Hairy Bittercress ~ Cardamine hirsute

Jeanne over at The Candy Corn Chronicles/ http://wildwoodsartstudio.blogspot.com/ helped properly identify this beautiful little plant. Thank-you so much Jeanne !

I really don't understand why they call it " Hairy Bittercress " , it has a wonderful taste. It's not hairy or bitter to me , I'll be adding the leaves to my salads this Spring. I would encourage you to try it , if it grows in your area. But please make sure you study and properly i.d. any plant before eating.

~ Greenest Blessings ~
JoyceAnn

First Herb Walk in 2011 ......................

I went on a herb walk yesterday , found a couple of plants I haven't been able to identify. Hope someone can help me i.d. the plant above and the one below. I think the plant above is some type of cress , it forms in a rosette , found it growing in the garden and the field. The center is a purplish-red color and it's blooms are white. Could it be spring cress ??

I found this little beauty growing in the woods. I'm not sure what it is , but it's lovely. Please let me know if you can identify this plant.


Yippee , the chickweed is growing. I'll be harvesting some soon.


~ Happy Herbal Blessings ~
JoyceAnn

Herbal Ally Challenge 5 / Dandelion Vinegar

We were to make a vinegar with our herbal ally this week. Since I've used up my dried dandelion leaves , I took a walk around the yard to see if I could find any early dandelion. I found 1 lonesome plant and foraged the best leaves. I do have frozen dandelion blossoms on hand , so I added the leaves and a few blossoms to make my herbal vinegar. I only made a 8 oz. jar , will make more as soon as the dandelion starts popping up , which should be next month. I've placed it in a dark cabinet and it will stay there for 3 weeks. I also made a dandelion blossom infusion , which I've been drinking the last 2 days. It has a mild pleasant taste alone and is delightful with a taste of honey.

~ Dandelion Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

Herbal Ally Challenge 3 and 4

I haven't drawn my dear friend dandelion this week , but I found an older drawing and a few of my favorite pics to share plus another tea recipe.

Dandelion Tea

8 Dandelion flowers

12 oz. boiling water

Honey to taste

Boil water ~ pour over flowers ~ steep 5 to 10 minutes

strain ~ add honey to taste ~ Enjoy !

Dandelion ~ Taraxacum officinale


Diuretic , Tonic , Stomachic , Aperient , Deobstrent

In other words ..........

Beneficial for urinary problems and urinary ulcers , obstructions of the liver , gallbladder and spleen , diseases of the biliary organs , rheumatism , digestive problems , sedative. Skin diseases such as eczema.

Other Uses

Sap from Stems ~ Is used to remove warts

Roots ~ Can be used to make a red dye

Leaves & Roots ~ Liquid Plant Food

Flowers ~ Beer and Wine

I'm looking forward to trying dandelion as a liquid plant food and making the red dye this Spring. I had never heard of using dandelion as a plant food before , found that to be very interesting.

~ Dandelion Blessings ~