THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Strawberry

Lisa Karen Miller

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

William Morris    

At his countryside home in Oxfordshire, England, William Morris often observed thrushes stealing the strawberries from his kitchen garden.  The 19^th century poet, artist, novelist, printer, and textile designer found inspiration for his various art forms everywhere.  His design called “The Strawberry Thief” became very popular for curtains, furniture covers, and wallpaper.

          It is still in production today.

          His maxim above came to be inextricably linked with the British Arts and Crafts movement.

          My very first job was picking strawberries – 25 cents a quart.  And as many berries as I could eat, of course.  When I see the prices at the grocery or farmer’s market today, I am retroactively thankful for how many I got for free.

          You can eat the tiny wild strawberries that spring up in your lawn only if you don’t treat it with herbicides or pesticides.  Often evergreen in Kentucky, they are rich in iron and potassium, and are sometimes used to flavor preserves (of other fruits) and liqueurs.

          Strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges. In autumn, the leaves turn red and scented, so they can be used in potpourri.  

          In art and literature, they symbolize love. They were served to newlyweds with the cream and blue flowers of borage.  Growing borage next to strawberries in the garden will encourage larger fruit.

          Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, filled his famous garden with strawberries in the hope of winning the hand (and the adjacent throne) of Elizabeth I.  His rival, Sir Walter Raleigh, was partial to a strawberry cordial, made with a gallon of strawberries in a pint of aqua vitae (whiskey), sweetened with sugar.

          Virgil called strawberries “the children of the earth,” though actual children were told to beware of the serpents that might be hiding among the leaves.

          Culpeper suggests bathing inflamed eyes with strawberry juice.  A decoction of leaves and roots in wine would cool the liver, spleen, and blood.  Other herbals suggested that the acid in strawberries could whiten teeth and remove freckles. The slightly astringent leaves make a good gargle for mouth ulcers and poultices for wounds.

          In a Cherokee legend, the very first couple were having a heated argument. It was only quelled when the Creator sent down some strawberries.  They were reconciled, and the human race survived.

          Enjoy strawberry time while it lasts.

© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller