I am working on the Urban Herbology courses at the moment. As well as creating a lot more content and member forums, I am adding podcasts and videos to the units of study. I am having a lot of fun with it!

Here is a short podcast made today, in Park Frankendael. I had a 10 minute wander in one of the Orchards and found some tasty treats.

To book a place on my next walk or workshop, see my events page.

It’s time to slowly come out of hibernation and soak up the sensations of early spring. Walking around town today, the smell of rising sap was palpable! Bulbs are up, the weather is mild and I feel happier to pluck. Imbolc is upon us.

I find this a very exciting time if year. Nature is always full of promise but faith is needed as this time of the year. How will those plants rise above the cold ground and swell? How will those bugs find the energy to buzz around us again?

From Imbolc until midsummer, nature seems to gradually build up to a frenzy of activity and productivity. This time allows us to see how plants look as they rise out of the soil. We can see the first true leaves of cleavers, the cold tolerant blades of wild garlic and the irresistible (non edible) dancing snowdrops.

I’m soaking up every ray of sunshine this Imbolc, the bright moonbeams of the blue moon and most of all the sights and sounds of emerging plants.

What is delighting you this Imbolc?

The shortest day is just behind us and the weather in Amsterdam is mild, dark and misty.  I’m looking forward to longer, brighter days.
It’s pleasant to reflect on life and be able to forage at this muddy time of year.  I’m foraging a little when the urge strikes me but not much. The plants really need a rest and I do too.

Mosses, liverworts and lichens are catching my attention these days, far more than anything else. Some are edible (in theory) and many have a multitude of uses. For me, they represent calm; deep, earthy, cool, calm  I’m enjoying looking at them a lot. Sometimes through a magnifying lens, or through a camera but mostly just by getting up close, tuning into these ancient simple plants, looking closely at how they do things and smelling the air around them. And don’t they just smell great!

I’ve developed such a love of these green beings that I am planning space for them in my garden, rather than herbs.  I’ve also been making moss gardens in old bonsai pots. My next workshop will be about kokedame (moss balls with plants growing in them). It’s a quietening phase.

Here’s a lichen, with wonderful spore trumpets, growing crustily on an old cherry tree in Frankendael. Such a pretty life form. I could study it all day!

If you also share this love of small green simple plants, I’d be delighted to hear how you celebrate them.

3pm til 5 pm this Sunday (25th November) – Celebrating the old Stijl Tuin behind Huize Frankendael. 

The day after, gardening contractors will dig up what’s left and begin to restructure the garden. Edward Clydesdale Thomson, artist in residence is organising gluwijn, hand tools, plant care advice and a good send off for the plants. The Yew trees will be moved to the local cemetery de Nieuwe Ooster Begraafplaats  (which is also a national arboretum) so we won’t be touching them but everything else can go. That’s the mature Box hedging (buxus), Catnip, Day lilies, Japanese anenomes, Acanthus, spring bulbs, Artemisias and more and more and more. 

The following day, restructuring of the garden will begin. The Stijltuin behind Huize Frankendael is an officially listed historic garden and whilst keeping the original design intact, new plants are to be added. 

Join us on Sunday afternoon if you can!