everygirlsdreamnet – Page 13 – Every Girl's Dream

HAPPY MARCH! Since this is Women’s History Month, each week I will shine the light on a very influential female horticulturist, landscape architect, gardener or floral designer and celebrate her work!

HILDEGARD OF BINGEN

First up is Hildegard of Bingen, 1098 – 1179, a mystic, cloistered Abbess, healer and gardener. In 1098 Hildegard was born to a noble family in the southwestern German town of Bermersheim vor der Hohe. Despite entering the convent as a girl and remaining in monastic life until her death, Hildegard influenced her country and culture greatly.

In addition to her spiritual visions, writings on visionary spirituality, poetry, music, drama and science, she wrote about nature, the beauty and importance of gardens and the medicinal uses of plants.

Here is an example of her feelings about the natural world.

Fire of the Holy Spirit,

life of the life of every creature,

holy are you in giving life to forms.

Rivers spring forth from the waters

earth wears her green vigor.

—Hildegard of Bingen

In the Middle Ages beautiful vegetable and herbal gardens were typical features of monasteries and convents. Often a religious house would have several different gardens, each planted with its’ own focus.

A garden for food production…

An herb garden…

And, a hortus conclusus or secluded garden which was a symbolic representation of the Virgin Mary.

Hildegard studied the properties of plants and their effects on people. Her findings supported her theory that there is a strong link between the uses of plants and curing disease and general health. During the years from 1150 to 1158 she wrote two important books, “Physica” and “Causae et Curae,” that detail her theories of the of the medicinal uses of plants, as well as the connection between what we eat and our overall health.

She did have favorite plants, though! Here are her seven “Go-To” plants with curative powers:

TANSY