An interesting point about asparagus. According to Nicholas Culpeper’s The Complete Herbal (1653), asparagus roots boiled in wine “taken fasting several mornings together stirreth up bodily lust in man or woman, whatever some have written to the contrary” (pg 34).
Another internet hole I fell down this time was perfume. How did people perfume themselves in the 1700s? All sorts of things apparently, according to this website; and here are some previous century perfumes to make at home.
A link to my ever-growing ekphrastic poetry here. This is free verse. I have another asparagus poem here. I love asparagus and use it a lot. If you have any bundles lying around, you could make this salad, or throw some into a chipolata tray bake, or a quick and easy frittata.
Girl Bundling Asparagus
when the bird escapes its cage
when the strawberries are ripe
when the breast is seen
when the cheek is blushed
when the garden tools, knives,
parsnips, carrots, baskets, washtub, cabbage
even the roots and spears and flowers
of the asparagus point to a change
in you amongst the smell of
stone and wood and onion and peach
the smell of skin soft from bath water
filled with orange flowers
the scent from sprigs of rosemary
wafting from waist skirt folds
when the asparagus is bundled
what pray you happens at market?
©elsp 2026
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