A natural history/meditation from “Monarchs and Milkweeds Almanac” by Ina Warren Mints

I plan my garden as I wish I could plan my life, with islands of surprise, color and scent. ~ Diane Ackerman, Cultivating Desire

Common names in Spanish: Hierbabuena; Yerba buena Here I am Lord, scent me: Hyssop has dark evergreen leaves In the monarch overwintering and long, blue spikes of narrow reserves in central Mexico, there whorls. It is used to flavor are six genera of mints. These chartreuse and other liqueurs. include Lepechinia, Prunella, Hyssop was mentioned in Bible Salvia (12 spp.), S a t u r e j a , writings in sprinkling rites for Scutellaria and Stachys (4 spp.). purification. Hyssop was also used for “hysteria” It was mint to be: - uncontrollable laughing and Worldwide, the Mint Family has crying. A woman suffering from 180 genera with over 3500 species. disturbance of womb was treated There are 50 genera of mints in by a “hysterectomy” as North America. A typical mint hyster>womb. flower has 2 lips, actually fused petals. Labiateae>lip; the lower lip Boogie-woogie bugle bloom serves as a landing spot for that bumblebees need: Early spring pollinators. The upper lip serves as bugle blossoms provide the early, a canopy shielding its male and Mountain Mint continuous supplies of nectar that female floral parts. Pycnanthemum muticum bumblebees need. Don’t mints words: Mints were important species and were listed According to ancient herbalists in all medieval herbals in 9th Gerard & Culpepper, bugle (Ajuga) century convent gardens. Linnaeus was used in prepared syrups for wrote that mints “dispel the fumes preventing “inward burstings” a of drunkenness”. name for disabling blood clots.

Let’s get mythical: In mythology, is on our side: The Menthe was a nymph, who because thyme is associated with death. of the love Pluto had for her, was Souls of the dead were thought to changed into a plant by Proserpine find rest and solace in the flowers. - green from jealousy. Being in the Mint family, thyme contains thymol, an essential oil Please don’t squeeze the sweet used in a variety of medical : Sweet Marjoram –- applications. A familiar place for wild ; a cultivated thymol is on the ingredients list of Junior Mints… They’re refreshing, perennial with lilac flowers. It is an a jar of Vicks Vapo-Rub, (or as it is they’re delightful. Who’s gonna aromatic strewing herb. Besides pronounced in Guatemala: Bix- turn down a junior mint? yielding red and purple dyes, it was Bape-uh-roob.) used to flavor ale. Greeks and Romans newlyweds wore woven Never enough thyme for kindness: Gather. Mints. Repeat: In addition garlands and it was reputed to have Ovid recounts the breath-taking to those listed below, familiar Mint value as a magical herb.... hospitality of Baucis and Philemon family members are oregano, sage, scouring their table board with germander, obedient plant, , Motherworts of all mints: green mints before laying food on it savory, coleus, betony, catmint, Motherworts were planted on intended for their divine guests. horehound, melissa, peppermint, graves to ensure a happy afterlife. spearmint, dead nettles, lemon It was also thought to protect milk balm and Collinsonia. from souring in “bad weather”. Caterpillar Cafe: Square Meal Deal: Several moth Looking for a few good mints: Hyssopity do da, hyssopity de caterpillars feed on mints. Mints were one of the three day: Bees love hyssop (Hyssopus Ingesting the volatile oils perhaps approved “tithing” (along officinalis) and it flavors their gives them protection from would- with cumin and anise) in the Bible. honey. Hyssop oil is distilled for be predators. Wonder if that is how the word making perfumes and is one of the mint became associated with “strewing herbs” of olden days. Get the sensation! currency, as in US Mint?

For range maps, see: http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PYMU