Outlander Plants

I'm a fan of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series of books. I particularly identify with Claire, a major character in the stories, because of her background in healthcare and love of plants. I've written a series of blog posts about specific plants mentioned in the stories. They were fun to write and research.

I hope you enjoy them.

Post List

Marie McKinsey

May 1, 2016
3 min

Cascara Might Not Kill You, But...

You may remember this exchange between Master Raymond and Claire at his apothecary shop, in which he explains his clever solution for the pr

Variegated Holly: Plant Badge of the Clan MacKenzie

Marie McKinsey

Sep 25, 2015
3 min

Variegated Holly: Plant Badge of the Clan MacKenzie

Clan MacKenzie symbols: The crest with the clan motto; a MacKenzie tartan in the background; and sprigs of variegated holly, the clan plan

Marie McKinsey

Sep 18, 2015
3 min

It's All About YEW

Besides this scene in DIA, yews have another Outlander connection: the European yew is the plant badge of the Clan Fraser. It is said that m

Marie McKinsey

Apr 25, 2015
5 min

This Bud's For You - Cannabis

So what IS the difference between hemp and ganja (or marijuana)? Botanically, they are the same plant. Both are cultivars of Cannabis sativ

Black Hellebores and A Little Girl's Tears

Marie McKinsey

Jan 24, 2015
4 min

Black Hellebores and A Little Girl's Tears

I love hellebores. I have been growing them for years. They are highly prized in the gardening community for their exotic flowers and the fa

Marie McKinsey

Oct 12, 2014
3 min

Grinding Corn

When Dougal MacKenzie told Claire in The Wedding episode of Outlander that he was tickled by the thought of grinding her corn, the remark pr

Barley the Beverage Grain: beer, wine and whisky

Marie McKinsey

Oct 5, 2014
8 min

Barley the Beverage Grain: beer, wine and whisky

Two of the goals of the ancient alchemists were: 1) to turn common metals into gold, and 2) to create an "elixir of life, that would confer

Marie McKinsey

Sep 16, 2014
3 min

Rowan: The Druid's Tree

Rowan, or "Luis" in Gaelic, is both a tree and the name of the second character in the Celtic Ogham Tree Alphabet.

Bear McCreary: The Man Behind the Outlander Music

Marie McKinsey

Sep 8, 2014
2 min

Bear McCreary: The Man Behind the Outlander Music

I can't imagine a composer more suited to creating the score for the Outlander TV series than Bear McCreary. Growing up, he attended the Sco

Marie McKinsey

Sep 6, 2014
4 min

Heathers & Heaths

Next to the thistle, heather is probably the plant most associated with Scotland. Much of the color in the moorland landscape is from the fl

Marie McKinsey

Aug 28, 2014
4 min

Right Plants, Wrong Season?

One of the differences between Outlander - the Book and Outlander - the TV series is the time of year the story begins. In the book, Claire

Marie McKinsey

Aug 24, 2014
3 min

A Druid's Herbal

I have always been curious about the Druids. Much of what is "known" about them is mere speculation because their most sacred rituals and

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