Herbal Ally 2001

Greetings Woodland Wanderers! The weather is freezing here! I'm dreaming of spring, and just received the Richters catalog in the mail, so I'm full of inspiration for new herbs in the garden. I was delighted to come across this Herbal Ally Challenge for 2011. You can check my sidebar for the button and direct link to the challenge. I'm slow in starting since I just found out about it, but after much pondering over what herb to ally with this year, I decided on my old friend Rosemary. Since there is nothing growing in my garden this time of year, she was the obvious choice, especially given that I'm wintering a large pot of Rosemary inside for the first time this year! So it will be a winter journey for both of us. I'm already cracking the books, taking in all I can about this beautiful plant. I've also started gathering some materials to create my herbal journal and will share some of this process in future posts. Have a beautiful day!

a little post to explain the mess

This blog was originally created with restricted access (subscribers only) then I changed it up a bit (messed it up a bit) to utilize mainly for plant ponderings and herbal related postings. In an attempt to salvage a few posts from my old blog, and to get rid of some other posts, I wasn't able to retrieve all of my photographs, and may have some wonky set wording set ups and things out of order, but I did manage to salvage some of it. So here it is! Thanks for digging through the "weeds" and finding it!

Plant Ponderings ... Poke Weed

Plant Ponderings
Poke Weed
September 2008

Unfortunately my pictures could not be re-located when posting this one..

Hello my fellow woodland wanderers! This is the perfect time of year to introduce you to an old friend. Or re-introduce you, as I know you've probably seen this "weed" before. She's native to my area, with a history as deep and rich as her plump, dark, purple-red berries. She's a true wild Appalachian herb, and there is much facinating herbal lore about uses for her roots, leaves, and berries... but be forewarned... she is not for the novice herbalist and is poisonus to people if not prepared correctly! I'm content with just visiting and studying her. The berries and vibrant colored stems that reappear year after year in my woods speak to me of strength, old secrets, and autumn on it's way. Her appearance is exotic, almost tropical, and perhaps, if she allows, I'll try painting with some of her berry juice, as did artist George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879). Or, as did the root doctors of the south, carry a bit of her root to ward off evil. Her name "Poke" comes from the Virginia Algonquian word for blood, referring to the red color of the stem and berries. Native Americans used the powdered roots to treat cancers, and the mountain grandmothers had many a use for this plant.

Phytolacca americana. Folk names: American nightshade, cancer root, devil's club, inkberry, pigeonberry.

Remembering how much I loved the illustrations in this book, "A Child's Book of Wildflowers" by M.A. Kelly, and that there was a page that featured Poke plant, I thought I'd share it here. The artist Joyce Powzyk does the most beautiful watercolor illustrations. I found this book at a flea market years back, bought it for my daughter, and it quickly became a favorite of mine too.
On your next trek through the woods look for her won't you? And be sure and say hello from me.

Plant Ponderings ... Yarrow

February 2009
Plant Ponderings ... Yarrow



Don't want to get your hopes up, nothing is blooming yet, and the lack of vegetation in my little neck of the woods is causing me to have some withdrawal symptoms. I've been dreaming of having fresh herbs again, mulling over what I'll grow this year, and missing the return of some of my old green friends. I started taking inventory of my tinctures made from last year's harvest. Some almost empty, and some I'd even forgotten having put up--that was a nice surprise. Yarrow was one of the "lost but found" tinctures I found residing in the cool darkness of my herb cupboard. Thank goodness it was clearly labeled, so no mystery involved in its identification :) I love my herb cupboard. It's in a little area set off from the kitchen where my husband put up some extra shelving and counter space for me, but it could use some organization (adding another chore to my ever growing spring to-do list). In any case, let's not get too off-track as I often do (they don't call me the woodland-wanderer for nothing) this yarrow has a bit of a story. I started exploring the woods and lake near my home more seriously last year, and was happy to discover lots of lovely yarrow growing wild, undisturbed, unsprayed and plentiful. I have never grown yarrow myself, and promptly got started checking my online references, books, and favorite herby blogs to be sure I had the right plant. Feeling certain, and slightly devious, I prepared for our next early morning hike, this time adding a small shovel, large baggie with damp paper towels, and my official wild-crafter's badge. Just kidding about the badge, but there is a pretty serious-looking park policeman that I've seen on rounds there before, so one never knows it could come in handy. I went to the pretty little spot where the yarrow was growing, made certain there was lots of it nearby, gave thanks, and dug up a small bit, while my husband patrolled the area, instructed to hoot like a screech owl if there should be a threat to my herbal-highjacking. All went without mishap, and once home I immediately transplanted it with care in a large pot on my deck. It took off beautifully, and soon delicate white flowers and ferny soft leaves abounded! I ended up making a tincture of its leaves and flowers in grain alcohol, and there it has sat since. Patiently waiting.

Yarrow's Latin name is Achillea millefolium. The name comes from Achilles, the Greek warrior because legend has it that he stopped bleeding on the battlefield when using this plant as a poultice. I'm happy to say it grows easily in my area as a perennial. It comes in pink, yellow and white varieties, mine being the white which is strongest for herbal medicine. Yarrow is one of the best herbs to use to prevent congestion from building up in the lungs, and to break up existing congestion. Yarrow tea is a good remedy for severe colds and to help reduce fever. When used externally it can help with cuts and wounds, and can even be used as a bug repellant, which I fully intend to try out this year.
I look forward to Yarrow making its appearance in my garden this year, and welcome learning about other uses for Yarrow... or any herbal insights for that matter, from any of you other "wild-crafters" out there!


Green Blessings!

Plant Ponderings ... Rose of Sharon

July 2009
Plant Ponderings... Rose of Sharon


I hate it when bloggers start out apologizing for not posting, so I won't. After all... it's without obligation is it not? At least for some of us? I've still been keeping tabs on you fellow bloggers though, enjoying my trips to your blogs, admiring your creativity, and (I'll admit) wondering when some of my favs. will ever post again!


A view from the kitchen door and yes.. I've got a weed growing in the little pot (plantain!) My little visitor doesn't mind though.. although he preferred the rose geranium :)

Not to say I've been lazy! Short of a barely 1 week vacation I've been alive and working my 9-5, trying to stay fit (ahem did I mention the canoe?) and somewhat creative (ahem ahem). In my off hours I'm back to being barefoot, paint smattered and as always with a stack of books and to-do's too big to ever get done!

But Summer is for a slower take on things is it not? So with that established, I'll move on to more summer appropriate meanderings. First off, it's about time for a "Plant Pondering." This time I pick Rose of Sharon. Mainly because it is totally flourishing in my yard, partially because I do nothing for it and it keeps coming back, more vibrant and full of blooms than ever before. It has fascinated me for some time now, and I only just realized that those luscious tropical looking blooms are actually edible. Here is a link from the Recipe Zaar to a fabulous summerr recipe that I haven't tried yet, but want to: http://www.recipezaar.com/Stuffed-Rose-of-Sharon-38116 this just looks so cooling and yummy, perfect for Summer! I have merely sprinkled some of it's lovely blossoms into my wild salad and plan to make this small act a yearly tradition. I think the bees as always were trying to tell me about this lovely profusely blooming plant... the way they drunkenly visit each flower, loving every luscious minute of diving in! Can you find her, immersed in velvet petals?



A Happy... Sensuous... Juicy... Lazy... Summer to all!

Plant Ponderings ... Milk Thistle

Plant Ponderings ... Milk Thistle
October 2009



Occasional weekend trips to our cabin in West Virginia never fail to provide inspiration for another woodland "plant pondering." I barely need to hike far before another wild weed introduces itself. I've often noticed this hardy, prickly plant, knowing its name even before studying it. I've always admired it's tenacity and bright purple flowers.


Silybum marianum is called "milk thistle" or "Marian thistle", for it's milky white veins, reputed to improve the millk supply of nursing mothers. The latin name marianum associates it with the Virgin Mary. Silybon was Dioscorides' term for this herb.
It is a tall biennial with large deeply lobed spiny leaves, with white veins and purple flowers that turn white and fluffy. Can be found in sunny areas, on dry, stony soils, in fields and roadsides. It self seeds prolifically.
The parts used are the leaves and flowering stems--dried for use in infusions or for extractions of its active principle silymarin. Medicinally it is taken as an infusion to stimulate the appetite and for digesive disorders. It contains compounds known as silymarin which are said to be effective as an antidote to toxic substances that cause liver damage.
Thanks for sharing in another plant pondering.
~Wishing you many herbal autumn blessings!

Plant Ponderings ... Rosa canina

Plant Ponderings
May 15, 2010
Plant Ponderings ... Rosa canina

The sweet scent of briar roses and honeysuckles remind me of being a young girl again, goofing off in the woods as often as I could during recess in elementary school. I was always being reprimanded for straying too close to the woods during outdoor recess, never wanting to join in much on the organized games, a little woodland wanderer even back then! One of the things I most loved about this old house we purchased now over 14 years ago is that my little forest here is full of huge old honeysuckles and what we call briar roses, or "brambly hedges." The common name of this rose is the "Dog Rose" but that's hardly as endearing a name as Brambly Hedge! And here a bit of interesting herbal facts about the Dog Rose:
Botanical Name: Rosa canina Other Names: Wild Rose, Brier Rose, Dog Berry
Hardiness Zone: 5-8
Soil Requirements: Tolerates most soil types moist or well drained
Light Conditions: Full sun
Size at Maturity: Up to 10'
Propagation: Root division

History: Dog rose, a common wild rose, was thought of as useless by the Greeks, thus the name 'dog' (in this case used as a derogatory term) was attached to it. However, after a little research one may discover that the dog rose is tremendously beneficial.

Properties: Aromatic, vitamin C in hips; a diuretic, gentle laxative and an astringent.

Uses: The petals - cake decorating, tea, rosewater, a mild rose honey, potpourri, natural incense, sachets, perfumes, and soaps.
The Leaves - tea
The fruit - jellies, syrups, tinctures

Description: A very hardy, thorny shrub with fragrant flowers ranging in color from white (as ours are) to pink to hot pink.

Harvesting Tips: Pick the petals when the plant buds or flowers to dry and use in potpourris. Pick the hips (seed pods) after the petals have fallen off (before they start to shrivel) and they have turned bright red in colour. Use them fresh or in jams or syrups, or dry them for use in teas.