What to do in the garden this month

• As your Penstemon flowers fade, cut them back to just above a bud to encourage more flowers.
• Cut back growth in hanging baskets to encourage new flowers and foliage. Make sure you that feed your baskets well after doing this.
• Cut back hardy Geraniums and Delphiniums after the first flush of flowers to encourage new growth and further blooms.
• Prune Wisteria now. Just remove the whippy side-shoots from the main branch framework to about 20cm from their base (about five leaves from the main stem).
• If you need to prune your deciduous Magnolia, now is the best time to do it.
• Pinch out tomato side shoots each week. Cut off any leaves growing below the lowest ripening fruit trusses to improve air circulation and prevent diseases. Feed tomato plants with dilute tomato fertiliser once a week.
• Now is the time to order spring bulbs ready for autumn planting.
• Make a note of your garden’s pros and cons at this time of year to remind you of any changes that you need to make for next year.

Astrantia

Astrantia is an herbaceous perennial native to central and eastern Europe. It blooms from June to August and produces star-shaped flowers that look like pincushions. It was once used to treat many different conditions, including cramps, heart failure, ulcers, infected wounds, bad breath and toothache – but it is not used anymore as it has a strong laxative effect and may also induce abortion. It is in the family Apiaceae along with Hemlock and Giant Hogweed, which are both toxic. This image was taken in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians in London and this particular variety is called Hadspen Blood, and is also known as Masterwort, Gentleman’s Melancholy, Hattie’s Pincushion, Mountain Sanicle or Black-root Sanicle

The name Astrantia comes from the old apothecaries’ name for this plant, Magistrantia (Masterwort), implying its suitability for use only by those proficient in herbalism. Historical uses for Astrantia were very wide-ranging, as described by different herbalists in the 17th to 19th centuries. Masterwort was cultivated as a potherb, and was recommended by Culpeper (1650) for “cold griefs and diseases both of the stomache and body”. The roots were used as a purgative (Lindley, 1838) and an infusion from the whole plant as a diuretic. Parkinson (1640) recommended it for colds, dyspnoea (shortness of breath), renal stones, inducing menses or expelling a dead fetus, hysteria, cramps, heart failure, epilepsy, purulent (pus filled) wounds and ulcers, quartan fevers (cyclic fevers recurring every four days in people infected with Plasmodium malariae), colic, and for purging the brain. Pommet (1712) gave a completely different list: he said it could be used against poisons, stinking breath, malignant and pestilential diseases, vertigo, apoplexy (sudden stroke), palsies, toothache and scabby head – but agreed with its use for ulcers.

Source: http://www.wellcomeimageawards.org/2014/astrantia-flowers Dr. Henry Oakeley