Gypsophila elegans "Covent Garden"
Baby's Breath
This annual flower is often used in
water magick, probably because of its resemblance to sea foam, but as a
Venus plant it is most often utilized in love and garden magick (recipe
for a love charm). In the language of flowers, baby's breath represents
a pure heart or everlasting love. You can use it to attract the Fae to your
garden - it is said to be one of their favorites. Originally from
the Caucasus, this popular English garden variety has the largest flowers
of the white annual baby's breath. It's a wonderful filler
for bouquets, with a delicate fragrance of its own. It is associated with
Imbolgc. This variety makes excellent cut flowers, and it can also be dried
by hanging upside down (another good dried flower is winged
everlasting). top
How to grow Baby's Breath. Sow
seeds in prepared soil outside in early May. Barely cover, just water in, to
germinate in 21 days. Or sow in pots to germinate in 5 days at 55F/13C or 7-14
days at 65-70F/18-21C. Transplant to light soil and full sun up north
or partial shade down south. It blooms in 10 weeks after starting and will continue
flowering for 4-6 weeks. You can sow successively if you want more flowers
or cut back after the plant has finished blooming for another flush of flowers.
It gets 24 in tall. This flower is handy for hiding the fading leaves of bulbs.
top
Gypsophila elegans
Covent Garden Baby's Breath
400
seeds $3.00
Uses in
Witchcraft & Magic:
Love Magic
Water Magic
Faery
Herb
Venus Herb
4 parts rose petals
1 part orange peel
1/2 part carnation
petals
1 pinch baby's breath
Mix, tie up in pink cloth, and wear. Top
© 2004, 2017 Harold A. Roth;
No reproduction without permission