Rounding the Year: Cow Parsley or "Mother May Die"
Cow parsley flowers in hedgerows and wild spaces from late April all through May and into June. The one in the photos self-seeded in a patch of my garden I’d left to grow wild. I’m pleased I did that, as this is just one of the plants providing pollen for bees and nectar for butterflies.
Although I think I’m moderately good at identifying common wild flowers, I got a second opinion over this because it’s very similar in appearance to poisonous hemlock. That’s supposedly one of the reasons innocent cow parsley earnt the folkloric name “Mother May Die”, to teach children to be very careful if foraging. You don’t want to make a deadly mistake. However, I’ve heard other origin stories, including the idea that it drops petals really fast and your mother will have a fit if you bring it indoors to make a mess all over the place.
The easiest way to tell the difference between cow parsley and hemlock is by looking at the stems. Hemlock has smooth stems with purple blotches, while cow parsley has hairy stems and no purple blotches.
Magically, cow parsley is useful in spells for protection. Mind you, it’s association of being unlucky to bring indoors means you’re best growing it around the outside of your house, rather than picking it to make a flower arrangement for your altar.
Other traditional uses for cow parsley include in herbal remedies for colds, and children making whistles and pea-shooters out of the dried stems. If you want to try that, you really want to make sure you aren’t using hemlock by mistake.
There’s some more useful information about cow parsley on the Woodland Trust website and on the blog Plant-Lore.
Sharing seasonal photos
Inspired by ideas in my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year, I share seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and customs as well as a record of what’s happening in nature.
Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/04/rounding-year-forget-me-nots-in-grass.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/03/rounding-year-daffodil-in-my-garden.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/03/rounding-year-too-soon-for-silver-birch.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/12/rounding-year-wintery-bare-trees-in.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/01/rounding-year-wassailing-apple-trees.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/03/green-london-japanese-gardens-in.html
To read more posts like this visit A Bad Witch’s Blog at www.badwitch.co.uk
Source: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/05/rounding-year-cow-parsley-or-mother-may.html
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Online: | |
| Visits: | 1,694,281,770 |
| Stories: | 8,411,246 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
