Playing with plants

I took an Herbcraft e-class from Latisha at Herb Mother.  Ever since, I've been meeting plants in my yard and getting to know what they do.  My first meeting was with lemon balm who I now love deeply and dearly...

She nursed me through a cold, and has just been a general blessing.  I know we're friends because the more I take, the bigger and healthier the plant looks!  Of course, it is spring, her favorite time of year. 

I have dried some, and made some into a lemon balm glycerite for my little who often tells me her tummy hurts.  Of course... I gave her the lemon balm glycerite and she made a nasty face!  LOL!  As you can see above, I have also collected and dried nettle (and made a tincture for my allergies) and mugwort.  And I made a rosemary tea mixed with vinegar to clean my counters.

I also found that I have yellow dock in my back yard... which is pretty fabulous... as I occasionally suffer from... ahem... digestive irregularity.  I hear this guy will help... although the more yellow/orange roots that can be harvested in fall are reputed to really carry the medicine, I decided to experiment with a tincture.  For this one I used Everclear as my preservative.  When I went to the liquor store asking for Everclear the guy at the counter asked if I was going to drink or cook with the giant bottle of incredibly strong alcohol.  I told him I was using it as a preservative for a tincture.  He asked what a tincture was.... and by the time I left I was pretty sure he thought I was crazier than if I'd just told him I was going to drink it by myself.

Here are a few of my plant crafts... the mandala was an art assignment from my HerbCraft class...

...and the smudge stick wrapping was inspired by something I saw on Etsy by Sage Goddess.  She makes fantastic looking smudge sticks... and I figured I could do something similar myself.  Yeah.  They weren't quite as easy as they look... although I learned a few important lessons about tying them.  Mine are loose and likely to fall apart as I use them... but they were fun to make.

So fun, actually, that I made one and gave it to a friend!

I'm enjoying my new relationship with the plants in my yard.  It makes my yard feel more personal, and I'm more in tune with it.  Next, I want to dry some plantain... I did make an infusion with oil awhile back... then added some beeswax and peppermint essential oil to make a balm for bug bites.  I have more projects on my list too... so I'll share more when it's done.

Despite feeling quiet lately, I guess I've been busier than I thought!

What I did with some of the lavender...

So, I told you about all that lavender I got... and how long it took to deal with all of it! I did keep some of the stalks for burning as incense. I'm not sure that's my favorite smell... honestly it just smells like burning stick. Plus, I had a hard time keeping mine lit.

Most of my lavender is sitting in a big jar right now waiting for its final destination as a sachet or other version of a gift for someone. But, I think my favorite idea was one I thought up on my own (although I don't for a second suggest that someone didn't think of it before me). I mixed some lavender with baking soda (not sure how I picked up the baking POWDER for the pic... duh) to create my own vacuum room freshener! I hate those super perfume heavy ones you buy at the store... besides, most fragrances are toxic, but I'll save that soapbox...


Anyway, it inspired me to make other fragrances or mixtures... I think I'll be drying some orange peel and mixing with clove and baking soda for Yule! I've got other ideas too... oh so fun!

Lavender...

Mmmm... lavender... this is one of my all time favorite plants. I have it in my garden for one thing... and that's always convenient, I love the smell, and in my mild climate it blooms for much of the year. Or maybe that's because I have a couple of different varieties, I don't know.

Anyway, right now I'm drying a bunch... and I actually really love the way it makes my living room look and smell... part of me is thinking of leaving it there! Not really... but at face value it doesn't seem like a terrible idea!

My plans for it are:

1. To make some sachets to put between the cushions of my couch... so that every time you sit down on it you create good smells, and for putting in the dryer with clothes (those dryer sheets are no good, but I do like a nice smell in my clothes).

2. To make a few Christmas gifts... I know my mom really likes lavender... so maybe a pretty throw pillow, or a nice potpourri...

3. Roll a few softened beeswax tapers in lavender for beauty and nice smells for the holidays

And here are a few more ideas...

Lavender has long been associated with love, peace, healing, and sleep. It relaxes the mind and body, and therefore is good to use in soaps (which according to Kate West author of The Real Witches' Garden will also assist in quickly healing typical gardening scrapes! I'm going to try that!). It can be used in sachets for any time you need to feel grounded and safe. I used lavender in a back-to-school sachet that I made with the kids last year. They kept them in their backpacks... and I don't know if it helped them, but it helped me the first day of school!

Apparently smelling the scent of lavender can lift the spirits. One way to do this is to burn the stalks in a fire after removing the "pods" from the flower. The stalks can also be used as incense sticks after they're fully dried. I am DEFINITELY trying that with what I have hanging... and here I thought I was just going to throw them away!

When made into an oil or balm it can be used to treat bruises, aches, and pains. Lavender water can be dabbed onto "pulse points" to ease headaches, anxiety and depression. Lavender in sachets can repel moths, induce sleep, and nurture gentle dreams.

*Lavender uses from Kate West's The Real Witches' Garden and Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs