The humble dandelion with its white seeds that float away on a single puff is often considered to be a pesky weed, although its importance and place in history cannot be undervalued. As a distant cousin of the cheerful sunflower (both flowers belong to the same botanical class), the dandelion was believed to keep depression and sadness away. The name of this plant however is a very interesting one and has been directly derived from the Latin phrase ‘Dens Lionis’ or lion’s tooth, which refers to the leaves that have a rough jagged shape. Eventually, over the years the Latin phrase became ‘Dent-de-Lion’ in French and then ‘Dandelion’ in English...

Justicia Spicigera, also known as Muicle or the Mexican Honeysuckle, is a beautiful herb which has lovely orange or red tubular shaped flowers that add a tropical look to any garden. This plant which also goes by the name of the ‘Desert Honeysuckle’ or the ‘Firecracker Plant’ is one of those rare herbs which can withstand intense heat and grow well even with minimum water supply.

Native to Mexico, Central and South America, this powerful Mexican herb has always been a part of Hispanic culture. Many centuries ago, it was found that the leaves of the Muicle when boiled, first turned black and then later took on a deep shade of dark blue. Artists and painters once used extracts derived from this plant to make dye, which was then used as a means for creative expression...