Holiday Herb Words Unscrambled

By Pat Greathead

Did you get all of the herbs correct in the Holiday Herbs Word Scramble posted on Christmas Day? Below are the answers to the scramble along with some of the symbolism associated with each of these herbs.

The winner of the Word Scramble Contest is Belinda Renno of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Belinda posted her correct answers on December 25^th at 7:44AM. Congratulations to Belinda! She will receive a nice assortment of gift items from The Herb Society of America’s Thyme and Again Gift Shoppe. Belinda says she enjoys gardening and reading the HSA blog.

Now….here are the answers to the Holiday Herb Word Scramble and their associated meanings.

1. neip – pine – pity
2. sabli – basil – love, good wishes
3. decra – cedar – strength
4. eru – rue – disdain, grace, clear vision
5. wye – yew – sorrow
6. esor – rose – love
7. yiv – ivy – fidelity, marriage, I have one true heart
8. gaes – sage – esteem, wisdom, immortality
9. intm – mint – virtue, warmth of feeling
10. aby – bay – success, glory
11. lolyh – holly – foresight
12. mtyhe – thyme – courage, activity
13. yaeplsr – parsley – friendship, gratitude
14. eacitts – statice – never ceasing remembrance
15. yamtscor – costmary – fidelity
16. dalgmiro – marigold – grief, contempt, jealousy, disdain
17. lemtry – myrtle – love, peace and prosperity
18. sepycrs – cypress – death, mourning
19. ooxbodw – boxwood – stoicism
20. tteeilosm – mistletoe – I surmount difficulties
21. smorreay – rosemary – remembrance, love
22. mowwdroo – wormwood – safe travels, absence
23. aalldnceu – calendula – health
24. jamorram – marjoram – happiness, blushes, joy
25. tlaanions – santolina – great virtue, avoids evil

The herb meanings come from two classic books, which are available online.

Mayo, Sarah C Edgarton. The flower vase; containing the language of flowers, and their poetic sentiment. 1850. Available at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101068142429&view=1up&seq=159

Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers. 1846-1901. Available at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31591/31591-h/31591-h.htm

Happy New Year to all of our blog readers.

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Pat Greathead is a very active Life Member of The Herb Society of America and the Wisconsin Unit.  She gardens in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.