Melanie’s Herb Diaries

I visited the Chelsea Physic Garden for the first time yesterday and was taken around the garden by one of their extremely knowledgeable volunteer guides. I learned that the garden was originally founded in 1673 as a teaching garden for Apothecaries to train up their apprentices with regard to the medicinal properties of various herbs and spices. Today, it continues its educational role, not so much for apothecaries (which don’t exist any more per se!), but for anyone interested in plants and the role they play not only in nutrition and healthcare, but also in agriculture and the environment. For example, I was fascinated to see that there was a whole section devoted to plants that are currently being used (or researched) for the purposes of ‘land restoration’. We were told that after the Chernobyl disaster, rafts of sunflowers were floated out upon bodies of water contaminated with radioactive materials because it was found that sunflowers literally draw the uranium, caesium and strontium up out of the water through their roots. Apparently similar methods are being used in Japan now. Plants are amazing!

PS No picture of a sunflower I’m afraid, but I was particularly pleased with this picture of Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), with its pretty pale purple flowers!