Common MallowA bold and beautiful plant. It’s hard to walk past this one without it grabbing your attention. It’s believed to have been deliberately cultivated by the Romans for food and medicine. The leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible. It’s used by herbalists as a natural astringent, anti-inflammatory, and emollient. Also used to sootheContinue reading “Common Mallow”
Category Archives: Spring
Dog Rose
Dog Rose!A gorgeous flower, it is good to note it’s location now as in the autumn it will produce glorious rose hips! This plant is highly medicinal, the best parts are the hips but the flowers are also edible. A superb decoration to any meal. When drunk in infusions, dog rose flower petals are usedContinue reading “Dog Rose”
lesser Swine Cress
Lesser Swine Cress.This strong mustard smelling plant is a member of the Brassica family aka the mustard family. The mustard smell is an easy indicator to identify it. Like with most of the brassica plants it’s lovely eaten raw or wilted down as a side dish. It likes to grow in disturbed soil. You willContinue reading “lesser Swine Cress”
Sea Salt
Sea Salt!It’s amazing what you can forage. Nature provides us with all we need.The blazing hot heat of the sun leaves behind lots of pockets of dried sea salt on the rocks via solar evaporation.I used a limpet shell and a stick to scrape away the salt.I plan to add this to my herbal hairContinue reading “Sea Salt”
Cutleaf Geranium
Cutleaf Geranium aka Cut-Leafed Cranesbill.An interesting looking plant with it’s deeply cut leaves and tiny little flowers. It has been used by herbalists to help a range of ailments. The whole plant, but especially the roots, is rich in tannin. It is antiseptic, highly astringent, styptic and tonic.The whole plant is edible but lacks inContinue reading “Cutleaf Geranium”
Hedge Woundwort
Hedge Woundwort.This gorgeous loud and proud member of the mint family is highly regarded in the world of herbalism. It has a long history of being an essential part of the first aid kit and is used in particular for……you guessed it, wounds. The famous 17th century herbalist John Gerard was very impressed with itsContinue reading “Hedge Woundwort”
Red Valerian
Red Valerian.It’s hard not to have noticed this one blooming all around you in urban areas especially here in the south of the UK. It loves to brighten up a stone wall whether it’s invited or not and the bees and butterflies love it. The flowers can range in colour from red to pink toContinue reading “Red Valerian”
Elderflower
Elderflower!The wonderful smell of June! You can see it and smell it almost everywhere right now.It’s well worth collecting some flowers to dry out for the winter months as it’s delicious in tea and they are absolutely jam packed with goodness to help you overcome the flu season. Elderflower has antibacterial and antiviral properties whichContinue reading “Elderflower”
Marsh Samphire
Marsh Samphire AKA Glasswort.What a spectacular salty treat! This prize plant finds its way to many swanky restaurants… but could easily make it to your table at home for free!!! Now is the best time to harvest it before they become woody. They are so succulent and salty right now. This sea vegetable is richContinue reading “Marsh Samphire”
Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold
Wolf’s Milk 🐺🥛 ⚠️If you are the type that gets a rush of joy with you find a pimple to squeeze and pop you are gunna have a field day when you next stumble across a patch of wolf’s milk! THIS IS NOT EDIBLE! ⚠️ It’s not a fungus/mushroom nor is it a plant. It’sContinue reading “Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold”