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February 2008
February’s workshop was cancelled, which gave us the opportunity to get out
into a warm spring garden to do some essential pruning jobs. A large cherry
tree which had grown from a sucker when we first moved into the house 28
years ago was hampering the growth of a flowering cherry directly beside it
and shading half the garden during the summer. The apple tree was also
vigorously pruned.
I have been reclaiming flowerbeds from ivy this year as I want to grow more
golden seal and black cohosh, both shade loving plants. I am also tempted to
try growing some poke, but we shall see.
The aim of the workshop was to look at preparing for spring through the use
of herbal tonics. I made up three different kinds, using recipes from
various different authors. Tonics are quite easy to make because they only
need to infuse for 1-2 weeks, which means they are accessible fairly
quickly.
Towards the end of February I was finally able to make my first trip down to
the Sanctuary – the first time I’d been there since last October. The
snowdrops were almost over, but the daffodils, primroses and violets were
flowering in yellow and purple profusion. Other plants such as nettles,
brambles, wood betony, vervain, St John’s wort, angelica, goats rue and
motherwort were all flourishing with various shades of green, while the
Echinacea spears were deep crimson. My favourite was the green and silver
leaves of the second year burdock plants.
I managed to clear all the winter debris from the top and bottom herb bed
and started to think about what needs to be done to prepare for the rest of
the year.
Only the elder and quince trees were showing new tiny leaves, but the horse
chestnut tree was flush with sticky buds. One of the main reasons for going
to the farm was to make some horse chestnut bark salve for my ankles, so
most of Saturday late afternoon and evening was spent stripping bark and
buds from young twigs to cook in sunflower oil.
After many hours heating, the oil was turned into a beautiful pale green
salve which feels wonderful on my skin. Horse chestnut is an ancient remedy
for strengthening vein and capillary walls, being used for varicose veins
and haemorrhoids. Tincture is best made from the whole seed and casing in
August while they are still soft enough to be sliced through, but salve is
made from the bark, leaves or seeds, depending on what you have to hand.
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