Poem
Slumber Song - Rainer Maria Rilke
Some day, if I should ever lose you, will you be able then to go to sleep without me softly whispering above you like night air stirring in the linden tree Without my waking here & watching and saying words as tender as eyelids that come to rest weightlessly upon your breast, upon your sleeping limbs, your lips Without my touching you and leaving you alone with what is yours, like a summer garden that is overflowing with masses of melissa & star anise
Hello Folks,
It’s been a while hasn’t it. Life has been very full these last months.
I’m writing this sat at my kitchen table, staring out to the beauty of a cerulean summer sky. A welcomed thing after so much rain. In the garden the marigolds & daisy’s are popping & the wild flowers have started to bloom. I’ve been taking time in a morning to sit spot, to perch on the weathered step of the back door & tune into the feeling of the morning, the smells, sounds, textures, weather. This year more than other years I’ve felt a whole new appreciation for flowers. I’ve always admired flowers, loved to witness them, but this year my relationship with flowers, particularly Linden & Rose have evolved.
When we’re working with plants, a particular plant will often catch our attention. It comes from the edges. Usually, its a plant we haven’t previously worked with. It feels like a hook in the cheek at times. A tugging on the fabric of relationship. Come ere. They say. This year, more than other years I’ve felt that tugging. A beckoning to be with flowers in ways I hadn’t previously.
I can’t say I’m surprised by this, but it is odd. As a person that finds deep enjoyment from texture & touch, a person who likes to feel the nuance of things & get amongst it. Colour & texture are such an integral part of how I remember the world. How I see the world. Having smell take centre stage this season has invoked a sort of sensory recalibration. Perceiving through smell is a different organism to perceiving primarily through touch. I say this knowing that our senses are engaged all of the time, that we are perpetually immersed in sensory environments. Nonetheless, we do have senses that we tune into more than others. Senses that satiate the itch of understanding.
In the cemetery just up the road, there are the most beautiful lemon roses. They smell like the taste of good, lemon turkish delight. Sticky & chewy. Slightly floral, with a tang of sharpness. The roses are surrounded by big old Linden trees. These past weeks, the desire to get out & smell the lime, to smell the roses has been so strong. It as if the roses have been shouting to me, yelling down the road, requesting to be admired. The joy of this activity has been wonderful. A moment that punctuates the heaviness of working with trauma. A moment that bookends hard days working with folks on the edge.
Since the Linden is abundant in my local terroir, I want to re-introduce my plant posts with a floral kick.
Lore of Linden
In Slavic mythology the belief is held that the Linden tree is sacred and in many Eastern European countries it is upheld as a ‘Holy’ tree. Many villages and towns are named after the Linden. In Slovenia there is a tradition of Lime trees representing places where common decision making or matters of importance were discussed. For Slovenia the lime is their national symbol and as a result has been planted to commemorate numerous historical occasions over the centuries. The oldest of these being over 700 years old.
Throughout the Baltic, the tree is also associated with the goddess Laina who is responsible for the fate of childbirth, marriage and the patron saint of pregnant women. Laina’s relationship comes from the belief that she can take the form of a cuckoo while influencing the fate of those who desire it. For this reason people, and predominately women, have given sacrifice and prayed under the Lime in hope of gaining good luck and fertility.
In Celtic and Germanic tradition the Lime is seen to inspire fairness and justice and as a result evidence was heard beneath a Lime. These traditions have much in common with the Baltic traditions of Lime representing meeting places and cultural centres, along with the more gruesome tradition of administering ‘justice’ or sacrifice.
In Poland, the linden is a highly revered tree, at the heart of many Polish legends. In Polish, the month of July, Lipiec, is named for the lipa, or linden tree. According to Polish legend an old Linden tree should never be cut down: to do so is certain to result in misfortune for both the axeman and his family. A consequence that is commonly associated with Hawthorn or Elder in Ireland.
In Christian legend, the tree is linked with the Virgin Mary, whose image was often discerned in the dark branches of the tree. Today in Poland it’s common to see roadside shrines under a linden tree. Since the tree is believed to be favourite of the Blessed Mother, prayers offered under it are considered to have a good chance of being answered.
Properties
Respiratory System
Lime Flower is a decongestant & soothing expectorant for feverish colds, flu, catarrh, irritating coughs, bronchitis & asthma
Digestion
Lime soothes & relaxes the gut, is good for digestive complaints associated with anxiety including wind, colic, indigestion, diarrhoea, heartburn & acidity
Urinary System
A soothing diuretic, helping to clear toxins via the kidneys & relieve cystitis.
Nervous System
Antispasmodic & sedative effects, lime flower is good for tension & anxiety, insomnia, pain & nervous headaches.
It can help calm exam nerves
Circulation
It’s antispasmodic & vasodilatory properties help to open the arteries.
Reduces hypertension, protects blood vessel walls, reduces cholesterol build up
& the hardening of arteriesGood for migraine
Externally
An infusion of leaves can be used as an eyewash
A poultice is good for burns & scalds
An infusion of lime flowers can be applied to spots, boils, burns, rashes
Good to add to a bath to calm restlessness
Large doses can cause nausea
All medicinal notes from Anne McIntyres book ‘A complete herbal tutor’.
Recipes
Part of midsummer magic was the making of round golden cakes to represent the sun. By eating this cake one strengthened the sun’s powers ensuring a good harvest to come! So baking this Linden Blossom Sun Cake will help ensure you abundance and prosperity, not to mention Laina’s good blessings of good luck and happiness.
Semolina Sun Cake
Ingredients
Cake
1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup of semolina
2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
2/3 cup of soft butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup yogurt
whipped cream to serve
3/4 cup Linden Syrup
Linden Blossom Syrup (Makes about 1 cup)
1 &1/2 cups sugar
1 & 1/2 cups water
4 cups of linden blossoms
2 tablespoons of finely grated lemon zest
Directions
Linden Blossom Syrup
Start by separating the linden blossoms from their papery tracts.
Boil an equal amount of sugar and water together until it thickens into a syrup.
Once the simple syrup is ready, pour into a bowl and add the flowers and lemon zest.
Give it a stir. Put it aside and let sit overnight (or at least a few hours) to allow the flavour of the flowers to infuse the syrup. Strain off the flowers before using.
Cake
Preheat oven to 350 F. Brush a round pan with butter to grease. Dust with flour.
Sift the flour, semolina and baking powder into a bowl.
Beat the butter and sugar in another large bowl until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
Stir in the flour mixture. Add the yogurt and stir until well combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the surface.
Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Let cool. Then using a toothpick or a skewer, pierce holes all over the surface of the cake. Pour 1/2 cup of syrup over the cake. Let sit a few minutes. Transfer the cake to a serving plate. Pour over the remaining syrup and serve with whipped cream.
Linden Flower Cordial
Ingredients
150g Linden Flowers
500ml of Boiling Water
150g sugar
Juice of 1 Lemon
Directions
Shake the flowers and make sure any insects are removed.
Put the flowers in a pan or large ceramic bowl and cover them with boiling water.
Cover with a lid and leave to infuse overnight.
Strain the liquid through a sieve lined with a muslin cloth.
Bring it to the boil with the sugar and stir till all the sugar has been dissolved. Add the juice of 1 lemon and let it boil for 5 minutes. Taste and add more lemon juice if you want. Be careful, though, you don’t want to lose the taste of the lime.
Pour the hot syrup in a sterile jar or glass flip-top bottle and close the clasps.
When it’s cooled down, put the jar in the fridge. Serve with sparkling water or still. Why not try the addition of other medicinal herbs like parsley or tarragon for an interesting twist. I used a 1:5 ratio of cordial and sparkling water.
The Humble Linden Tea
Pick the flowers, around 150g
Air dry the flowers
Once they are thoroughly dried place into a brown paper bag or jar & store somewhere out of direct sunlight.
I hope you can get out to enjoy the smell of Linden, if not the wonders of it’s culinary & medicinal properties.
Happy Summer!
Hannah-may