Cowslip and other spring treasures

'I know a bank whereon the wild thyme grows
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grow
Just over canopied with precious woodbine
With sweet musk roses and with eglantine.'
I learnt that a long time ago when I was an elf in Midsummer's Nights' Dream, at least I think it went like that.  I am presuming that what Shakespeare called oxlips we would call cowslips.
To quote some more from the same play
'In their gold coats spots you see
These be ruby fairy favours
In those freckles lie their savours.'

In the first quote Shakespeare has obviously put together flowers that don't flower at the same time, poetic license I think.  The musk rose and eglantine usually flower in June while violets flower earlier and cowslips in between.  In the second methinks Shakespeare is hinting at the properties of the flowers.  Strange how humans are always looking for new and delightful sensations and plants can satisfy these cravings.

 A few years ago, one of my neighbours, who obviously had no interest in gardens, dumped on his rubbish heap at the bottom of his garden a big clump of cowslips in bloom.  Spotting them, I hastened to rescue them and plant them in my garden.  Over the years they colonised the lawn, if you could call it that, and I would wait for their nodding heads eagerly every spring.  My first encounter with the cowslip in any real numbers was in the mountains in the south of France, near an old monastery where there was a green sward of grass leading down to a fast flowing river.  It was covered in them and they smelt wonderful.  Now I have in my possession a little book that was given to me by an old lady who knew I was interested in herbs and plants.  It was published in the 30s and I have no idea if its still available  but in it there is a cure for migraines and as I used to get them when I was young - I was sixteen at the time I decided to try it out.  So I picked some cowslip flowers, dried them carefully and when I got a migraine I infused a few flower heads in hot milk.. Maybe hot milk is required as the plant is narcotic..  Much to my surprise it cured my migraine.  Nevertheless, one of my friends little boys decided to eat the flowers and had to have his stomach pumped so caution is required.
The cowslip is good for strengthening the nerves and brain and insomnia.  Another useful and common plant that has few followers today.  Such a pity..