Gifts From Nature...A Valentines Day Harvest

Today was the perfect day in Descanso, just east of San Diego. The cool breeze was off set by the gorgeous blue sky filled with sun beams. Denise, Brian and I made our way to the Cottonwood grove that we visit on a regular basis. This grove has known us for at least four years now, and has frequently heard our conversations admiring it's beauty. "If only we could harvest the new spring buds" which these majestic trees held so far from our reach. As we made our approach, we realized the sacrifice the grove made for us this season. A huge limb of one tree had fallen, just recently, in anticipation of our arrival. The severed and torn wood, still fresh and moist, was scented with the sticky buds we call Balm of Gilead. There she lay, natures gift to us. Waiting for us as though she knew we were to pay a visit today. With the greatest respect, we harvested the bounty our Cottonwood grove offered and left offerings and blessings in return.

Populus balsamifera, Western Cottonwood, Balm of Gilead, Native to Southern California and through out America. In Southern California the leaf buds are in bloom mid February through March and this is the official part and time for collection. The leaf buds are covered in a resinous sap that has a strong terpentine odor and a bitter taste. It can be used for a variety of complaints, but especially known to treat skin problems and lung ailments. Balm of Gilead is used as a stimulating expectorant for all conditions affecting the respiratory functions when congested. The resin is used as a salve or wash on sores, it is antiseptic and anti-inflamatory, and also stimulates skin regeneration.

As for the Balm of Gilead we colected on our days journey, some will be prepared in a select oil base and become the most skin soothing and healing, luxourious handmade herbal soap. I can't wait for the oils to be ready for use. Some buds will be tinctured and bottled for future needs as they arrise. As for the closing of our day, we celebrated our time spent with nature at the ol' Descanso Cafe planning the next harvest adventure. It will be soon, as spring is blooming here in San Diego and Denise and I are ready to pay our respects to her. She obviously awaits our visit bearing gifts to share, gifts from nature with love on this Valentines Day. I love Following the Seasons!

Happy Valentines Day!



http://www.followingseasons.com/

Indulge Your Senses In Nature

Anxious For Spring

San Diego has been having so much rain this winter that spring is sure to blossom early with a big bang. In my feverish anticipation for the arrival of spring, I took some pictures of the natives to document their growth thus far in mid February.

White Sage, Salvia apiana, is about three weeks from harvest time. You want to be sure that the new growth is long and sturdy for clipping and only clip the top half. Be careful not to clip old growth, as you will be cutting off next years shoots. You also want to harvest White Sage leaves just before the flower stock shoots up. The Kumeyaay people call it the umbilical cord to the heavens and used the fresh, raw stock as a food source.

The Lemonade Berry, Rhus integrifolia, is coming into blossom. The miniature, whitish pink flowers huddle together and attract the bees. I picked a few and added them to a salad. They offered much beauty and a slight bit of crunch. Not big on flavor, but the berry will make up for that come fall! Fall...lets get back to spring!

Foeniculum vulgare or Fennel, is not a native, rather an invasive, but an invasive I'm thankful for. I love Fennel and all it's virtues. Tiny, fuzzy, fern like shoots are just beginning to appear. It will be fall before the seeds are ready to harvest, but the fennel bulb can be used now to flavor many dishes.
Hore Hound, Marrubium vulgare, another non native, it has naturalized almost everywhere in America. Long known as Horehound candy or cough drops, it can still be used today for a cough relieving remedy. It's ready to harvest and I took advantage of it by putting it up in tincture form.

There is something so satisfying about wilde harvesting your foods and medicines. The call to nature and the howl of the wilde beckons for attention. While so many states are buried in the mist of winter snow, I feel fortunate to be only an hour from Following Seasons between the coast, desert, the inland chaparral, and our local mountains, which are still hiding the new shoots of spring with several feet of snow.

Indulge Your Senses In Nature.......