Hops Flower

Hops is most well-known for its use in making beer. This is true not only today, but was true in Hildegard’s time and for thousands of years earlier. With further…

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Calendula Herb

Calendula is a beautiful herb. It’s yellow-orange flowers (not to be confused with marigolds) brighten our herb gardens. In addition, they make a brilliantly colored moisturizing salve when infused in…

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Horehound Herb

“Horehound is hot, has much moisture, and is effective against various infirmities” (24). Horehound is a bitter herb that has been used for centuries for a wide range of ailments,…

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Oregano Herb

Oregano is a common culinary herb. It seems, however, that Hildegard did not use oregano as a common kitchen herb. She used oregano for medicinal purposes only. She actually felt…

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The Magnolia Tree

One of the prized trees in our gardens is the beautiful magnolia tree between the church and the house (former rectory). The tree was planted in 1964 on the occasion…

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Honey Bee Hive

In addition to the diverse gardens, it would have been customary for a medieval monastery to keep honeybees. We have a hive on the neighboring Hildegard Haus property. The bees…

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