Herb Seeds
Fresh, open-pollinated seed for the 2014 season. All seeds are organically grown at Ravenhill Herb Farm, harvested and processed lovingly by hand, germination tested to ensure quality.
All seeds are $3.50/package
50 to 100+ seeds per package depending on variety. The average seed life is three years.
Please allow one-two weeks for shipping.
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Anise-Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Perennial. ‘Licorice Mint’. To 4ft tall. Lovely anise-flavoured leaves and purple flower spikes are a favourite for teas and in salads. A native wildflower of central Canada, and a wonderful plant for attracting beneficial insects, bees, butterflies and humming birds. Used traditionally by First Nations as a remedy for coughs, fevers, and digestive upset.
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NEW Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Perennial. Grown as an annual in temperate regions. Full sun. Grows easily from seed into a stout shrub, 4 feet tall and two feet wide, in one season. This is one of the most valuable adaptogenic herbs that can be grown on the coast. The root is used to promote vitality, fertility, endurance, and enhance quality of sleep.
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NEW Basil, Holy (Ocimum sanctum)
‘Rama Tulsi’. Perennial. Grown as an annual in temperate regions. Full sun. 1.5 ft tall. Deliciously aromatic medicinal basil plant. Fragrant leaves make a wonderful tea. Holy Basil in anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, adaptogenic, blood purifying, and tonifying to the heart. In the Ayurvedic tradition is is regarded as an “elixir of life” to promote longevity.
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NEW Basil, Sweet (Ocimum basilicum)
Annual. Full sun. 1.5 ft. Traditional sweet basil variety that you know and love. This vigorous plant produces lush mid-green leaves all summer long. Pinch back growing tips to postpone flowering, and encourage new growth. Medicinally sweet basil is anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, enhances circulation and respiration, and helps to stabilize blood sugar.
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NEW Basil, Italian Large Leaf (Ocimum basilicum ‘Italian Large Leaf’)
Annual. Full sun. Up to 2ft tall and wide. Similar in flavour to the traditional sweet basil but with very large and tender light-green leaves. Plants are slow to bolt and very prolific. Medicinally Italian large leaf basil is anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, enhances circulation and respiration, and helps to stabilize blood sugar.
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Bergamot, Wild (Monarda fistulosa)
‘Sweet Leaf’. Perennial. A very fragrant herb in the Mint family. Also known as ‘Bee Balm’, it is a favourite honey plant for bees. Grows 3ft tall and spreads by slender rhizomes. Mauve coloured flowers from June to September. Native to BC and other parts of Canada. It can be used to treat colds and flus, as a strong antiseptic for healing wounds, and for its carminative & diaphoretic actions.
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Betony, Wood (Stachys officinalis)
Perennial. Glossy leaves are heavily lobed and have a somewhat crinkled appearance. Long-lived red/purple flowers are a favourite of bees & butterflies. Grows 1-2 ft tall. Flowers July to September. Used medicinally for the treatment of anxiety, tension headaches & migraines, and as a digestive aid.
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NEW Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus)
Annual. Full sun. Non-invasive medicinal thistle, that is easy to grow in the garden. Interesting downy leaves and flowers. Well known for its use as a galactagogue, to promote lactation. Historically, the herb was used to alleviate pain from headache and migraine, as well as stimulate appetite and promote digestion. The large easy to handle seeds can be sown in Fall or Spring.
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Borage (Borago officinalis)
Annual. Self-seeding. Pretty blue, occasionally pink, star-shaped flowers are great in salads and for decorating cakes or other desserts. Leaves, covered in bristly white hairs, and flowers have a pleasant cucumber-like flavour. High in calcium and potassium, a diuretic with mild anti-depressant and sedative actions.
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Calamint(Calamentha sylvatica)
Perennial. Plants are evergreen with very aromatic minty scented leaves and lovely little lavender blooms that are long lasting. Dried leaves and flowers make a wonderful refreshing tea for colds and flus. Diaphoretic and expectorant. Works well in combination with other herbs such as Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris).
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Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Annual, over wintering and self-seeding. A must-have in every garden! The lovely orange, yellow, and cream daisy-like flowers bloom year round on the coast. Flower heads contain wonderful properties for the skin and make healing infused oils, salves, and creams. Petals are also edible and make great colourful additions to salads.
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California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Annual, self-seeding. Velvety bright orange poppy flowers color to the herb garden. Plants will grow in any soil and are quite drought tolerant. Nervine. Medicinal properties are stronger when plants are grown in harsher conditions. Combines well with scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and avena (Avena sativa) for nervous conditions.
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Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)
Perennial. To 6ft tall. Full sun. Beautiful thistle-like flower heads and large silver-green deeply-cut foliage. The young leaf stalks when steamed or braised are a delicacy. The wild form of our domesticated artichoke. Tinctures and decoctions of the leaves are a bitter stimulant and act as a liver protectant. Used as a coagulent in place of rennet for cheese making.
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Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Perennial. A favourite of our feline friends fresh or dried. On us it has an opposite effect and acts as a calming nervine with mild sedative properties. A safe and gentle herb for children and babies, works well for upset tummies and colic. The leaves have mild anesthetic properties and can be chewed to soothe tooth and gum aches.
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Chamomile, German (Matricaria chamomilla)
Annual, self-seeding. German chamomile flowers make a wonderful soothing tea. Also good for emotional upset tummies. Used topically the flowers are emollient and anti-inflammatory. Chamomile is also a great companion plant, when planted next to other aromatic herbs, such as basil, lavender, mint etc, it can help enhance the health, growth, and flavour of these plants.
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Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) Perennial. The scent of Roman chamomile is heavenly and healing in and of itself! Forms a dense low growing mat with can be used as an alternative lawn or out door ‘bed’. Used externally for aches and pains, also a wonderful facial steam. Contains chamazulene, a brilliant blue-violet compound known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
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Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Perennial. Full sun. 1ft. One of the easiest herbs to grow and great for container plantings. Late to die down in the fall and up early in the spring, the tender greens of chives are a reliable fresh herb in the kitchen garden. The bright pink chive flowers brighten the herb patch and are a treat, adding lovely colour and flavour to salads too!
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Cilantro/Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Annual. Full sun/part shade. 2ft. Cilantro does best when direct seeded and given deep fertile soil. A short lived annual, producing a nice leafy crop that can be cut two or three times before the plants begin to flower. Easy to grow from seed, repeat sowings to maintain an abundance of leaves. Once the plants do go to flower leave the seeds to ripen and harvest your own delightfully fragrant coriander spice.
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Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
Perennial. 2ft - 3ft. A magical woodland plant whose pretty flowers look like fairy hats. The leaves and roots are astringent, diaphoretic, and diuretic. The seeds have strong anti-parasitic properties and were used traditionally to control lice. Prefers moist partially shady locations but will do ok sun.
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Curry Plant (Helichrysum italicum)
Perennial. Full sun. Very drought tolerant. The essential oil made from the plant contains a myriad of useful medicinal compounds, and is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and astringent. Though not related in anyway to the mixture of spices used in Indian cooking, curry plant is edible and has a strong flavour closer to that of rosemary.
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NEW Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Perennial. Full sun. Enjoys moisture. To 3.5 feet tall. Well known and effective immune boosting herb. A tincture or tea made from the roots can be taken at the first signs of cold or flu to prevent illness, and will significantly reduce the duration of colds and flus if taken in the early stages of infection. Often blooms first year, roots can be harvested at the end of second year.
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Evening Primrose (Oenethera biennis)
Biennial. Lance shaped leaves form a basal rosette and spiral up to the flowering stems 3-5ft tall. Velvety light yellow flowers open in the evening. Looks lovely grouped in borders. Edible flowers, seeds, leaves and roots. Seeds are easy to harvest as a grain crop. Seeds are an important source of gamma-linolenic acid. Tolerates poor soil & drought.
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Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Perennial. Full sun. Pretty plants grow to 3.5 ft tall and sport large clusters of white daisy-like flowers. Used medicinally for the prevention of migraine headaches. Used for the treatment of fevers, arthritis, and digestive issues. A strong bitter and emmenagogue. Will tolerate drought and poor soil, a very easy herb to grow. Learn more about feverfew in our online Herb Book.
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NEW Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa)
Perennial. Full sun. Enjoys moisture. 3-5ft tall, slowly spreading. Leaves are diuretic, analgesic, and purifying to the blood. Used for the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, skin eruptions, and wounds. Unusual maroon and yellow flowers are abundant in nectar, one of the best species for attracting butterflies, bees, other insects and birds. Easy to grow.
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NEW Fleabane (Erigeron speciosus)
Perennial. Full to part sun. Moderate moisture. Used by First Nations as a herbal contraceptive and for menstrual pain. Helps to repel insects and bed bugs. Starlings line their nests with fleabane to keep mites away. Fleabane is a good companion plant in the garden, and helps prevent fungus infections in strawberry plants.
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NEW Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Perennial. Full sun. Enjoys well-drained soil. Pretty, ornamental blue flower spikes are very aromatic. Very useful as an expectorant, for nasal congestion, asthma and bronchitis, and as a antiviral for colds and flus. A mild but effective diuretic, and astringent. A great companion plant in the garden, it repels flea beetles and cabbage moths.
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Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina)
Perennial. Full sun. Lovely downy soft leaves are low growing and spreading by rhizomes. The plants send up multitudes of 2 to 3ft tall spikes sporting small purple flowers in whorls around the stems. Lamb’s ears contain astringent compounds that make it useful for halting bleeding and to speed wound healing. The downy leaves have been used as natural ‘bandaids’
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Lavender, English (Lavendula angustifolia) Perennial. ‘True Lavender’ used in teas & as a culinary herb. Very potent flowers are easily rubbed off stems when dry. Tea is used medicinally as a mild sedative, carminative, and antispasmodic. Used in aromatherapy for the treatment of anxiety, nervousness, mental stress, insomnia and fatigue. This Mediterranean native is very tolerant of poor soil and drought
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Lavender, French (Lavandula stoechas)
Perennial. Full Sun. 3ft. Also known as ‘Spanish lavender’ and ‘Butterfly lavender’. Used for essential oil production. The flowers have antiseptic, antispasmodic, and carminative actions. Externally, the essential oil is used as an antiseptic wash for wounds, ulcers, sores and as a relaxing oil for massage. Plants keep a tidier habit over time, and have less tendency towards woodiness than L. angustifolia.
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NEW Lavender, Yellow (Lavendula viridis)
Perennial. Full Sun. 3ft. Rare lavender, native to the mountains of Morocco. A variety of ‘Butterfly lavender’. Flowers are a light-yellow/green colour with two pale yellow petals above. The flowers have antiseptic, antispasmodic, and carminative actions.
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Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) $3/pkg
Perennial. Very aromatic lemon scented leaves are delightful in tea & in cooking and baking. The small flowers are very attractive to bees, hence the latin name ‘Melissa’ which is Greek for honey-bee. Used medicinally as a mood enhancer, as a mild sedative and for anxiety. Used internally and externally for its anti-viral & anti-bacterial properties
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NEW Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)
‘Indian tobacco’. Annual. Full to part sun. Enjoys moisture. Native to the central, southern, and eastern US. One of the most powerful antispasmodic and relaxing herbs. Dilates the bronchials and relaxes muscle spasms in the lungs. Useful in anti-smoking formulas. It has been called “the intelligent herb” because it seems to whatever is necessary to promote healing in the body. Emetic in large doses.
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Marshmallow (Althea officinicalis)
Perennial. To 6ft tall. Part-shade/full-sun. Velvety grey-green leaves and lovely two-tone pink flowers. Marshmallow root is a soothing herb used to treat ulcers and inflammation of the digestive tract, as well as dry cough and sore throats. Externally it is great at calming skin irritations, enhancing dermal structure and wound healing.
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Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Perennial. 4ft tall to 2ft wide. Leaves are toothed and pale below, flowers pale-pink in whorls alternating up the stems. Primarily a herb for the heart, motherwort has a long history of use as a cardiac tonic, nervine, and emmenagogue. A strong bitter, it is also good for digestion and the liver.
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Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Perennial. To 6ft. Full sun. Dark green pinnate leaves are silvery on the underside. Mugwort is commonly used as a ‘dream herb’, and when taken as a tea before bed it is said to enhance lucid dreaming. In tradition Chinese medicine, mugwort is used commonly for moxibustion to enhance acupuncture treatments.
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Mullein, Common (Verbascum thapsus)
Biennial. 2ft wide basal rosettes of large downy grey-green leaves with majestic spikes of small densely packed velvety yellow flowers. These seeds were collected from mullein plants at Ravenhill that grew 9ft tall! Used medicinally for its emollient and astringent properties. Tolerates poor soil and drought. Sow fine seed on surface of soil.
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NEW Mullein, Greek (Verbascum olympicum)
Biennial. Full sun. Moderate moisture. 6-9ft tall. A mullein of Olympic proportions! In the second year, it sends up a huge, branching candelabra of golden-yellow flowers.The light grey-green leaves and flower spike stalks are coated in a thick soft white down. Flowers are profuse and easy to harvest, with the same medicinal properties as common mullein.
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NEWMullein, Moth (Verbascum blattaria)
Biennial. Full sun. Moderate moisture. 3-4 feet tall. Very pretty pink and white flowers resemble moths, and appear in the second year on tall spikes. Contains compounds that make it a useful insect repellant.
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NEW Oregano (Origanum sp.)
Perennial. Full sun. Drought tolerant. Mediterranean native. Aromatic and ornamental pink or white flowers are much loved by bees. A well known culinary herb, oregano is also a useful in herbal medicine for its antimicrobial actions, great for colds, flus and sore throats.
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NEW Parsley, Italian Flatleaf (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum)
Biennial. Full sun. Flat, dark green leaves are deeply cut, resembling cilantro, with a rich parsley flavour preferred by chefs. Retains its colour and flavour upon drying and keeps better than other parsley varieties.
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Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
Perennial. Very aromatic tiny glossy green leaves form low dense mats in Spring. Plants grow to 1ft tall and send up leafy stems with flowers arranged in distinctive whorls. The essential oil is concentrated and highly toxic, but the herb itself is safe for use. Has strong emmenagogic and diaphoretic properties. Works as an effective insect repellent when leaves are rubbed on skin.
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Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Perennial. Red clover is a source of many essential nutrients including calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, and potassium. A rich source of isoflavones, helpful in the treatment hot flashes & osteoporosis & supports cardiovascular health. As a member of the legume family, red clover is a nitrogen fixer increasing soil fertility.
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Rose Campion (Lychnis coronarea)
Perennial. Very striking and ornamental, light silver-grey downy leaves contrasted with intensely bright magenta flowers. Seeds are traditionally used as an anti-asthmatic, diuretic, and muscle relaxant. Blooms in late Spring/early Summer, flowers are long lasting and profuse. Very easy to grow, low maintenance. Looks beautiful in the herb garden next to Mullein. Tolerates poor soil and drought.
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Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
Perennial. Traditional variety used for medicinal and culinary use. Modern studies have confirmed rosemary’s effectiveness at improving memory. Rosemary has a natural low germination rate so we have included an extra large number of seeds per package. It is said that the finest, and the most hardy, plants are raised from seed.
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NEW Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Perennial. Full sun. Drought tolerant. Evergreen. 2ft tall and wide. Rue has been grown in gardens since ancient times. Unique lacy, blue-green foliage and greenish-yellow flowers. Insecticidal properties make it a terrific companion plant anywhere in the garden.
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NEW Sage, Garden (Salvia officinalis)
Perennial. Plant thrives in sunny, dry and well-drained soil. Prolific summer bloomer with bright purple/blue flower spikes that are loved by bees and butterflies. A culinary favourite for flavouring meats, seafood, and soups. Medicinally sage is antimicrobial, astringent, and antispasmodic. It is useful in menopause formulas to help control hot flashes and excess sweating.
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Savory, Summer (Satureja hortensis)
Annual. Full sun. 2ft. Slender lance-shaped leaves with tubular lilac-coloured flowers. Popular cooking spice used in much of the same way as sage. Commonly added to flavour meats and beans, summer savory imparts a lovely spicy flavour and also acts as a digestive aid. Harvest fresh during the summer, then pull up the plants just before flowering and dry for winter use.
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Savory, Winter (Satureja montana)
Perennial. Full sun. Tp 3ft tall. Aromatic semi-evergreen shrub with white flowers, native to temperate regions of southern Europe. Stronger spicier flavour than summer savory. A great herb for companion planting, helping to keep away a variety of pests and attract beneficial insects, and when planted next to beans it is said to repel the bean weevil.
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Self-Heal (Prunella vulgaris)
Perennial. Very unique purple flower heads on low growing plants to 1ft tall. Prunella has been used traditionally in herbal medicine for a variety of complains, hence the common name ‘self-heal’ and ‘heal-all”. An alterative, it is taken to help restore the body to health. The leaves make a great poultice to speed wound healing.
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Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Perennial. A well known and much loved native plant, prized for its amazing tonic properties. Nettle is used to treat arthritis and allergies, and is a galactagogue. Highly nutritious (and delicious!), the leaves and new shoots contain up to 25% protein, are high in iron, vitamin A & C, and many other essential nutrients. Drying, soaking, juicing, or cooking the nettles will remove their sting.
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NEW Tobacco, 1000 yr old (Nicotiana rustica)
Annual. Full sun. 3 ft. Broad fuzzy leaves with yellow/green flowers on short spikes. Seeds of this tobacco variety were discovered sealed with pitch in pottery in a native burial site, estimated to be over 1000 years old.
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NEW Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Perennial. Full to part sun. Native to Europe and temperate Asia. One of the most effective herbal sedatives. Also strongly antispasmodic and anxiolytic. Valerian flowers in the late Spring or early Summer, and the aroma of the white honeyed flowers is heavenly and vanilla-like.
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Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
Perennial. Attractive deeply lobed and toothed leaves, grey-green in spring turning deeper green in Summer. Small pale lilac flowers on tall delicate spires in late Summer to early Fall. Grows to 3ft tall and 1 1/2ft wide. Good bee and butterfly plant. Ancient herb still used medicinally for its calming nervine, sleep-inducing, and anti-spasmodic properties.
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Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Perennial. 1-2ft tall in flower. Finely divided leaves have distinctive feathery appearance, ‘Millefolium’ meaning ‘thousand leaves’. Flat topped clusters of tiny daisy-like white or lavender-hued flowers bloom throughout the summer. Leaves and flowers used medicinally for diaphoretic, styptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Tolerates poor soil and drought very well.