This morning, I led a small group walk around Park Frankendael and one of the adjoining streets. There are so many edible and medicinal plants growing here at the moment, it’s a real delight to see! A few of the plants which we found were Mugwort, Elderflower, Hedge woundwort, Valerian, Indian strawberry, Daisy, Yarrow, Lime, … Continue reading Elderflower time
Today was a beautiful day to harvest Elderflowers from local trees. Here is one of the simplest and tastiest ways to preserve this delight of the hedgerows and it keeps for as long as you like. This can be used instead of Elderflower syrup. To make a delicious drink, pour a small amount into a … Continue reading Elderflower honey
Not much to say about this other than TRY IT, we loved it! It also made me feel like someone from the pre Victorian age as I stirred the syrup with an enormous bag of Elderflowers immersed in it. This was required for quite some time, to prevent it sticking or bubbling over, so be … Continue reading Elderflower Delight
Following on from my recent post about Elder, here’s how to make Elderflower tea. It is very easy to make fresh Elderflower tea and there should be some Elder close to your home. When the shrub is in full bloom (May/June here in Western Europe) and on a warm dry day find an Elder away … Continue reading Elderflower Tea
It’s week 10 of the Urban Herbology Winter Foraging Challenge! This week I have laid more paths at my volkstuin garden, edged some with wood and am ordering plant labels. Have been listing the edibles and medicinal plants which are already growing there and making a crazy-long list of plants that I intend to add … Continue reading #10 Ivy
A few photos and short comments today as we rapidly approach Beltane, the festival of early summer. This week, the Lime trees which line many Amsterdam streets, burst into leaf. I love to eat these leaves, they have a mild flavour, are not tough and they bring many nutritional and medicinal uses. The trees in … Continue reading April
I haven’t posted anything for a while although have been out in the plants a surprising amount, especially considering I’m now classroom bound five days a week. Yesterday was midsummer so I held a small gathering in Park Frankendael. I felt so honoured to be surrounded by such lovely people and freely the urge to … Continue reading Sweet Midsummer
A selection of moments from April: Purple deadnettles all over town
Amsterdam was scorching hot yesterday so I headed to the open air pools of Flevobad with my daughter. We cycled through Flevopark to get there and what a green treat that place is at the moment! It’s absolutely bursting with life. Dozens of herbs caught my eye and as ever garlic mustard is BIG there. … Continue reading Day 27 UH foraging challenge
So it’s day 2 and the photos are now flooding in from my challengers. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm! They have been finding hog weed, ramsons, old beech nuts, violets, yellow dead nettle, poisonous euphorbia, strawberry, dandelion, dock, wood sorrel, elderflower and the list goes on and on and on! So many plants … Continue reading Day 2 – UH foraging challenge
Urban Herbology 