After 20 years living in the city; the Hopeful Herbalist moved with her husband to the place they had always dreamed about, a cottage in the country with the sea before them, trees behind and 1/2 an acre seemed just right. Although taking over a derelict garden has at times seemed daunting (not to mention the cottage in need a makeover on a grand scale – the architect’s story) it is a work in progress.
I grew up in the country and have always loved plants but ended up in the city training as a general and paediatric nurse, lived for a time in East Africa, where our daughters were born, returning to the city while our 3 children grew up. I retrained as a herbalist at the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine and since graduating have spent my time learning and honing my craft.
Now is a time of re-discovering the wonder of ย the natural world, remembering all that I had forgotten and seeing things I have never noticed before. Just as my city herbs have put down roots and are flourishing I’m hoping we can do the same. This blog is just about sharing our journey with you. Thank you for visiting please come again soon. As I’m new to blogging – this is a work in progress too!
The garden and surroundings inspire me, as do the treasures I find while I work, which is then expressed in photography, prose and poetry.ย All words and photographs are my own unless attributed to someone else. Please respect my work and seek my permission before using images and words from my pages. BUT please do leave feedback in likes and comments and reblog if you really like with a link back to my blog. Thank you.
January 2015 – after two years the garden is gradually taking shape, a small orchard and wild-life hedges have been planted. The grassy areas are gradually decreasing as small gardens are cut out. I thought I would be much further on but realise we over estimate what can be achieved in two years but under-estimate what can be done in ten. So, here’s to the next ten years!
https://thehopefulherbalist.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/the-hopeful-herbalist/
You can also find “The Hopeful Herbalist” on Instagram
Thank you for stopping by hope you enjoy your visit
it will be fun watching the secrets unfold.
thanks for sharing, jean
beautiful sunset, i’ve looked at it from both sides now…
So you have, pretty spectacular either way!
liked the skip! jean
haven’t been here for a few weeks, harder to find your comment site!
lovely photos make me happy jean
Award, award, claim your Shine On Award! ๐ Right here, right now:
http://thenovicegardener.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/shine-on-award/
Thank you for visiting and following HoB. Much appreciated!
Thanks – I like the cat!
Thank you for following HoB, again! ๐
Much appreciated!
๐ my iPad sticks and I hit the wrong button, keep managing to do that to people. Sorry but thank you for welcoming me back ! โบ๏ธ
Thanks for following Daytripper Sippers, jeni. You have a lovely blog and I admire your career change – a healer both ways. CC
lavender, mints, savory, marjoram;
The marigold, that goes to bed wiโ the sun,
and with him rise weeping.โ ~ Shakespeare, Winterโs Tale
An interesting blog
Thank you for dropping by and sharing Shakespeare with me.
“Midsummer Nights Dream” is my inspiration “I know a bank…”
I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award! You can check out the rules and get the badge on my blog, but itโs a no-strings-attached-award, so you donโt have to do anything unless you want to.
Yay!
Stephanie
Oh thanks! I am now shamed! I will endeavour to sit at my computer tomorrow and write my acceptance! Thanks Steph x
Thanks for the visit!
๐
Lucky you! I “do” herbalism too and often used it in adjunct to my health care working. I envy you your cottage by the sea. I’ve a friend who lives in Kidderminster, UK, though her daughter lives on the Isle of Man! Both lucky!
Yea, I love my herbs hope this year I will be organised to have a harvest (as long as I have enough growing). Thanks for stopping by. You gave an interesting blog!
A big hello from one herbalist to the other ๐ Lovely blog got here by chance. I too grow herbs way off in India and invite you to have a look ๐
http://jugnoofarms.wordpress.com/
Cheers ๐
Glad I found your blog. I love herbs and nature, looking forward reading more ๐
Welcome! Thank you for your interest ๐
I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. Details at: http://ddominikwicklesromance.wordpress.com/
Thank you! Thank you for the follow too ๐
Hello!
Thank you for”liking” my post “Beautiful Flowers” on
uribotanicalgardens.wordpress.com
I enjoyed looking through your blog! What does “garble” mean??
Best,
Gabrielle
Hi Gabrielle, thanks for the interest. “Garbling” just means preparing them in whatever method you choose. Drying, tic touring, making a syrup etc…. ๐
Sunny greetings!
What a lovely blog! This is my first visitโฆ and you have a new follower! My small herb garden brings me such joy. I look forward to learning more from your posts. โกDawn
Thank you and welcome. I love my herbs too and really enjoy all the wildlife that share our garden too. They often take centre stage , ๐
You’ve got such an interesting life story, from medical profession to herbalist, from East Africa to Scotland. I have also left a long career behind to live closer to the land and the healing power of plants. And like you I have lived and traveled in many places. Would love to sit for a cup of tea and share stories one afternoon….
Your story is inspiring. I look forward to following your blog!
Welcome and thank you. Hope you will enjoy visiting ๐
thanks for visiting and liking my posts. You have a beautiful blog and an interesting story. Your dream place of a cottage in the countryside by the sea indeed sounds like a dreamland! Glad you could realize your dream and make it a happily ever after story….
Thanks for stopping by and kind comment.
your blog has been nominated! check it out http://lorieb.com/2015/01/27/the-versatile-blogger-award/
I do believe I have found a garden filled with treasures for the soul. Sharon x
Welcome! Thank you for your kind words!n๐บ๐
Hi, I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award! https://thewisekangaroo.wordpress.com/2015/08/16/liebster-award-and-nominations/
Thank you so much for nominating me for a Lieibster Award, Dear Old Herbaceous. I really appreciate the accolade but your likes and comments are treasure enough.
Thank you for taking an interest and linking me to other blogs too. HH
This is so inspiring!!! Moving into cottage, gardening and spending your life in the most desired way ๐
Oh gosh, we really have pursued a similar path. I am fascinated by medicinal herbs but would like to know so much more. Following you now via Feedly.
โบ๏ธ i love my herbs but never seem to get around to writing about them! Your cottage looks wonderful. Hope you get settled in soon. We do seem to have very similar interests. Thanks for the follow! ๐ธ๐ฑ