Bee Friendly Garden Garnish 'The Bees are glad the livelong day For lilacs in their beauty blow.' Dylan Thomas You don't need a large garden to grow your own cocktail cabinet. A sunny window sill, a balcony with containers, a patio or garden all can provide scented choices for gin cocktails to make and to garnish. The sun loving Mediterranean herbs such as Lavender, Rosemary, scented Geraniums and Sage provide for many months of the year. Whilst shadier spots welcome Mint, Basil. Lemon Verbena, Borage and Lemon balm. Edible flowers which can be grown in pots such as Nasturtiums, Dianthus, Jasmine, Cornflowers and Honey Suckle bring gorgeous colour to any cocktail. Why not grow some garnish and save...
One of our favourite books is THE DRUNKEN BOTANIST by Amy Stewart. There is such joy in her writing about the plant world and all the plants that create the world's greatest drinks. Plants offer so much to gin enthusiasts and we think one of the most delectable botanical additions to a Gin Cocktail is Elderflower. The flat topped cluster of honey scented flowers make a remarkable liqueur and a superb cordial...or even champagne. And we can make it at home as the plant is a classic hedgerow tree found in gardens, and urban wasteland alike ready to come into bloom as we move from May to June. So here is a small Welsh Sisters guide to gathering and making Elderflower...
Traditional May Day Celebrations in Wales Calan Mai is the celebration of coming summer and it is the time when traditionally farmers would turn their herd out to pasture. May Day itself is known as Calan Haf - the first day of summer - and it is the opposite end of the season to Calan Gaeaf - the first day of winter. The evenings before these days are also very important as they are two of the three nights of the year when the veil between the spirit world and our world is meant to be at its thinnest. The three spirit nights are called Ysbrydnos and they are April 30th, October 31st and St John's Eve on 24th June....
