Ground Ivy
Given Name: Glechoma hederacea
Nicknames: alehoof, gill-go-by-the-ground
I don't understand you people! Up until recently, you were all about me.
In the first century CE, Galen, a Greek physician, wrote about my healing properties, settlers in North America planted me among garden herbs and you even used me to flavour ale before hops was introduced into England. And now? Let me put it in terms you'll understand: you don't return my emails, you've blocked my number and whenever I try to chat on Facebook, all of a sudden you're offline.
What's you're deal?
It's gotten so bad that you literally walk all over me. And when you do spot me in your lawns, you try to kill me! Although I don't usually mind a bit of shade, I don't like the shade you're casting on me. To tell you the truth, I'm pretty confused. Just look at me and you'll see how I feel. My long winding stems are all tangled up on the ground like my mess of emotions.
Where did all the love and respect go? Maybe you've gotten tired of me. Or maybe you've found somebody else. Don't pretend that you have no idea what I'm talking about! Do you think I haven't noticed way you look at periwinkle? You might think periwinkle's flowers are prettier than mine but it's not all about appearance. Take a whiff and a bite of periwinkle (yuk!) and you'll miss my strongly aromatic smell and leaves that can be dried to make a tasty tea reminiscent of black current. Sure periwinkle can carpet your garden like I did but can periwinkle clear your nose or help your cough? I sure can.
Did I mention that I'm related to peppermint?
You know that frosty character that you use for tea, toothpaste and even candy? If you examine me closely, I can prove it: like any other mint family plant my flowers are irregular and my leaves are opposite each other on a square stem. We're not really so different, my minty cousin and I. So why do you still care for peppermint but not for me?
No, I'm not trying to convince you to take me back. If you don't value me, I'm better off without you!
Sincerely,
Forsaken Ground Ivy
Resources:
Crawford, M. (2010). Creating a Forest Garden: Working with nature to grow edible crops. Cambridge: Green Books Ltd., pp 173-4.
Michael, P. (1986). A Country Harvest. London: Peerage Books, pp 91- 3.
Wood, M. (2008). The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, pp 280.
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