What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “Juniper Berry”? Maybe it’s “gin” or “cleansing” or even something like “wisdom”. This article features Juniperus communis, the most wide-spread conifer of the northern hemisphere whose plethora of berries may instill us with gifts of clarity, patience, wisdom & more. Continue reading for plant highlights, therapeutics and personality of the essential oil and aromatherapy blending ideas.
Category Archives: Plant Talk
Plant Talk: Scots Pine
Linking the Sacred & Profane Have you ever been enthralled by a pine tree? Pine tree, you say? Yes. Those evergreen beings who embody the sacred states of immortality, grace and fortitude. Yet they also give so much of the tangibly profane: wood, resin, essential oil and more. This article (and soon to be associatedContinue reading “Plant Talk: Scots Pine”
Plant Talk: Myrrh
The Mystery of Myrrh Of all of the well-known resinous bearing plants in the world Myrrh may be the one known to penetrate mental, physical and emotional cracks. Myrrh and its sought after oleo-gum-resin (aka: gum-resin or resin) bears the signature of oldness, inner wisdom and depth. But what exactly is Myrrh and how mayContinue reading “Plant Talk: Myrrh”
Plant Talk: Rosemary
Rosemary has been recognized as a powerfully cleansing and regenerative herb for centuries. But Rosemary goes deeper than that by stirring the heart’s soul and more. Spend a few minutes getting to know Rosemary the plant and the essential oil including recipes and an episode of “Plant Talk” where I’m distilling rosemary leaves!
A Haiku: Laughing With Yarrow
Yarrow, the plant of “thousands of leaves” may bring an element of healing and protection to your life. This post includes an aromatherapy blend for a mood mist.
Plant Talk: German Chamomile
German chamomile essential oil is distilled from the flowers of Matricaria recutita and often grown and distilled for its essential oil in Hungary as well as other parts of Eastern Europe, North America and Australia. Native to temperate parts of Eurasia, M. recutita best expresses itself when grown in this type of terroir. As manyContinue reading “Plant Talk: German Chamomile”
Plant Talk: Spanish Lavender
Lavandula stoechas is classified in the mint (Lamiaceae) family and native to the Mediterranean basin. It is a compact perennial shrub with linear gray-green leaves. Its characteristically dark purple flowers, topped by purple bracts, are on dense, oblong spikes reaching to 1.25” long. Unlike its relatives, it prefers the coastal (low altitude) arid climates ofContinue reading “Plant Talk: Spanish Lavender”
Getting to Know: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow, an herb in the Asteraceae family, has been used for wound healing/vulnerary purposes since ancient times. According to folklore, Achilles (the Grecian battle hero), carried the herb while on battle campaigns to treat battle wounds. This tough (it’s so tough that it grows in the incredibly damp, clay soil of my gardens!) herb can be found throughout the temperate climates of theContinue reading “Getting to Know: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)”
Getting to Know: Angelica archangelica
Here is a picture of the beautiful Angelica archangelica (commonly known as garden angelica) that was growing in my garden this summer. I saved the seeds from the umbels and plan on distilling them in a few weeks to keep the water (hydrosol) created from the distillation process. Both the root and the seed are used from thisContinue reading “Getting to Know: Angelica archangelica”