Ancient Power House

Recognise these striking star shaped flowers?

I’ve just pulled these beautiful blue flowers from borage plants growing rampant in the garden. Our Iranian neighbour was quite homesick when she saw them; they grow wild in the Mediterranean and are used throughout Europe for their healing properties. Borage is good for the heart and is a natural sedative (but should be used sparingly).

This hardy herb has attracted honey bees and bumble bees to our garden as well as being a beneficial companion plant for the beans and tomatoes. Now its hollow stems and bristly leaves are providing bulk in the compost.

I’ve seen them frozen in iceblocks for summer drinks and candied for cake decorations but my plan is to include them in future paper making experiments.

Must collect some of their large seeds so we can enjoy the many benefits of this ancient power house again next summer.

- Karen