Wise Woman Herbal Ezine ~ February 6, 2012

To read the entire Wise Woman Herbal Ezine visit: http://wisewomanherbalezine.com/wordpress/2012/02/06/february-6-2012/

Green Report ~ Susun Weed

Loving greetings to you all in the month of love.
I love February. Not just because of valentines (especially the chocolate kind), and not just because of my birthday on the 8th, but also because spring begins. The tree buds swell. Green shoots emerge. Spring starts on February 2, that’s Groundhog Day, the Feast of Flames, Bridgette’s Day. Celebrate spring and love. Feel the love of the Earth for you; there in every step. Feel the love of the plants for you; there in every breath.
And here’s your top-of-the-month green report:
Look at what I found: snowdrops blooming!
White pine needles, just what we need for Homemade Balsamic Vinegar (see recipe below).
White pine needles are in groups of five
Wild chives, yummy minced into butter, omelets, and salads. They make a fab vinegar.
Wild cresses, in abundance now, so they will be our focus this month.

~Barbara’s cress has shiny leaves
~Rock cress is tiny
~Winter leaves of Queen of the Night, a cress
~Look for garlic mustard in protected corners
A couple of words about the photos accompanying these reports. The pictures are taken in my yard a few days before I write the report (and about a week before you read it). They show the plants as they are, right now. You probably can’t use them to identify plants.
It is almost impossible to make a trustworthy identification of a plant from a photo. Instead, join me for a class or two this year. Every class includes time outside identifying plants. Being with the plants allows you to see their true colors, and most importantly, to smell and taste them (these are the most stable characteristics, persisting in all stages of growth and all times of the year).
Green blessings,

Susun Weed

www.susunweed.com