Yesterday I walked to a local public garden and harvested a carrier bag full of leaf and blossom sprigs from Lime/Linden (Tilia) trees. These trees smell great at the moment. Whole neighbourhoods are perfumed by Lime flowers, loaded with nectar to attract hoards of bees. If you pluck clean a clean lime flower from a … Continue reading Lime leaves & flowers – sandwiches, scented water and drying (NL:Linden, Tilia)
City bees are dizzy with happiness at present. The sweet perfume of Lime (NL:Linden, Tilia spp.) trees fills the air in many streets and parks, attracting bees from far and wide. This tree looks wonderful, can grow to a stately height, is great for wildlife and it’s flowers are used to make the best herb … Continue reading Lime (NL:Linden) for Magical Midsummer Happiness
Saturday 18th December 202113.00 – 14.30Park Frankendael, Amsterdam€15 per person (my apprentices – free)Booking through Meetup As we approach the shortest day of the year, I invite you to join me for a wander around the woody parts of Park Frankendael. We will be looking at the edible and medicinal plants which can be found … Continue reading Winter Solstice Walk
So we are into week 2 of my Winter Foraging Challenge. Thanks to those who tried to find the nourishing leaf buds from Tilia trees last week. Some of you sent me photos of your foraged finds. No one sent me a Lime bud photo but in hunting for them, Stinging nettles, Elder and Dandelions … Continue reading #2 Common Mallow
I’d like to offer you all a little winter-warming challenge. Come forage with me, however near or far away you are! Let’s track down some nutrient loaded plants, cook up a few treats and stir some strange brews to ease us all through the darkest part of the year. I’ll add ideas here each Tuesday, … Continue reading Winter foraging challenge
For English click here De laatste tijd hebben een paar vrienden en familie me een zetje gegeven over deze botanische stoepkrijt die momenteel in Europa gaande is. Ann van City Plot gaf me gisteravond een zetje, wat de laatste strohalm heeft bewezen – het is duidelijk tijd dat we beginnen met meedoen! Wil iemand meedoen … Continue reading Stoepkrijt tijd
Voor nederlands klik hier Lately, a few friends and family have nudged me about this botanical street chalking that’s going on in Europe right now. Ann from City Plot gave me a nudge last night which has proved the final straw – it’s clearly time that we start to join in the fun! Anyone in? … Continue reading Chalk and talk
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
One thing that I really miss when I am at school all week, is a long, relaxed, morning walk. I really need to start weaving more walks into my work week schedule. In any case, I certainly can’t complain as I am now on school holiday for a couple of weeks so started with a … Continue reading Midwinter Malva
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
Urban Herbology 