Tag: healing garden

A Fresh Start: Setting Gardening Goals for Emotional Well-Being

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After the countdown and the New Year’s kiss comes the talk of resolutions and goals. Rather than get a gym membership or recite positive affirmations in the mirror, why not focus on the garden this year? Here’s how you can set some gardening goals to help you focus on self-care, personal growth, and healing.

Gardening is much, much more than a hobby.

For some, it may start as a hobby to get outside more or to grow their own food or perhaps to beautify their home.

But once you start, you quickly learn that you get so much more from gardening than meets the eye. It’s a way to nurture ourselves and find healing through small, meaningful actions. It’s a way to find emotional growth and support ourselves.

The best way to get the most from the garden is to not put too much pressure on it. These benefits will come naturally and do best when we let go of the idea of perfection.

We grow alongside the plants; nurturing plants mirrors the care we give ourselves when we garden.

This year, I want to help you connect deeper with the garden and, in turn, help your overall well-being.

So, let’s set some gardening goals!

This wildflower lawn was a major project for me last year and brought joy not only to myself but also to the neighbourhood.

Create Gentle Gardening Goals

Don’t start by setting goals that look more like a mountain to climb than a hill to take a stroll on. People who have chronic pain will know that we give gentle hugs. Those who are working through personal issues will know that we give gentle reminders.

So, this year, let’s concentrate on gentle gardening goals. One of my favourite things to say is to start small five minutes a day. If you have a whole backyard you want to redesign, for example, start by working for five minutes a day out in the garden as opposed to setting the lofty goal of redoing the entire thing in one year.

Five minutes a day will also encourage you to get out there daily rather than stretch your limits in one long gardening session. Being a weekend warrior, where you try to tackle it all on your day off, sets your body and mind up for fatigue.

Instead, try to incorporate gardening into your daily life. Make it a habit to get out there every day. How long and what you do doesn’t matter, but just getting outside and growing a habit is a gentle way to keep up with gardening.

When I first started gardening, I started with just five minutes a day. When I started writing on the website, I made a goal of doing one weekly project. And now, here I am 15 years later with thousands and thousands of articles.

It all started with the idea of starting small and being gentle to myself and my physical limits.

Now, my garden is one of my greatest sources of peace.

Focus on Self Care

Let this be the year where you put yourself first. I encourage you to think about how to use the garden to help you this year.

Instead of taking on a huge project that will exhaust you, find gardening activities that will calm you. That could be as simple as planting some herbs to grow a healing tea garden or planting some annual flowers to bring you joy every time you step outside your front door.

If you don’t have one already, set up a space outside for quiet relaxation. At my home, that space, for me, has always been my hammock chair. There, I can sit, relax, and enjoy myself. Comfortable seating is really important to have, so you can sit outside and get your garden therapy even when you don’t have the energy to work out in the garden physically.

The hammock chair is a favourite for me and kiddo to relax in the shade.

Embrace the Seasons

Many people think of gardening as a purely summer activity, but we seasoned gardeners know there is always something to be done for the garden in all four seasons.

Some of us are lucky to get these extreme changes in the season. At least, I consider it lucky, as it allows me to frame my gardening goals around these cycles.

If you don’t have distinct seasons, you can still find these moments in the year to use as a timeline. To do so, ask yourself what different activities you want to do?

Winter is known as a time to rest, renew, and plan. During this time, most of the gardening work happens inside of us and in our homes.

Then, in spring, the garden begins to open up. We head outside and see this new birth of burgeoning plants.

Of course, summer is when the plants are in their full glory. So we spend our time tending to it. We harvest, enjoy sitting in those aforementioned comfortable chairs, and enjoy the space.

Finally, in the fall, we begin to slow down once again and close things down for the season. We can take our time to rest and enjoy the fruits of our labours before we do it all over again next season.

Choose Meaningful Projects

This year, ask yourself what you want your garden to be. Perhaps last year, you grew plenty of vegetables because that’s what most people choose to grow, but you decide that cut flowers are what you feel inspired by. Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to grow grapes and turn them into wine.

You can find so much joy in putting in some hard work and learning something new from the garden.

I did a lot of work redesigning my garden last year. I moved into a new house that needed a total revamp, so much of my time was spent figuring out what I wanted to do with the space.

This year, I finally get to do more planting. I can ask myself what plants I love the most and choose plants with significance. I’ll finally be seeing my design in action.

I want plenty of fragrance at the front door.

There will be low-maintenance and drought-tolerant perennials.

Plants that I can grow and add to my soap-making.

I want to get back to my roots of growing edible plants in my brand-new vegetable garden.

Find the projects that will bring you the most joy, and spend your winter planning them.

Setting Inspiring Garden Intentions

You will also want to set some inspiring garden intentions alongside your goals. Goals are much more specific and are driven by performing actions. Meanwhile, intentions are finding the motivation and purpose behind those goals.

A great intention is to combine wellness and gardening. Through this, you can grow a wellness garden full of herbs that are good for you, such as chamomile, lemon balm, and lavender.

Another great intention is to try growing new things in the garden. Perhaps this is the year you grow plants to stock up on your personal home apothecary or try out some new interesting varieties of stevia (I love these ones from Richter’s Herbs).

This could also be the year for reflection and growth. If you’ve never done any garden journaling before, it’s a great tool to make notes and see how gardening has helped you throughout the year. Practice gratitude and celebrate the small wins you see in the garden. While it can be helpful with gardening, it also can help your emotional well-being.

Another great intention is to dedicate time to enjoy your garden. Go out in the garden (even when you don’t have a to-do list) to listen to the birds and feel the soil under your hands. Spend your summer evenings out there, but also don’t forget to get outside year-round to reap the health benefits of gardening.

All in all, remember that your gardening goals don’t have to be perfect. They don’t need to be like New Year’s resolutions, where they require some lofty, life-changing tasks. Instead, grow alongside your garden at a speed that works best for you.

More Ways to Practice Gardening Wellness

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.

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Stephanie Rose

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January 5, 2026
Healing Through Holiday Grief: Finding Peace in Winter Gardening – Garden Therapy
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The holidays can be a very difficult time for those who are grieving a loss. In my own grief, I have often turned to garden therapy to honour and process my grief. Plants can offer us comfort and help us form new rituals and meaning during this really challenging season of holiday grief.

While the holidays are known for their bright colours, plenty of cheer, and time spent with loved ones, it can be an incredibly difficult time for many.

Grief has a way of manifesting itself during the holiday season. Those who have lost someone dear to them will greatly feel their absence during this time of year.

But it can also be a very peaceful and healing time of year. When you ignore the craziness of the mall parking lots and the aisles of the grocery store, you’ll find there is actually a natural quiet and stillness in the world.

Stepping outside into winter gardens and forests can offer us great comfort during this time of year, helping us to process feelings, ground ourselves, reflect, and take a moment to slow down when the holiday grief comes in waves.

If you’re looking to honour someone that you’ve lost or seeking some solace, the garden can be one of the most steadfast comforts.

This post will cover…

Taking the time to craft and make things can be a meditative activity.

The Varying Forms of Grief

I’ve gone through many different kinds of loss, like the loss of my mother, as well as family changes over the years. I’ve had some very difficult Christmas holidays in the past where I didn’t feel much like celebrating. But when you have a kiddo, you always have to put on a brave face.

Grief can arise from the death of a loved one, the end of a romantic or platonic relationship, or even the loss of a place. It can also apply to the absence of something altogether that never even existed.

For instance, family dynamics can be tricky and become even more difficult over the holidays. If you choose not to go to that family dinner as a form of self-care and protection, you can still feel grief at letting go of traditions or past expectations.

Whatever form of grief you may be experiencing, I’ve always found that gardening can provide us with the emotional space we need.

How Nature Helps Us Process Grief

Nature, plants, and the garden are all powerful tools that help us process grief. Grief is one word we use to describe all kinds of emotions, from heartbreak and sadness to numbness and pain. It can come in waves or sit with us like a stone in our chest.

I’ve always believed that there’s a power to the presence of plants, which can be felt year round. Nature has always been a useful tool in helping to ground yourself, relieve anxiety and stress, and give your mental health a boost.

The holidays are known for being very ritualistic. Many of us have seasonal traditions that set up a level of expectations that we have for the holiday, from cutting down the Christmas tree as a family to eating grandma’s homemade buns every Christmas Eve. When something pauses or puts a stop to these rituals, it can be very difficult.

I know that my kiddo is very attached to rituals and has difficulty when things don’t go according to plan. Most recently, he was expecting to do a candy trade with his buddy at Halloween. So when his buddy went off and did a candy trade with someone else, he lost that ritual.

If the holidays are coming up and you can already sense that things will be different this year, think about how you can reshape these traditions that you may be grieving over. Find the quiet moments and reconnect with nature. Below, I’ll share some of the ways that plants have helped me heal.

Decorating the Christmas tree is an important ritual for kiddo and I.

Create New Rituals

This year, create new rituals. These don’t have to replace the old ones, and they don’t have to be fancy or even involve other people. I encourage you to use plants when creating your rituals because they can be very dependable. Even if the plant doesn’t make it through the winter, there will always be more you can spend your time with.

For instance, create a healing garden where you can bring your grief and reflect and remember. You can also use it to meditate, like I talk about in this post.

If you don’t have access to your own individual garden, use an indoor plant arrangement. You can also go and walk through a garden centre or an indoor public garden. Try bundling up and head to the forest or woods, or any other outdoor space.

One of my favourite holiday rituals is creating a homemade wreath. I used to do it with the neighbourhood gals, but when I moved, I slowly lost that tradition. I kept up the wreathmaking, even if it wasn’t with the same group of people.

Now, I like to go out and forage for wreath materials. At home, I make a new wreath every year to hang on my front door. This is something I do every year, sometimes with others and sometimes by myself. But it’s always something that I look forward to.

Using Herbs to Soothe Holiday Grief

Many herbs are known for their soothing qualities, which can be beneficial for someone experiencing grief during the holidays. There are many that come to mind for me, but here are a few you can try:
- Roses are meant to mend broken hearts, and adding roses to tea can help those experiencing heartache.
- Lavender is also a favourite in aromatherapy due to its calming nature. It can also aid with stress relief and encourage sleep. Add lavender to things, such as tea, sachets, or scents throughout the house, like a lavender wreath or essential oil diffusing.
- Rosemary is known as the herb for remembrance. It can be dried, burned, or used in teas as a grounding opportunity to help you respect and remember.
- Lemon balm helps to lift spirits. Use the scent to help with emotional balance and give you support.
- Mugwort helps to promote dreams. Use it to connect to your holiday memories.
Green Memorial Activities

A big part of grief is honouring it and using the time for reflection. Memorial activities can help you remember and honour those who are gone rather than skip over the grief.

Many people have planted memorial trees in honour of loved ones. Memorial plantings can also be small garden plantings, dedicated garden beds or spaces, or even as simple as houseplants. This will help create a space that allows you to go and visit with the intention of sitting with your grief in the physical form of a plant.

I’ve also found that journaling can help. You can even write down messages for loved ones on a little piece of paper and add it to the soil by your plant.

I’ve also seen people write messages on little hearts and hang them in trees. Using just paper and twine makes it biodegradable.

Biodegradable seed bombs made of paper can allow you to write a message to a loved one, and turn it into a beautiful wildflower garden.

Through my own grief, I have found that ritualistic elements have helped me to support myself and slowly heal. Because the garden has always been a place for healing for me, it was natural for me to turn to it during my time of grief. I hope it can do the same for you.

More Ways to Enjoy Peace This Holiday Season

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
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Stephanie Rose

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December 13, 2025
The Essential Guide to Rosemary: Care, Uses, and Healing Benefits – Garden Therapy
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Rosemary can be used in so many different ways, from culinary recipes to natural beauty to pest control, and it has long been renowned for its healing properties. This plant is easy to grow and propagate, and a delicious addition to many culinary creations. Follow this essential guide to rosemary for the best tips on how to grow, care for, preserve, and use this hardy wonder herb.

Rosemary thrives in dry, rocky conditions, so it is a great choice to grow in a rock garden or on a wall. This is because it is native to the Mediterranean, where it grows wild along rocky ocean cliffs—the plant gets its name from the Latin “rosmarinus,” which means “sea mist.”

When rosemary was brought to England in the fifteenth century, it became known as a symbol of loyalty and was often given as a token of fidelity from a bride to her groom on their wedding day.

It has since travelled all over the world and become one of the most common—and well-loved—herbs for home gardens.

Let me share all of my rosemary tips and goodness with you!

Healing Rosemary Benefits

Rosemary is known for its antiseptic, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties—in the sixteenth century, it was often burned to disinfect rooms that had previously been occupied by sick people.

It is also purported to have anti-stress properties and to improve focus and memory, so grab a sprig of rosemary and rub it between your hands to release the aroma if you need to study or get some work done.

Rosemary is often used as a natural painkiller for nausea and headaches by rubbing the fresh herb or diffusing rosemary essential oil.

A rosemary leaf can even help with your breath. Chew one leaf as a natural breath freshener, or add some to a batch of homemade dog cookies if your pampered pooch wakes you up in the morning with a kiss.

Rosemary is also a great herb for hair, and is a primary ingredient in this hair serum.

How to Grow Rosemary

Plant rosemary seeds about eight to ten weeks prior to the last frost of the spring. Plant in an area with well-draining soil. Rosemary can grow quite large (up to four feet tall with a four-foot spread), so make sure that you give it enough room between other plants

Be careful not to overwater, which is a common mistake with rosemary. Remember that it likes dry conditions and only water when the top two inches of soil feel very dry to the touch.

Perennial herbs like rosemary are great additions to the hardy garden.

Rosemary Plant Care

Pruning: trim rosemary back after it flowers (cut off the top inch or two of each flowering sprig) and be sure to prune regularly to keep the plant from becoming leggy.

Pests and Disease: root rot is common. To prevent it, provide good drainage and air circulation and don’t overwater. Whitefly and spider mites are common pests on rosemary plants. Prevent them by keeping your rosemary healthy and strong (they can’t do much damage to an already healthy plant), and get rid of them with a solution of water mixed with soap or neem oil applied directly to the leaves.

Propagation: snip a piece of new growth (the stem should be soft and green as opposed to woody) about five inches long. Strip off the lower leaves, place the cutting in a jar of water with a plastic sandwich bag over top for protection. When roots begin to develop, remove the cutting from the jar and plant in soil. You can also use rooting hormone to help your cutting along, if you wish. For more details on propagation, head over to this post.

Overwintering: Rosemary is hardy to Zone 6 or 7, but you can also overwinter it indoors if you would like to have fresh rosemary to use all winter long.

To overwinter outdoors, remove any weeds from around the base of the plant, give it a good prune, and cover with a two-to-four-inch layer of mulch to insulate and protect it from cold winter temperatures. See more tips on overwintering herbs.

Harvesting and Preserving Rosemary

Harvest up to one-third of the plant at a time. Try to trim the new, green stems, as opposed to the woody stems.

You can use rosemary fresh, tie the sprigs into a bundle and hang them up to dry, or store them in an airtight container for future use.

How to Use Rosemary

There are endless ways to use rosemary in cooking, natural beauty recipes, and around the home. Here are a few ideas:

Recipes

Aromatherapy and Beauty
- Put a pot of rosemary or a rosemary candle on your work desk to improve focus.
- My whole haircare routine revolves around rosemary, thanks to it stimulating and restoeative herbal properties. Here are all my rosemary haircare recipes: conditioner, hair serum, and dry shampoo.
- Gargle with rosemary tea for a natural homemade mouthwash.
- Add it to homemade soap (like this liquid hand soap or this energizing cold process recipe)
- Relieve congestion by adding fresh or dried rosemary to a bowl of boiling water and breathing in the steam.
- Add a bundle of rosemary to the shower to really wake you up in the morning! Or add it to a sugar scrub to exfoliate while you breathe in its energizing scent.
Home and Garden

Whether you use it for cooking, crafting, or healing, you won’t regret adding a rosemary plant to your garden!

More Helpful Tips for Growing Herbs

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
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Stephanie Rose

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November 6, 2025
Create a Secret Garden as a Therapeutic Outdoor Space – Garden Therapy
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Secret gardens are some of the most magical spaces. Find a small corner or space tucked away in your yard and turn it into your own personal sanctuary. Take a tour through some secret gardens to find inspiration and learn some tips about creating your own along the way.

Have you been lucky enough to visit a secret garden? As you walk along a pathway, through an ornate gate, or under a rose-covered arbour, you arrive at a welcoming spot, perhaps with a water feature or a bench, to sit and enjoy a small space that is usually beyond view.

It draws you in.

As you turn a corner or open a door, you are met with the answer to the mystery. A garden space that seems to be created just for you.

A secret garden.

Water features offer tranquillity thanks to their sounds and reflections.

Canuck Place

I became interested in the idea of secret gardens after touring the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice gardens and seeing the secluded and unique places that have been designed around the grounds for families and children.

Canuck Place is a truly moving place, filled with beauty and love for the most unimaginably difficult times a family could ever go through. The gardeners work hard to create a secret garden—or a collection of them throughout the larger garden—as a place of joy and tranquillity.

What struck me on my tour of the gardens was the small spaces; the hidden benches and covered arbours that invited you in, like a friendly hug. The volunteers work many hours to create such spaces throughout the garden so they can touch the lives of those who need it.

Moon gates are great at drawing you in.

Secret Gardens Are Everywhere

After my tour of Canuck Place, I began to notice the secret gardens that were tucked in residential houses on garden tours, public spaces, and within botanical or public gardens.

Secret gardens can be a unique way to reflect your personality in the garden.

From doors that open to an outdoor living space to quirky benches built into a hidden corner, a secret garden is unexpected, inviting, and quaint.

Sitting areas are essential for secret gardens.

Each one that I have seen is completely unique, yet the common thread to all of them is that they are fiercely personal.

Modern concrete surrounded by wild-looking grasses is in great contrast to a front yard running riverbed.

The key to secret gardens is that they are a place for privacy.

My First Secret Garden

When I was in my first home and recovering from a debilitating illness, I created a space that I could use to sit out and enjoy the garden during those periods where I barely had the strength to sit upright. The backyard garden was my therapy space, where I would garden to strengthen my body and my mind. Some days I could only work for a few minutes, but just being out in the garden was healing.

My hammock chair was under the deck for comfort on both rainy and sunny days.

I found a hammock chair and hung it up under the small deck. There was just enough room to tuck the chair in, and it was a perfectly cool and shady spot to watch the pollinators buzz and the flowers blow in the wind.

The ground below was covered in river stones and engraved rocks with words like “love” and “smile” set randomly throughout. It may not have been the most elaborate space, but I spent many hours healing in that space, and I’m so very grateful for it.

River stones allowed me to go out barefoot in the space.

Time, Again, to Create a Secret Garden

When I moved, my hammock chair came with me, installed under an arbour in a prominent spot in the backyard. I spent many summer days cuddling with my son, and many more of them spinning him and his friends around in it. The hammock took on a brand new life.

The hammock chair in its new spot.

I missed that secret place under the deck, a quiet but lively space, where the garden can be watched and enjoyed, which inspired me to once again create a secret garden, this time in the front-yard shade garden.

The garden centred around a spillway fountain and river rock bed under a large Pacific dogwood and backed by a Lace-leaf weeping Japanese maple. Even though I have studied these spaces often, I was still surprised by how much pleasure they provided.

It was a secret but not isolated—the garden welcomed family and friends to sit, talk, read, or just watch the wildlife.

The front yard was my favourite garden on the property. It had a fabulous structure and some beautiful mature plants.

My secret garden was in the shade and surrounded by leafy foliage.

When you walked along the sidewalk in front of the house, you would find a blooming hydrangea, draping Japanese maple, and colourful shade garden plants like ferns, Hellebores, and Heucheras.

Only a few people noticed the trickling sound and curiously peeked around the corner. The secret garden wasn’t much of a secret; it just felt like one. It was only a few feet from the public sidewalk, and passersby could hear the fountain bubbling as they approached the front steps.

Friends and neighbours (and the occasional off-leash, water-loving canine) would be down the stairs by the sound, see the fountain, and be welcomed onto the bench to sit and enjoy the space. Very much like a friendly hug.

The fountain and bench in my secret garden.

Tips to Create Your Own Secret Garden

I enjoyed that garden for a decade before it was time to move again. I’m currently shaping my new space, and I have a feeling a new secret garden will take shape.

If you want to create your own, here’s what I recommend:
- Mark it with a special entrance. This can be something as enchanting as a moon gate or a clematis-covered arbour, or as simple as my pathway in front of a bench. Something that draws you to the space.
- Add a water feature. This can be a small fountain, bird bath, or even a wildlife pond. Water brings tranquillity, thanks to its soothing repetitive sound and reflective qualities.
- Include a sitting area. You want somewhere to sit to enjoy your secret garden. It’s a place of relaxation and is intended for you to rest.
- Appeal to the senses. Add fragrant flowers and herbs to smell, a windchime to listen to, soft plants to touch, and interesting foliage to look at. This will all help to ground you in the space.
- Personalize it. All secret gardens are deeply personal and very much reflect the gardener who created them. Add the plants you love, hang garden art, and make it a place just for you.
More Gardens to Inspire You

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
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Stephanie Rose

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August 18, 2025
Herbal Guide to Echinacea: Benefits, Uses, & Harvesting – Garden Therapy

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The common cold doesn’t stand a chance against echinacea. This powerful plant has been used for centuries to combat viruses and bacteria, and remains one of the most influential herbal plants today. Learn all about echinacea benefits and uses, and how you can use echinacea to boost your immunity, straight from the source.

Echinacea would win an herbal popularity contest in a landslide. It’s quickly made its way into the mainstream, becoming a pill or tincture you can buy at the same time you grab your milk and bread from the grocery store.

But I wonder how many people know that echinacea is actually a powerful plant with a deep history. Or one that seed-eating birds and pollinating insects love to snack on and visit. Echinacea will grow on poor land, survive droughts, and still produce long-blooming flowers.

As you can tell, I’m a big echinacea fan.

Today, I’m going to dive into why we know echinacea as an immune system powerhouse, and how you can utilize it to its fullest strength this cold and flu season.

This guide will focus on the medicinal species, but there are nine different echinacea species.

Meet the Echinacea Flower

Also known as the coneflower, echinacea is part of the Asteraceae family (the daisy family). It’s Native to North America, including Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana, where it grows in prairies and amongst woodlands.

Echinacea are distinct from other daisy-like flowers thanks to their large, cone-like center. They have a bristly center and hairy leaves, giving them a notable texture. They grow as perennials with a long tap root.

There are nine echinacea species, but only three are used medicinally. The Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) and Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved coneflower) are the most popular medicinal species, while the Echinacea pallida (pale purple coneflower) is used by some.

While there are some beautiful hybrid varieties, like ‘Sunset’ or ‘Sunrise’, I wouldn’t consider them to be medicinal. They might have different constituents in them and have been bred for different qualities.

To learn more about how to grow and care for these wonderful plants, both medicinally and as ornamentals, be sure to check out my echinacea growing guide.

Echinacea flowers typically bloom for several weeks.

History of Echinacea

The word echinacea comes from the Greek word for echinos, which can translate to sea urchin or hedgehog…two very different creatures! In this case, it refers to the prickly and spikey cone head.

Echinacea has been traditionally used by the North American Plains People for over 400 years, and we have them to thank for the incredible popularity of this herb. They called the plant elk root after they observed sick and injured elk eating it.

The indigenous people used echinacea for many reasons, but most notably used it to treat cold symptoms (unlike today, where we more often use it to prevent cold symptoms). Other notable uses include helping to dispel mucus, relieve insect and snake bites, alleviate burns, and assist with dental cavities.

By the late 1800s, echinacea was the most common herb used in the US. It was slowly introduced to Europe and European-American physicians, where it continues to be used today.

Native to North America, echinacea is an important herb for indigenous people.

Echinacea Benefits

Echinacea is marketed as THE cold and flu herb, and for good reason. It’s known first and foremost as a detoxicant for the circulatory, lymphatic and respiratory systems. AKA it’s an immunity superhero.

Echinacea is antimicrobial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory, working best as an anti-viral. When echinacea makes direct contact with a virus, it helps to strengthen the mucus and prevent the virus from going deeper into the issue. It has a notable tingling sensation.

Echinacea works best at addressing a virus ahead of time. People can use it when they first feel the slightest symptoms or have been around someone who was sick to prevent a virus from getting worse. However, it’s less helpful at treating colds once established.

Many more studies need to be done on echinacea and its use. Some studies show how well it works, while others are inconclusive. But there are so many factors to consider, including what species they use, what part of the plant, what dosage, etc. I trust in the knowledge passed down from generations and the firsthand experience of its effectiveness!

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Inhibitor

Echinacea is known as an anti-inflammatory, being used to reduce swelling and help with chronic pain. It’s also high in antioxidants, most notably in the flowers and leaves. It’s also been suggested that these antioxidants can help to improve blood sugar.

One lesser-known use can be dated back to the indigenous people and their use of echinacea to treat snake bites. Echinacea can inhibit hyaluronidase enzymes, which are known to break down hyaluronic acid in our connective tissues and skin. Echinacea can prevent this from happening, helping to hold onto that hyaluronic acid in our tissues and prevent the spread of the enzymes.

How to Use Echinacea

Echinacea is known first and foremost as an immune booster and is readily available in Western medicine. You can get it in drops, tinctures, syrups, and pills, all available at your local grocery store or herbal store.

I went to this amazing talk on the medicinal properties of plants, and during the discussion, they noted that these commercial products aren’t as effective as utilizing the actual plant.

Why? There is so much that we still don’t know about how these plants work together. It may not be just the medicinal property that we need, but a constituent in the plant that helps to activate the medicinal effect on people. And they haven’t figured out that puzzle piece yet.

So while you can take echinacea as an herbal supplement and suck on the lozenges when you have a cold, it won’t have the same effect as growing the medicinal plant and making a tincture yourself.

There are many opinions on which type of echinacea is better to use, and whether the roots or the fresh juice of the flowers and leaves is better. Most people use either the juice of the aerial parts of E. purpurea or the root of E. angustifolia.

I prefer to use the root of E. purpurea. For me, it is the strongest and grows best in my garden, but determine what is best for yourself and what’s the most readily available in your area.

If you’re buying echinacea commercially, be sure to purchase from reputable brands. Multiple studies (like this one or this one) have shown that some brands contain very little or even no echinacea. It should make a tingling sensation on the tongue. If it doesn’t, it’s not potent enough to be of use.

Some people prefer to use the aerial parts of the plant, while others prefer the root.

Harvesting Echinacea Sustainably

Since echinacea prefers prairies and open grassland, it is considered at-risk due to habitat loss from agricultural use. It’s best to grow your own rather than forage for it.

If harvesting roots, they’re best harvested in the fall after the first frost. You can then dry the root for use.

To make juice from the leaves and flowers, they’re best harvested during the summer when they are in full bloom. If using the flowers and leaves, they’re best used fresh as they lose potency when dried.

Only harvest organically grown echinacea if you plan to use it for medicinal purposes.

Medicinal Uses

The roots are commonly used to make a tincture, just in time for cold and flu season. I explain exactly how to make your own tincture in this post.

Use tinctures to help boost your immunity. Make direct contact with the back of your throat, making sure you feel that tingling sensation to know that it’s working.

You can also use the plant topically by grinding the herb and mixing it with water before placing it on the affected area.

Of course, echinacea is also a very popular herbal tea. I explain how to make it in a tea in this post.

Note that echinacea has shown signs of potential efficacy when overused. Take echinacea for 10-14 days and then take a short break.

Echinacea should cause a tingling sensation when ingested orally.

Other Non-Medicinal Uses

I also wanted to shout out some of the other ways that I use echinacea besides its medicinal properties and as an ornamental garden plant. I love to dry the flower petals and use them in soap. They retain their purple colour beautifully and are always easy to dry.

I also use the flower heads in dried arrangements. The petals will curl and look nice on their own, but you can also pull them off and embrace the spike cone in the center.

Dried echinacea petals are used to decorate the top of this swirl soap.

I’ve covered a lot here on echinacea, so I’ll leave it at that! Be sure to check out my growing guide or tincture guide for more information. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

More Helpful Tips for Echinacea

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.

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Stephanie Rose

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August 13, 2025
11 of the Best Salve and Balm Recipes for Your Skin – Garden Therapy

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Is there a better way to keep our skin moisturized than using all-natural ingredients? Herbal ingredients can soothe and heal our skin, and you might not even be aware of them! Switching from your regular drugstore moisturizers to these DIY salve and balm recipes might be the solution you have been looking for.

Plenty of these salve and balm recipes have become staples in my life. If the product is not all natural, I’m not interested! That’s why I created these salve and balm recipes to help tackle some of my everyday needs.

If you’re looking for a DIY salve recipe to help heal and nourish your skin or a balm to add to your self-care routine, you have come to the right place!

I’m always looking for ways to use plants from my garden in my daily products, which is why I have compiled a list of salve and balm recipes that do just that.

Jump ahead to…

I use mostly glass jars and metal tins to hold my salves and balms.

What’s the Difference Between a Salve and Balm?

Salves can soothe really intense dry skin. More often than not, they’re made using herbal-infused oils, so they hold the powerful healing properties of plants. For the most part, a balm has the same ingredients as a salve.

The main difference between the two is that balms have a higher beeswax content giving them a harder, thicker consistency. This gives balm the ability to hold its firmer shape. Some also include body butters as a type of balm, making them smoother than a salve.

How Do You Use Salves and Balms?

Salves and balms work best when applied to clean, dry skin. Make sure to wash the area you’re applying your salve or balm to, especially if it is to help heal a specific injury. Dry skin is the best for application because it will allow it to absorb into the skin better.

If applying to a wound, be sure to wash your skin beforehand.

12 Salve and Balm Recipes to Try

If you’re seeking a new, natural way to moisturize and heal your skin, here are some amazing recipes for almost any situation!

1. Homemade Hand Salve

Help fight dry cracked hands with this homemade hand salve recipe. This salve is made of all-natural ingredients, including olive oil infused with calendula and grapeseed oil infused with lavender.

Perfect for someone who struggles with dry, callused hands, this recipe can help not only moisturize but help heal your hands. Apply this salve daily on clean dry skin and feel it absorb and nourish your skin!

Taking a minute to use this hand salve daily will make a world of a difference to your skin’s appearance and health.

2. Beeswax Massage Balm

Looking for a little self-care? Try adding this beeswax massage balm infused with rose to your massage for a relaxing floral experience. This massage balm absorbs into your skin and continues to nourish the skin long after the massage.

Not only is this a great addition to your own relaxation, but this is also a perfect personal gift for someone close to you! The herbal properties of the plants also make the balm good for the topical relief of pains and aches, making it ideal for massages.

Roses not only smell lovely but are actually a well-known skincare herb.

3. Dandelion Salve

You read that right! The main focus in this salve is dandelion. Most people have a common misconception about dandelions, viewing them as pesky weeds. But, the dandelion actually has many health benefits!

This dandelion salve is an all-natural recipe with anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties to help soothe your skin. A great alternative for those with sensitive skin, this salve moisturizes and prevents irritation by-products with unknown chemicals.

Make sure to use dandelions free of any chemicals for this recipe.

4. Healing Cuticle Balm

Have you ever realized the skin around your nails splitting because they’re so dry from constantly washing your hands? This cuticle balm does wonders for cuticle care and works great if you’re looking for a solution for dry skin becoming sore and tender.

Not only will it feel way better to have moisturized cuticles, but having healthy cuticles prevents a possible infection from bacteria getting into torn skin. This balm softens your skin and speeds up the healing process, as well as helps regenerate new healthy skin that will be less susceptible to splitting in the future!

The balm will soften the cuticles, preventing you from picking at them,

5. Calendula Salve

No plant is better suited for the skin than calendula. My go-to skincare herb, I grow plenty of it in my garden to use in recipes like this calendula salve.

Calendula is known for healing wounds, used to heal cuts, abrasions, burns, rashes, bruises, sprains, and sunburns. Once you apply the salve to your skin, it will work to heal tissue and speed up the overall healing process.

This salve is something I always have on hand and use it to treat most wounds and injuries.

Your feet go through so much in the day. Why not treat them with a warm bath and a soothing peppermint foot balm! Not only does this balm help moisturize, but it also repairs the skin. In addition, the peppermint in the balm acts as a natural pain relief which I know I need after a long day!

Try preparing your feet for this balm with a foot scrub first, it will help get rid of all the dead skin cells on your feet, leaving them soft and smooth and allowing the oils to soak into your skin.

7. Turmeric and Cayenne Pain Relief Balm

A mix of cayenne and turmeric powder works together in this balm to create an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect that also moisturizes the skin.

I know what you’re thinking…is the turmeric going to stain my skin? Since turmeric can stain, I recommend wearing similar colours when using this pain relief balm to be safe. As for your skin, if you rub it in well enough, it will simply create a nice natural glow!

I recommend applying this balm on any sore body parts up to 4 times daily for some gentle relief!

I use this pain relief balm mid-day when I’m still working away and before I can relax in the bath,

8. After Sun Salve

We all love spending a day in the sun, but sometimes you get a little too much and end up with an uncomfortable burn. Don’t you worry! Use this after-sun salve on your skin to soothe, moisturize and heal your skin after a day in the sun.

The aloe gel, coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter work together to soothe your burn. Not only does it feel great and give you relief, but it also smells amazing!

This salve uses aloe vera gel, a well-known ingredient in fighting sunburns.

9. Herbal Healing Salve

This all-purpose healing salve has so many healing properties it makes a great staple in your medicine cabinet. It contains calendula, which can help with healing wounds, and acne, and even has SPF properties.

Also included in the balm, lavender adds antifungal and cleansing properties. Not only will the calendula help heal your wounds, but the lavender will help prevent further risk of infection!

10. Activated Charcoal Drawing Salve

Here to salve the day! This activated charcoal drawing salve will draw out toxins from your skin. I use it to soothe insect bites, blisters, and minor infections. Along with the activated charcoal, this salve has plenty of ingredients with healing and moisturizing properties, like jojoba oil and rosehip seed oil.

Try this salve recipe out the next time you get some really bad bug bites, and see the healing work overnight!

The activated charcoal and bentonite clay are very good at sucking up toxins from the body.

11. Dog Paw Balm

We have so many balms and moisturizers for ourselves. Why not get some for our furry friends? This dog paw balm is a great all-natural moisturizer that you can feel confident and safe using on your dog.

Dogs’ paws go through a lot in the day, becoming dry, cracked, and more prone to infection. This balm will help reduce that risk! It will also soften the pads of their paws and make them feel just as good as you do when you apply any balm to your dry skin.

Yes, your dog will lick it. But you know it’s safe for them if they do.

12. Tattoo Balm

Looking for a good moisturizer to put on your freshly inked skin? This herbal tattoo balm not only helps keep your tattoo moisturized during the healing process but also makes it heal faster!

What makes this balm different from your ordinary lotion is the herbal properties of medicinal plants working to heal the skin. In addition, balms are thicker than lotions; they will stay on the skin longer and really soak in, which is essential for healing a tattoo. Balms away!

I used this balm on my shoulder tattoo, and it made a huge difference.

Frequently Asked Questions About Salves and Balms

Is salve a moisturizer?

Salve works as a moisturizer. However, unlike liquid moisturizers, salves are oil-based, thicker, and penetrate more deeply into the skin.

Is salve good for acne?

Not all salves are good for acne. However, if you find a salve with the right ingredient, it can help with acne. For example, my favourite herbal healing salve listed above can be a great option! Just make sure to spot test the area first to avoid unwanted irritation.

Let me know which of these recipes you try below! They’re all healing staples in my life, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

More Herbal Recipes to Try

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Stephanie Rose

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September 3, 2024
Aloe Vera Benefits: How to Use Aloe Vera for Sunburns
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Aloe vera is one of the true super plants. This plant is perhaps best revered for its ability to relieve pain from a sunburn. While this is certainly one of the uses, aloe can also do so much more. Read to learn about using aloe vera for sunburns, other aloe vera benefits, AND aloe vera plant care.

When I was a kid (a freckly, redheaded kid at that), I fondly remember visits to my grandmother’s place at the beach. She lived in a warm city where the sun shone relentlessly in the summer despite the fact that it was windy enough to keep us cool.

This meant more hours of fun in the sun, which was more than my skin could reasonably handle. Even when I did put on sunscreen and reapply regularly, the sun would win out by the end of the day. I would be left with those bright pink shoulders that radiated heat up to my ears!

With one aloe vera plant, you can get many sunburn treatments.

That was when my brilliant grandmother would cut off a little piece of her aloe vera plant, split it open with a knife, and apply it to my shoulders. It stung just a bit right at first but then cooled the sunburn down. The relief came almost instantly, and when I woke up the next morning, my shoulders were pink but not inflamed and not radiating heat like the sun.

That’s because aloe vera is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and it is most potent when applied directly from the plant. Since then, I’ve always kept at least one aloe vera plant growing in my house and have had some that have grown and provided me with the healing gel for many years.

Here’s a taste of what we’ll be covering today…

The main draw to aloe vera is its antiinflammatory properties.

The Quick History of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is one of the oldest plants on record to be noted for its healing properties. This plant is native to eastern and southern Africa—even Cleopatra and Nefertiti used it to help maintain their youthful appearance. Due to its highly adaptable nature, it has since been cultivated around the world.

There are many different kinds of aloe plants, but aloe vera refers to Aloe barbadensis.

Aloe Vera Plant Care: How to Grow Aloe Vera

Aloe vera, a succulent with thick, gray-green leaves that have serrated edges, is very easy to grow. Simply treat it like you would any indoor succulent or cactus, except that it is much more forgiving of low-light conditions.

To keep your aloe very happy, plant it in well-draining soil that is preferably equal parts potting soil and sand. The plant likes tight spaces and has shallow roots, so plant it in a pot that’s just big enough not to tip over from the weight of the plant.

Aloe plants prefer bright, indirect light. Keeping them in sustained direct light can cause the leaves to dry out too much and turn yellow.

As for water, aloe likes to have a good, thorough drink every couple of weeks with their soil drying thoroughly in between waterings.

If you tend to keep the soil moist and begin to notice brown or limp leaves, your aloe may have root rot. Simply back off the watering a little and let its soil dry out before watering again.

Check out this post for a full, detailed guide on how to care for aloe.

In my climate, I grow aloe vera as a houseplant.

Aloe Vera Benefits and Side Effects

In addition to its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera is also used as a powerful laxative. However, as a laxative, it can be too effective. Aloe vera can cause intestinal cramping and griping if you take too much of it, so be conservative.

Additional internal benefits of using aloe include:
- Aiding indigestion
- Reduce inflammation
- Prevent and reduce the size of kidney stones
Externally, aloe can be used to help alleviate sunburns, wounds, frostbite, dermatitis, skin disorders, and burns from radiation therapy.

If you have lots of burns to treat, putting your aloe vera gel in a bottle is a great idea.

Different Uses For Aloe Vera

Aloe vera truly is a super plant! Here are a few powerful ways to use it.
- Relieves the pain from sunburns. Perhaps the most widely known use for aloe vera, this plant helps cool the skin and speeds up healing. It can also help reverse sunburn blisters if applied before they develop. Keep reading on to find out more.
- Relieves the itch from bug bites. The plant’s anti-inflammatory properties help relieve sunburns and the itching, swelling, and redness caused by bug bites.
Aloe is naturally anti-bacterial and contains antiseptics.
- Helps to cleanse and speed up the healing of wounds. Aloe is anti-bacterial and contains antiseptics which help clean cuts and wounds by killing bacterial and fungi. Aloe also helps promote quicker healing of wounds.
- Cleanse and moisturize skin. Aloe’s pH level closely matches our skin, enabling it to gently (but thoroughly) cleanse our face while also closing pores and tone skin. Its anti-inflammatory qualities can also help prevent breakouts. Try it in this DIY liquid hand soap.
- Helps reduce visibility of wrinkles, stretch marks, and scars. Aloe was called the “plant of immortality” by the Ancient Egyptians and helps promote skin tissue repair and healing.
How to Use Aloe Vera Plant For a Sunburn

The healing power of plants cannot be denied, especially when something as simple as an aloe vera plant can provide great relief to something so painful: sunburned skin. A classic use of aloe (and probably one of the most common aloe vera benefits), this sunburn remedy is one that I have been using for as many years as I can remember.

To use aloe vera gel on a sunburn is simple.

Cut a piece of aloe vera off of the plant with a sharp knife. Cut the tip off of one of the leaves; it can be as large as the whole leaf or as small as just part of the tip.

Place the cut piece on paper towel and let sit from 10 minutes to allow the dark yellow latex to drain. After 10 minutes, you can wipe the sides of the cut which will remove the latex from the inner filet. The latex can stain skin and clothes and can cause skin reactions in sensitive people.

Don’t forget to drain the latex from the aloe before you start using it.

Pro Tip: If you cut a section of a leaf off at an angle (and don’t cut the whole leaf off), the end of the leaf will seal up from the latex (that’s what it’s for!) and it will be available for cutting another time again.

Then, take a paring knife and split the leaf in half so that the gel inside has the most surface area. Take the leaf and rub it directly on the burn.

Note: de sure to test a small patch of skin before applying it en masse. Some people have allergies to aloe vera straight from the plant and you don’t want to cause a worse reaction!

Caution: do not use aloe vera on deep wounds.

You can also put the leaves in the fridge and use them as a cold gel to soothe the burn. It will feel good but will not add any additional healing properties so this isn’t an essential step.

Compost the leaves when you’re finished applying the gel to your skin and repeat every six hours if you’re still looking for relief from a nasty sunburn. Please note that this is for a typical sunburn. Serious burns with blisters, a headache, or severe pain should be seen by a doctor.

By putting the aloe in the fridge, the cool gel will feel nice on your skin.

Preventing Sunburns

Luckily, now that I am older and wiser, I no longer burn. Not because my skin has changed, but because I know the secret tips to keep my skin healthy:
- Staying out of the sun between 11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. on hot days
- Wearing long-sleeved clothing and a wide-brim sun hat
- Always wearing sunscreen on exposed skin (even if it’s cloudy out)
For more tips on sun safety, please check out this article where I tell you all my must-know hacks and tips.

Preventing sunburns rather than treating them is much better for your skin.

FAQ About Using Aloe Vera

Is the yellow liquid in aloe vera bad for skin?

The yellow liquid that comes out of aloe is the plant’s latex. It can cause reactions to people with sensitive skin, as well as can stain the skin and your clothes. Before applying the aloe plant to your skin, you want to leave the aloe cutting on a paper towel for ten minutes to let the yellow latex drain out.

Can aloe vera reverse sun damage?

Aloe vera is amazing for the skin, helping to heal burns and wounds, clear acne, moisturize skin, and more. It can also help to reduce the visibility of scars and wrinkles, which can be a side effect of too much sun exposure.

What is the best aloe vera for sunburn?

While there are many aloe plants, aloe vera refers to the Aloe barbadensis plant. If you don’t have an aloe plant and are looking for the gel to apply to your skin, look for pure aloe vera gel (I usually shy away from that dyed green stuff).

I hope that this information about aloe vera and my instructions on using it for sunburns help you as much as they have helped me for all the years that I got sunburned. Now that you know some aloe vera benefits, I hope you’ll try growing one of your own (it’s great for green thumbs and black thumbs alike!).

More Summer Sun Recipes from the Garden
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Stephanie Rose

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July 17, 2024
The Celestial Garden: A Guide to Planting by the Signs – Garden Therapy

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Your zodiac signs can do more than rule your destiny. They can also control the outcome of your garden! For centuries, people have been using the moon phases and zodiac signs to govern when to do certain garden activities. Here’s how we can utilize those traditional practices in a modern garden by planting by the signs.

Even if you don’t believe that the time of year you’re born influences your personality or destiny, chances are you still know your zodiac sign. Who isn’t tempted to check their horoscope when it pops up?

While I can’t fully convince myself that the zodiac plays a part in my day-to-day life, our ancestors have been using astrology to help them make decisions about their gardens. From the best time of year to harvest wheat to when to expect the first frost, gardening by the signs was essential to making informed predictions.

I’m thrilled to share some great insights from Jane Hawley Stevens’ book, The Celestial Garden: Growing Herbs, Vegetables, and Flowers in Sync with the Moon and Zodiac.

Celestial gardening is fascinating because you can take as little or as much from it as you want. You can use it practically to organize your gardening activities and energy or to decide what and when to plant.

Let’s dive into gardening by the signs!

Reprinted with permission from The Celestial Garden: Growing Herbs, Vegetables, and Flowers in Sync with the Moon and Zodiac. By Jane Hawley Stevens © 2023. Published by Chelsea Green Publishing.

What is Planting by the Signs?

I’ve talked a little bit about planting by the signs in my post about moon gardens. While I talked about how to plant a garden that glows in the moonlight, I couldn’t help but dive into moon folklore as well.

Planting based on the moon cycle is a very old practice and hasn’t really been proven or disproven. The moon and the sun have long been a way to tell time and keep track of the days.

But you can take moon gardening even further. It’s a fact that the moon controls the tides, but some believe it can also affect the amount of moisture in the ground and, therefore, water intake in plants.

In every monthly cycle the moon completes circling around the earth, the moon will pass through all 12 zodiac signs. Each of the signs will be in effect for a few days, in which case it’s a good idea to do certain gardening activities.

“The premise of celestial gardening is to plant, transplant, and propagate under moist influences—Water and Earth signs—and to cultivate, harvest, and dehydrate for storage under dry influences—Air and Fire signs,” says Jane.

You can use the signs to help guide you when to do what in your garden. “Planning activities by the Moon’s influence helps to organize a schedule: when to envision new beginnings, start new projects, expand, then wrap up old projects,” says Jane.

Even if you’re not directly planting or harvesting, you can do many gardening tasks every day.

Practicing Planting by the Signs

There are a few ways to practice gardening by the signs. The moon will go through each of the 12 zodiac signs throughout the year, spending a month in each zodiac. For instance, a Virgo occurs between August 23 and September 22.

This can give you an overarching idea of what the month is like, but you can also apply this day by day.

As Jane explains, “The moon orbits around the Earth once a month, passing in front of all twelve astrological signs during that time, changing its zodiac sign every two and a half to three days.”

This can tell you which days are best for planting, watering, pruning…you name it! If you want to know what zodiac the moon is currently in, I recommend downloading an app such as Moon and Garden.

There are 12 zodiac signs. Photo provided by Jane Hawley Stevens.

The Four Elements

Each of the 12 zodiac signs also falls under an element: earth, air, fire, and water.

Earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are great for planting. They encourage root growth, which also makes them ideal for transplanting. Fertilize and water during this time.

Air signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are considered barren. During this time, you shouldn’t do any planting or transplanting. Instead, you want to use this power as a tool, weeding and pruning. It’s also a great time for harvesting.

Fire signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius encourage fruit and seed production. Also barren, you can use this time for pest and weed control.

Water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are great for leaf and above-ground growth. Feel free to plant and transplant during this time and to water deeply and fertilize.

This picture shows the different signs and their elements. Illustration by Jerry Chapa.

The Three Modes

A sign can be described as a cardinal, fixed, or mutable sign. As a cardinal sign, they are a symbol of a fresh beginning. These signs represent the beginning of a new season.

Fixed signs do not bring in any more energy; instead, they sustain what is already happening. They are fixed in the middle of the season.

Mutable signs are at the end of the season, changing from one to another. They’re flexible and can easily shift.

The moon’s position plays a big role in planting by the signs.

The 12 Zodiac Signs for Planting

Now that you know a little bit about how much goes into using the signs, here’s what each of the 12 zodiac signs represents and how you can use them to guide your planting and gardening.

Aries

Element: Fire

Sign type: cardinal (ushers in spring)

Activities: cultivating, pest control, weeding, harvesting fruit and root crops

Zodiac Plants: cabbages, peppers, ginger, nettles, St. John’s wort

Aries, the ram, is a barren sign but encourages quick maturity. So, if you need a final push for a plant, you can use this to your advantage.

“Aries is the ultimate initiator, bringing in spring with the energy of Fire, as in the extended day lengths of spring,” says Jane.

Nettle is very nutritious and loses its “sting” after it has wilted.

Taurus

Element: Earth

Sign type: fixed (mid-spring)

Activities: planting cut flowers and leafy vegetables, planting root vegetables, transplanting, composting

Zodiac Plants: apples, grapes, peas, potatoes, spinach, feverfew, mallows

Taurus is one of the most fertile months outside of the water signs. It’s a great time for planting root vegetables, as it encourages sturdy and short growth.

Jane says, “Taurus, the bull or cow, represents the middle of spring, with seeds established and getting on their way (depending on your zone). A Taurus Moon fosters material comfort and stability.”

Feverfew is a well-known herb for treating headaches.

Gemini

Element: Air

Sign type: mutable (finishes spring)

Activities: cultivating, weeding, mowing, pest control, pruning, harvesting fruit and root crops

Zodiac Plants: carrots, daffodils, lily of the valley, oats, calendula, lavender, dill, marjoram, parsley

Represented as the twins, it’s not recommended to plant or transplant under this sign. Use this time to care for your garden or focus on communications like Jane suggests: “Gemini, an Air sign, is all about communication and gathering information.”

Daffodils are always a cheery sight for sore eyes in early spring.

Cancer

Element: Water

Sign type: cardinal (ushers in summer)

Activities: watering, planting seeds, transplanting, irrigation, fertilizing

Zodiac Plants: sap-rich plants, aloe, blue vervain, lemon balm, lily, peppermint, sage

The most fertile of all the signs, cancer (the crab) is favourable for the growth of nearly all plants. “Cancer, as a cardinal Water sign, is the number one choice for starting seeds,” says Jane. “Cancer holds the momentum to create and nourish life.”

Aloe is an amazing skincare plant, especially in treating sunburns.

Leo

Element: Fire

Sign type: fixed (mid-summer)

Activities: weeding, pruning, controlling unwanted growth, pest control, harvesting herbs

Zodiac Plants: citrus, corn, palm trees, peppers, celandine, marigold, motherwort, sunflower, hawthorns

Leo, the lion, is one of the least fertile signs. But it’s a powerful time to handle noxious weeds. Jane says, “A Leo Moon brings the enthusiasm of Fire with the sustained energy of a fixed sign. Leos integrated Fire into itself and can use its sunny personality to move a project forward.”

Virgo

Element: Earth

Sign type: mutable (finishes summer)

Activities: potting plants, cleaning and organizing your garden, ornamental gardening

Zodiac Plants: root vegetables, small bright-coloured flowers, eucalyptus, fennel, lavender, myrtle

Virgo, the virgin, is the only earth sign considered barren (she is the virgin, after all). “Virgo brings in beauty and love in its changeable forms,” says Jane. “Use this power to change your surroundings or partnerships to enhance beauty.”

Libra

Element: Air

Sign type: cardinal (ushers in fall)

Activities: flower planting, harvesting medicinal herbs, planting full bulbs

Zodiac Plants: broccoli, eggplant, juniper, flowers, elderberry, lilac, mint, parsley, yarrow

Out of all the earth signs, libra (the scales) is the most fertile and is the best sign for planting flowers.

“A Libra Moon is a great time for throwing parties or planning a gathering in your garden to foster community and partnerships,” says Jane. “Harvest your crops, prepare them into delicious and beautifully displayed dishes to share.”

Yarrow comes in many colours beyond the traditional white.

Scorpio

Element: Water

Sign type: fixed (mid-fall)

Activities: planting, transplanting, irrigating, harvesting medicinal herbs, canning and preserving

Zodiac Plants: bushy trees, mushrooms, aloe, basil, ginseng, wormwood

You can’t go wrong planting in Scorpio, the scorpion, as it’s the second-best all-purpose planting sign. Just don’t harvest roots during this time!

“Scorpio holds deep emotions and is meticulous with details. Scorpio, as a Water sign, is a good time for planting seeds,” says Jane.

You can grow basil indoors or outside during the warm months.

Sagittarius

Element: Fire

Sign type: mutable (finishes fall)

Activities: planting fruit trees, drying fruits and vegetables, pruning

Zodiac Plants: ash trees, asparagus, beets, oak trees, rhubarb, tomatoes, hyssop, clematis, borage, horsetail, nutmeg, sage

Sagittarius, the archer, is one of the barren signs. During this time, it’s recommended to harvest with long-term storage in mind.

Jane says, “Sagittarius is a Fire sign and opens you to a continually adaptive view of things. This mutable sign’s keynote is observation.”

Even after they’re done blooming, clematis are still lovely to look at, thanks to their unique seed heads.

Capricorn

Element: Earth

Sign type: cardinal (ushers in winter)

Activities: plant root crops, fertilize, compost, tree and shrub planting, create paths and fences

Zodiac Plants: beets, parsnips, pines, willows, comfrey, onions, rosemary, rue, thyme

Represented as the goat, Capricorn is a notable planting sight. It’s great for root growth and planting herbs from seed.

“Capricorn is the cardinal Earth sign, a favourable sign for starting seeds, planting root crops (especially during the last quarter), and initiating garden and farm activities or other activities that build and control the material environment,” says Jane.

Aquarius

Element: Air

Sign type: fixed (mid-winter)

Activities: cultivation, weed control, pest control, harvesting

Zodiac Plants: most fruit trees, flowers on all plants, orchids

Aquarius is known as the water bearer and is not to be confused as a water sign. It’s a good time for cultivating and weeding.

“Aquarius, governed by Air, is intellectual but fixed in opinion,” says Jane. “This Moon would be a good time to hoe your garden while expanding your thoughts to craft your position on a subject you need to defend.”

Pisces

Element: Water

Sign type: mutable (finishes winter)

Activities: planting, root growth, watering, fertilizing, making jams and jellies

Zodiac Plants: tulips, leaves of all plants, water plants, basil, lemon balm, water lilies

Pictured as the fish, Pisces is a great time for planting and transplanting, encouraging root growth. “Pisces is a mutable Water sign and governs emotions,” says Jane. “Pisces is also a good planting sign, favouring leafy growth. It is deep and thoughtful, like the fish in the ocean.”

Lemon balm has antiviral properties, making it a go-to for treating cold sores.

And that covers the basics about planting by the signs! If you want to learn more about using the moon and zodiac signs as guidance for your garden, I highly recommend you check out Jane’s book, The Celestial Garden.

Quotes from Jane Hawley Steven’s new book The Celestial Garden (Chelsea Green Publishing December 2023) were printed with permission from the publisher.

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Stephanie Rose

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January 22, 2024