I am collecting quotes about herbs.
I thought a neat last-minute Christmas gift would be to paint pots with chalkboard paint (see link), and give them along with packets of herb seed or small divisions of plants. I'd like to write the sayings on the chalkboard pots. I listed a few below... can you think of any more quotes (preferably with a source), or traditional associations?
"Rosemary is for remembrance."
"Eat sage in May, and live for aye"
Traditional associations and beliefs: Parsley removes bitterness, sage symbolizes strength, marjoram happiness, and thyme courage, but I don't have poems or quotes for these.
I saw "Never enough thyme" on a terracotta pot once, and I might use that, its sorta cute...
Any more suggestions please?!
Chalkboard pot link: http://www.erinvaledesign.com/leo_on_the_loose/2009/05/diy-teachers-gift-chalkboard-pot-scrapbook-paper-seed-packets.html
"Rosemary is for remembrance" &other quotes to write on pots
"The herb becomes the teacher. Men stray after false goals when the herb he treads knows much, much more." - Henry Vaughn
"I know a bank where the wild thyme blows..." - Shakespeare
"Borage for courage"
"How can a man die who has sage in his garden?"
"Neither witch nor devil, thunder not lightening, will hurt man were a bay tree is." - Culpeper
You can also google "Herbal quotes" and see what comes up.
I'm sure your gift recipients will be delighted!
Thanks... I posted this after I was all googled out! It's been pretty tough to find what I'm looking for. I did find some cute vegetable quotes, but they're not helpful right now since I won't be giving away veggie plants in December... but they might make someone smile so here they are:
From http://www.gardendigest.com/veget.htm:
What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter? Pumpkin pi.
Zucchinis terrific! Like bunnies, prolific!
Let my words, like vegetables, be tender and sweet, for tomorrow I may have to eat them. - Author Unknown
I think your rosemary quote might have been taken from Ophelia's speech in 'Hamlet' :
""There's rosemary, that's for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that's for thoughts," said Ophelia to her brother Laertes. "There's fennel for you, and columbines. There's rue for you, and here's some for me; we may call it herb of grace o' Sundays. O, you must wear your rue with a difference. There's a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died."
There's a more in-depth description of the herbs in that famous speech here : http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/23/HOGVNN39851.DTL I haven't read it through, but you might glean some more interesting quotes there.
Mary, try googling with a specific herb, such as "Parsley quotes" or "Basil quotes". That often brings up quotes more specific to your goal.
I think everyone should live by that saying, the one about letting words be like vegetables.
I"m going to add that one to my list of things to remember.