|Chicory - Coffeeweed|
|Wegewarte - The Watcher of the Road|
|Ragged Sailors closed after mid-day|
Its most common name of Chicory relates to an Egyptian word for "January" which was the month it was most harvested. Blue Weed and Blue Daisy are less complimentary.
This plant has also been used as important elements in magic as well. Witches supposedly used it to transform into rabbits. To others it was said to lend invisibility. During gold rushes, miners would carry it in their pockets for good luck. But perhaps the most unusual magical use had to do with lock picking. It was said to be able to open any locked chest by holding a gold knife and chicory up to the lock. This ability would only function however on St. James' Day, July 25, and only if performed in complete silence.
In this day and age, Chicory is mostly regarded as a weed, only noticed when in bloom for the most part. It may not be native, but is now widespread, watching us from the side of the road.