Flowers of the Angels:
Michael Archangel of the sun:
his flower is the marigold, his day is Sunday.
Raphael Archangel of Mercury:
his/her flower is the iris, or the 'fleur de lys', his day is Wednesday.
Anael Archangel of Venus:
her flower is the wild rose, her day, Friday.
Gabriel Archangel of the moon:
her flower is the lunary or moonwort (honesty); her day is Monday.
Samael Archangel of Mars:
his flower is the woodbine, his day is Tuesday.
Sachiel Archangel of Jupiter:
his flower is the violet, his day is Thursday.
Cassiel Archangel of Saturn:
his flower is the snowdrop or the winter bell, little flower of hope and consolation; his day is Saturday.
Auriel Archangel of Uranus:
her flower is the torch flower and the gentian.
Asariel Archangel of Neptune:
his flower is the opium poppy.
Azrael Archangel of Pluto:
his flower is sweet basil and the blossom of the bean.
Garden Lore:
It is better if violets for planting are given as a gift, and if from a lover, all the better. Parsley, too, will grow more readily if a gift is made of its roots (the luckiest way is to lift a root from the herb-bed yourself). Beg a root if need be, for to eat a few parsley leaves every day while you may is one of nature's best tonics. The wise little bees know this, and the pretty herb will encourage them to pasture all over your garden. Parsley, freely grown among your other border plants as well as in the herb garden, will help to make sure that its companions do not become
sickly and unclean with aphids.
It is best to 'steal' a root of vervain. The thinking herb-grower understands that this is because the soul of the vervain is so magical that all its life-cycle must embrace an element of secrecy, especially its initiation into the blessed soil of the earth. So that the spirit of righteousness is not offended, it is as well to act out the theft as a little drama, with the approbation of the landowner or your neighbour (if you are lifting the root from a garden nearby). This play acting ritual of theft will do just as well as if you actually, stole it, for it is the spirit of secrecy which you must foster.
When you plant myrtle, an old wise saw advises that the woman who does so (it should be a woman who plants myrtle) will do well to spread her skirts over it with dignity and 'look right proud'. Thus will the young plant receive a benediction from the goddess.
Watch to see if the sun shines through the apple trees on Christmas morning, and on Easter morning too, for that foretells a plentiful, healthy crop and a year of smiling prosperity for the owner of the garden or the apple orchard. If the fruit is blessed by rain on St Peter's Day (29 June) or St Swithin's Day (15 July), it will impart the bloom of health to all who eat of it.
From Garden Spells by Claire Nahmad
