Table of Contents
Acknowledgements viii
Author's Note ix
Chapter 1 Herbs and Flowers throughout the Calendar Year 1
Palm Sunday 4
Pentecost 6
Feast of Corpus Christi 9
Feast of St. John the Baptist 13
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 19
Other Blessing Days 25
Herbs and Plants Used at Birth and Death 25
Flowers and Plants in Polish Folk Art 26
Chapter 2 Plants and Flowers in Traditional Polish Weddings 35
Maiden Wreaths and Wedding Wreaths 38
The Maiden Evening 41
Glossary of Wedding Flowers and Plants 46
Chapter 3 A Brief History of Medicine and Healing Arts in Poland 55
Early Health and Illness Beliefs 57
Early Organized Medicine 58
Pharmacies of the Past 66
Monastic Pharmacies 70
"Pharmacies" of the Folk Healers and Charlatans 72
Home Pharmacies 73
Soaps and Perfumes in the Pharmacies 76
An Herbal for Young Ladies 80
Glossary of Medical Terms 88
Chapter 4 Polish Gardens of the Past 91
Monastery Gardens 92
Castle and Villa Gardens 95
Kraków and Lobzów 98
Wawel Castle 99
The Royal Castle in Warsaw 100
Renaissance Period 101
Polish Knot Gardens 102
17th and 18th Century Gardens 104
The Manor Kitchen Garden 109
The Peasant Cottage Garden 111
Window Gardens 123
Chapter 5 Glossary of Polish Herbs, Spices, Plants, Trees and Flowers: An Alphabetical List with their Traditional Uses in Folk Medicine
Chapter 6 From My Garden to Yours 233
Bibliography 238
Recipe Index 242
Index 243
About the Author 259
