Basil
Used for over 2000 years, it symbolises love. At one time young girls would place some on their windowsill to indicate they were looking for a suitor. In Tudor times, small pots of this were given by farmers' wives to visitors as parting gifts. It is also reputed that any man will fall in love with a woman from whom he accepts some basil from as a gift. It has large shiny green leaves and small white flowers. Can be used as snuff to cure headaches.

Bay
The leaves of this plant were woven into the laurel wreaths in Ancient Rome to crown the victors and heroes, but must be slowly dried in the shade and then sealed in tight containers if they are to be used in cooking. An evergreen tree with glossy green leaves and small creamy-white flowers which bloom from midsummer.

Beans
Scattering the flowers is thought to placate demons in many countries particularly in the Far East, being associated with death and the spirits of the dead. If one bean in a row should come up white instead of green, an English tradition associates this occurrence with death, and in the south west it was once believed that 3 May was the best time to plant kidney beans to ensure a successful crop.

Broad beans were thought to possess the soul of the dead, and when in flower it was believed that accidents were more likely to happen. If it was a leap year it was thought that the bean would grow upside-down. The shape of the bean was thought to be associated with death and ghosts. Scattering some around the outside of the house would stave of such attentions for 12 months.

Broad beans have also been associated with forecasting the future. A European belief was that three beans should be prepared in different ways to produce an outcome and then hidden on Midsummer Eve for the enquirer to find. The untouched bean indicated wealth, the half-peeled bean indicated a comfortable life, whilst the third fully peeled bean indicated poverty. The future was revealed by which bean was found first.

Blackberries
Although thought to be associated with alleviating several illnesses such as whooping cough, boils and rheumatism, t his fruit has over time become associated with the Devil in France and England. In France it was thought that the colour of the fruit resulted from when the Devil spat on it, whilst in England it was thought that picking fruit after 11 October (Olde Michaelmas Day) would bring bad luck as the Devil was believed to have fallen into a thicket and had left a curse on the thorns which had hurt him.

Blossom
It is a commonly held belief that shrubs and trees flowering out of season will bring bad luck, particularly if the flowers of one plant bloom in great numbers when it was thought a hard winter would follow with the community being affected by illness and death. The late flowering of Christmas roses in Wales also indicated imminent sickness and possible death.

Borage
Supposed to revive the hypochondriac, it is thought borage provided courage. The Crusaders reputedly drank a mixture of borage and wine before battle to raise their strengths and spirits. Pink star-shaped flowers on slender green stems are a pretty sight in the summer and possess a taste and smell very similar to that of the cucumber. It has been used to treat colds, coughs, bronchitis and even rheumatism and can help with skin rashes. Lots of vitamin C here.

Bramble Bushes
Creating a natural arch out of any forms of brambles and passing someone who is ill underneath was reputed to cure the affected. Blackheads, rheumatism, boils and whooping cough were also thought to be helped by eating the fruit.

Buttercup
The tradition of children holding buttercups under their chins has been common for many years to find if a yellow glow can be seen. If so, the child likes butter, and the sun will shine.