The meaning of ‘Athelas’ pronounced ‘A-th-lass’.
Being a Tolkien fan (Lord of the Rings) it seemed the most obvious and only sensible name for a Plant nursery. In Middle Earth the Athelas Plant was known as a magical healing plant which was especially potent when in the hands of a King. Now at this point i have to clarify I can claim no hereditary ties to any throne and sadly although I haven’t tested them all, the plants in the nursery do not seem to be particularly magical. Actually Agaves do seem to have this unnatural ability to stab you no matter how careful you are around them, but no.
Anyway back to the wondrous Athelas Plant, (known as kingsfoil in the common tongue), here is a song that us at the nursery like to sing around the campfire when the Orcs are far far from home :
When the black breath blows
and death’s shadow grows
and all light pass,
come athelas! come athelas!
Life of the dying
In the king’s hand lying!
Ok it’s not the most cheeriest of songs, and well actually we don’t really sing it either, but I do think it’s handy to know, just incase.