I had planned to write about the medieval uses of the herbs and flowers growing in my own garden. When I found out how extensive the Mint family was, I focused on this genus and discarded all else…
“…many beauties take the air by the Ch’ang waterfront… their embroidered silk robes in the spring sun are gleaming… and hanging far down from their temples are blue leaves of delicate kingfisher feathers…”
from “A Song of Fair Women” by Tu Fu