. But look closer at the shining office block as you pass. […]
Folklore
Roman gods in Newcastle upon Tyne: Neptune and Oceanus
Newcastle upon Tyne sits on an ancient site of human occupation. So it’s hardly surprising that offerings to Roman gods can be found among its archaeology. In 2018, I spotted these altars in the Great North Museum at Hancock. I’m fascinated by the way Roman gods show up in Britain, so I decided to delve […]
Toxic Trees: Folklore of Juniper, Laburnum and Oleander
We’ve been looking at the folklore of poisonous flowers, from the showstoppers like Angel’s Trumpet to the magical larkspur, via common bluebells. They are by no means the only poisonous flowers in existence. This week, we’re moving away from flowers and onto toxic trees. I’ve seen one of these, oleander, in the Luxembourg Gardens in […]
Magical Plant Folklore: Larkspur, Periwinkle and Wormwood
Magical plants often have a long association with particular qualities, such as protection or help in romantic affairs. People often planted rowan as protection against witchcraft. The use of roses in love magic persists in the link between roses and romance. We’ve looked before at the folklore of super toxic plants, as well as common […]
Common Garden Flowers: Folklore of Bluebells, Daffodils & Hydrangeas
Last week, we looked at the folklore of flowers, focusing on Angel’s Trumpet, Foxgloves, and Deadly Nightshade. They are by no means the only poisonous flowers in existence. This week, I thought we’d bring it a little closer to home and look at three really common garden flowers – that are all toxic! You can […]
The Folklore of Flowers: Belladonna, Foxgloves & Angel’s Trumpet
The folklore of flowers proves an expansive subject, both terrifying and interesting in equal measure. Much like the world of trees and plants at the best of times. They follow their own cycles, often independent of human intervention. They’ll often grow in seemingly inhospitable environments. They’re living creatures, but they’re rooted to the spot. They […]
