September has brought a sudden change in the weather. Wet and stormy times bring a hazard to foraging. Pick a calm moment to venture to the hedgerows. There are plenty of treasures to gather now to use fresh or to prepare for your skincare larder. Your future self will thank you. 1. Bramble leaf –…
August is our bridge between summer and autumn. A chance to celebrate the fruits of summer, while still basking in the sunshine. Traditionally the time of the Lammas harvest, associated with hay baling, wheat and first fruits. It is a time of abundance, and a time to prepare for leaner months ahead: ‘make hay while…
Summer is at its fragrant height. Many plants contain essential oils, these are comprised of the volatile scent compounds important not just for attracting pollinators (and us) but also their means of communicating and healing.
Some of our five herbs to look out for this month have ‘officinalis’ in their latin name (and one was historically an officinalis, though now reclassified). When you see this in a name it’s an indicator that they are historically part of the official Materia Medica – that’s the apothecary’s list of plants with medicinal uses. So they don’t just look good and smell good, they also do you good.
There really is a change in the air in November, it’s certainly no longer warm enough to head out without a coat. For creatures of the hedgerow it’s a final opportunity to gather in winter stores before bedding down to see the winter through. Plants take a similar approach, with their attention going to storing…
