Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Catnip is a Mighty Mint Indeed

Remember a Wordless Wednesday post only just a few weeks ago where I featured my poor catnip plant that got ravaged by a neighborhood cat?  Not only has the plant survived, but it's thriving!

The Catnip is Thriving!

There is an old saying about this plant:
      "If you set it, the cats will eat it,
       If you sow it, the cats don't know it."

The theory is that they are attracted to the scent of the catnip when it's in a weakened state such as bruised or having been transplanted.  I haven't tried growing it from seed, so I can't speak to that but the neighborhood cat did attempt to destroy the poor plant.  My Jack cat smells it on my hands when I touch it, but he hasn't tried to get to it yet.  I don't know if that's because the plant is now happy or if Jack it just a good boy.  I'm wondering whether I should try putting it into the garden bed when it's finished or if it will again be weakened and, thus, subject to attack.


By the way, catnip tea is a wonderful mild nervine.  It's also valuable in the case of fever as it will produce perspiration and encourage sleep.



5 comments:

Carapace said...

See I always wondered if catnip might be good for people! What's a nervine, though?:P

Athena's Armoury said...

It basically means that it works to support the nervous system. Guess you can say that it calms ruffled nerves. =)

pasqueflower said...

Amazing comeback! I'd keep it in the pot, I think.

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

Kristin Aquariann said...

I'm glad it survived! And neat, I hadn't heard of catnip's healing properties for humans.

Athena's Armoury said...

pasque: I think I may try rooting a few stems and planting those. This way, if something happens (kitty ravage!) I won't lose the whole plant.

aquairann: Me too! I really didn't think it would when I saw how it looked post-kitty.