“Seeds are magical. Every little one has the potential to become a new plant and give you more seeds – connecting us to the circle of life and nature’s endless ability to surprise and delight.”
We’re over halfway through March (how the heck did that happen?) and with the Spring Equinox nearly upon us, Clare Gogerty’s gorgeous new book, The Magic of Seeds, is a timely guide to growing flowers and herbs from seed as well as a joyful celebration of plant magic.
A former London magazine editor who decamped to a smallholding in Herefordshire to write books, grow vegetables and keep chickens while immersing herself in the mystery and magic of the countryside, Clare’s knowledge and appreciation of the plant world reaches way beyond the horticultural. Although the book does contain helpful guidance on how and when to sow, plant out and harvest the seeds of 100 different garden plants and flowers, it also touches upon the culinary and magical properties of plants and is sprinkled with fascinating snippets of folklore. There are tips for making your own compost, an introduction to gardening by the moon, instructions for natural remedies and beauty treatments, and recipes for homemade incense and potpourri. A diverse mix of plants are profiled from garden favourites, such as Poppy and Lavender, to the more unusual Woad and Joe Pye Weed, and there are some intriguing recipes that I can’t wait to try out myself.
For some gardeners, there can be a tendency to rush the process of sowing seeds, to be too preoccupied by the plants they will one day become and the harvests they’ll provide, but Clare invites us all to slow down and appreciate the seed for its own sake, along with the act of sowing it. For even if a seed doesn’t germinate, the gardener might have learned something in the process and will have deepened their connection to nature along the way.
A delight to read and beautifully-illustrated by Prudence Rogers, The Magic of Seeds is a wonderful compendium for those who love plants, magic or who simply want to embrace their spiritual connection to nature. Published by David & Charles on 28th March, you can pre-order a copy here.
We’ll be giving away a free copy of the book on Instagram this week (UK followers only) so do keep an eye out!
‘The Magic of Seeds’ by Clare Gogerty was gifted to us for the purposes of review.
AGENTS OF FIELD 