Tuesday 30 August 2011

Willy Nilly Growing Dill


Anthemum graveolens
 This morning I found this self-seeded Dill plant amongst the Zinnias at my allotment garden. 

During the Middle Ages Dill was prescribed as a protection against witchcraft and as an aid to digestion.  It is still used for the latter purpose for young children, in gripe water.

It is an aromatic annual that has blue-green thread-like foliage and umbels of summer flowers.  It is uniquely flavoured with an aniseed taste and is used  to flavour savoury and sweet dishes, particularly in Scandinavia and Europe.  It gives character to dill pickles, vinegar and potato salad.

If the seeds are infused it reduces flatulence, hiccups, stomach ache and insomnia.
Grow in a sunny spot in rich, well-drained soil, but keep it away from Fennel or it will cross-pollinate.

On a walk by the reservoir yesterday morning I noticed that the boats all had their covers on as protection overwinter, the clinking sound of the sailwires against the mast reminded me of the harbour at Blakeney where we visit during our Norfolk holidays.


Boats moored up at the sailing club by the reservoir



6 comments:

  1. Elaine - charming post. Boats to bed for winter which is galloping in.

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  2. Part of me looks forward to the winter season, and the other part dreads it.

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  3. I definitely feel the changing seasons but I'm in Holland. It is cold here.

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  4. i love the smell of dill. It pretty much has its way here in the Garden Spot. It attracts our black swallow tail butterflies where they lay their eggs and the caterpillar eat and grow fat. If dill keeps the witches away, then we are quite safe here.

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  5. Hmmm, someone does seem to have swiched the switched the switch for Autumn don't they? Ah I remember Blakeney and North Norfolk before it got all trendy (aka expensive!), having spent many, many caravan holidays in Hunstanton.

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  6. Me too, Rob, spent many happy hols there.

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