MyHerbCorner

When I walk through my garden I enjoy every new herb which I planted or found his way by it self into my little herb corner.
I was lucky to find some elecampane (Inula helenium) in a friends garden. She shared her treasure and now it is thriving very well after a few problems with the full sunny place. The roots are quite big and I got only pieces of it, so wasn’t sure at all if it will grow. It is easy to cultivate this plant by seeds and I hope to get some from my friend whose elecampane is already blooming.

In another small corner burdock (Arctium lappa) is peeking out. This are the first ones I cultivate. In Austria you can still find them wild in some places. We used this plants roots to let hair grow quickly and strong. For that you dig the roots in spring or autumn and make a decoction. Massage it 3-5 times a week onto your scalp. To make the effect even faster and stronger infuse small cut root pieces in olive oil for 4 weeks. Strain and massage it once a week onto your hair. Keep your head warm with a towel and read a nice book for a hour or so. Then wash the oil out and watch your hair grow

So, I guess I should continue my walk…
Do you know what’s growing here?

This are young goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) plants.
Where they use Solidago canadensis in America, we in Europe used only virgaurea (of course… candadensis is as the word says an immigrant from Canada ;- )

In my wet corner you can find Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)

When I asked for this plant years ago in an Austrian Apothecary (we are lucky to have alternative medicines and herbs beside chemical drugs in our Apothecaries ;- ) they never ever had heard about it.
At that time I was reading Mary Summer Rains book Earthway and found Gotu Kola.
This book was my first I learned about American medicine and I treasured it for years. You never saw me without it, because there are sooooo many different live aspects in this book. From diet to wild greens as food and medicine and the most interesting… ‘Gateway healing’ (something I will discus in a later post)

Oh look! I see a self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) peeking out under the wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis)

Since I haven’t found much plantain in my area I will make an old fashioned self-heal salve

And here I in a safe corner I grow my lovely stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

I am sooo happy to finally have her growing in my garden. She is in a place where she can’t spread and I will also keep her from seeding. As you know I live in New Zealand and this country already has it’s problems with invasive European plants and animals.
If you cultivate invasive plants please be responsible and caution enough to keep it in your garden and don’t let it spread!

This not only means if you cultivate herbs, but also flowers like foxglove (Digitalis). As you see in my next picture one plant can produce 100eds of seeds and new plants. Never let foxglove or other garden plants override native places by the seeds which are carried by the wind into every direction. Collect the stalks as soon as they produce seeds and put into the rubbish (unless you want them overgrow your compost ;- ) or if you want to collect seeds be extra careful to pick them at the right time and then throw the rest away.

If you plant comfrey (Symphytum) you have to choose wise, because if you want to dig it out and plant into another spot you will produce new plants with every tiny bit of root you left in the ground.

I am glad to have periwinkle (Vinca minor) at my front door! This is such a lovely herb for tea. Kraeuter-Pfarrer Weidinger an Austrian herbalist said you can pick periwinkle the whole year round and should always take some leaves home with you if you see it. It enhances the blood circulation especially of the heart and brain.

Since I also love to eat edible wild greens which are loaded with minerals and vitamins, I am so happy to find the first wild carrot (Daucus carota) beside the periwinkle. The least people know that you can make a nourishing tea with the leaves of carrots or even use it in meals to prevent bloating.

Here another herb people not really like. It is cleavers (Galium aparine)

Maybe they don’t like it because it is clinching on every bit of your trousers or even skin. Cleavers is just a fine herb for urinary problems or people who tend to have stones or gravel. I think it is a great women herb which is helpful for hormonal imbalances.
If you find this herb you can make a tincture of the areal part (also flowering part is nice) and make a vinegar or alcohol infusion. This herb drys out quickly so best is you transform it quickly into your herbal delight.

Of course you can also make a tasty tea or infusion.

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