Herbs and Flowers — Side Notes
Herbs and flowers are often presented as gentle things—soft, fragrant, comforting. And sometimes they are. But they are also medicine, poison, memory, and labor. They grow where they’re allowed, where they’re ignored, and where they’re actively fought against. Anyone who has ever tried to tend them knows they are less sentimental than they’re given credit for.
The Side Notes in this section pay attention to how plants actually enter people’s lives: through kitchens, gardens, teacups, apothecaries, roadsides, and inherited habits. These pieces explore beginner-friendly uses, cultural folklore, modern trends, and quiet cautions—without romanticizing plants into harmless décor or turning every leaf into a ritual obligation.
This is where curiosity meets responsibility. Where a simple question—Can I use this?—opens into history, safety, ethics, and tradition, all without demanding that the reader become a trained herbalist to participate.
Featured Side Notes
You can also find these articles—and many more—within the main Grimoire Blog.
20 Magical Herbs Every Witch Should Know (and Their Uses) — Unlock the secrets of 20 magical herbs every witch should know. From rosemary for protection to mugwort for dreams, this guide reveals meanings, uses, and spellwork for each plant. Perfect for beginners building an herbal apothecary or seasoned witches deepening their craft.
How to Build a Witch’s Herbal Apothecary (Even on a Budget) — Discover how to build a witch’s herbal apothecary with kitchen spices, homegrown herbs, and thrifted jars. Perfect for beginners and urban witches, this guide reveals how to start your magical collection on a budget and deepen your bond with plants through intentional storage, spellcraft, and ritual.
Plants have always been collaborators rather than tools. They respond to care, neglect, climate, and timing—often more honestly than people do. The Side Notes exist to document those relationships as they appear in modern practice: imperfect, inherited, improvised, and occasionally misunderstood.
Some entries here may inspire a garden. Others may simply encourage caution or respect for boundaries. Both outcomes are valid. These notes aren’t about mastery—they’re about awareness, about remembering that “natural” doesn’t mean simple, and “traditional” doesn’t mean safe.
Pay attention. Ask questions. Wash your hands. The plants will tell you the rest in their own time.
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