Well, I found myself back at the apothecary today after a few weeks away and it was a joy to be back. With a glorious blast of sun, the walled garden felt alive. Albeit under a blanket of snow. Nick was in the garden nudging the snow off his palms with a broom and the bamboos are in the shade of the snow piled high on top of the shade tunnel. There were, however, signs of medicines growing in the soil sunning itself as a thaw took over some areas!
Pilewort (lesser celandine, or Ranunculus ficaria) are beginning to make their mark on the wintry landscape. Well, ok maybe not the landscape as such but they are noticeable amid a wintry wander along the edges…. of fields, woodlands etc…. I once spent an afternoon collecting some of the pilewort rootlets from under a tree in a very shall we say well to do area in Hampstead, London. The person who owned the nearest house came out and was surprised to see me rooting around the tree, but as ever, when told just a little about it became interested and friendly. From those little tubers I made a pilewort ointment and have given it alongside oak bark and witch hazel for haemorrhoids (hence the name…).
The snowdrops are out! The primroses too. All over the nursery tiny leaves are unfurling. I have much to plan for the rest of the year’s medicine making and teaching…
This blog too, as scant as it has been shall it become full! I hope to make many entries this year with regard to the medicines around us and how we can use them. A diary of my own use of medicine and view of the natural world shall become something I share here.
Until then, stay warm (a little cinnamon and honey may help!)
Blessings, Amy ~*~