Grow for Life has welcomed a new cohort of gardeners for our autumn Tuesday Herbs & Nature sessions.
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve shared fascinating facts about Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and sowed some for our friends at the @urbangardenbath.
We also explored the culinary and medicinal uses of Sage (Salvia officinalis) and had the opportunity to propagate and pot up two other members of the mint family – Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) and Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides).
We have explored the incredible versatility of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus). We discussed its wide range of culinary uses and the rich, earthy aroma of its therapeutic essential oil.
After our tea breaks, we always enjoy a stroll in the Botancial Gardens and Victoria Park, where we learn how to identify common trees and discuss their roles in ecosystems, their practical uses, and their cultural significance.
Along the way, we stopped to admire some trees from the diverse Fagus genus. We visited the Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and the Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea) before reaching our final stop under the thick, cool shade of a magnificent Cut-leaf Beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Laciniata').
The beautiful canopy overhead and the colourful carpet of fallen leaves below were enjoyed by both people and squirrels alike! We also visited members of the Fagaceae family, such as the English Oak (Quercus robur), Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa), and Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum).
We also took a closer look at Holly (Ilex aquifolium) with its two distinct types of leaves, a phenomenon known as heterophylly.
At this special time of year we are now starting to folow the Autumn colours as many of the deciduus trees turn beautiful colours.
Our appreciation of nature is being nurtured; we are learning to really 'look' and observe. This is helping us value nature, to see the differences in trees, their unique characteristics, on our 'tree-walks'.
All these activities on Tuesday Herbs & Nature combine to leave us feeling calmer, more connected and more positive for the week ahead.
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