Today has been another beautiful day. I have painted a large chunk of fence so that there is about a panel & a half left, plus all the edging & the arbour seat. I then spent a long time talking to my brother on the phone sitting enjoying the sun and then just sitting. Sitting on the garden rocking chair I really enjoyed the scent of the broom from beyond the pond. Looking across the garden its bright yellow is beautiful against the grey fence.

Broom is in the legume family and has the typical flower type. It has a strong vanilla scent & apparently the flowers are edible although as they are supposed to be flavourless I don’t think I will bother finding out!

Broom was used as a heraldic badge by Geoffrey of Anjou & thereafter by the House of Plantagenet, rulers of England. Their name supposedly is derived from its Latin name of plants genista.

The bees & other insects are busy around it too although I think there are fewer bees than in previous years.

Its magical use is in spells for purification and protection although in Italy it was burnt to stop witches. Stories of witches riding sticks made of broom may be related to compounds within it that are psychoactive. Otherwise its used as a diuretic & in the form of an ointment in treatment of gout.