I gather and dry flowers and herbs all summer long but my favorite to pick is the chamomile. The patch is fragrant and joyful in the breeze. The way a hot cup of chamomile tea feels in the belly is similar to how it feels to harvest the flower: tranquil, calming. The evening cool comes as a relief after hours of sunshine and wind. My livestock, dogs, and cats come to settle around the herb garden, chattering amongst themselves in beeps, cheeps, squeals, snorts, barks, meows, sipping water from the puddle that formed beneath the leaky garden hose joint (note to self, fix the leaky hose). It’s a version of heaven. Peaceful. As the evening turns to gold, I bend at the waist, reach out with one hand and rake my fingertips through the chamomile stalks — the flower heads pop off easily into my hand. I do this over and over again, rhythmically, until each blossom in the patch has been collected. Then I’ll wait two days and do it all over again. One cannot appreciate how much effort goes into a cup of chamomile tea until they have grown, gathered, and dried the blossom themself. I never take my tea for granted, I never leave a cup of home harvested tisane unfinished. After collecting the blossoms, I dry them until they’re slightly crumbly and store them in large mason jars in my pantry for winter brewing. My harvests and preserving efforts have begun here with garlic scape pickles in the pantry fridge and racks of raspberry leaf, oregano, chive, and chamomile drying in the kitchen. It’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all I’ll put up this summer. One of the best views in the world is watching the pantry shelves slowly fill with the exquisite treasures of the growing season (another great view is a happy goose in the oregano).
Divine!! May I ask what kind of chamomile you grow? I’ve made tisanes with the German variety in my yard, but it tends to taste more medicinal/numbing than store bought. Also, totally supporting your IG break…I’m separating myself from the current toxicity as well.
I believe this is Roman Chamomile.
Thanks for supporting my IG break. Glad you’re taking one, too.
Colette went to use our dehydrator with Chamomile yesterday and found that I left it dirty and had one shelf with jerky I had missed. That went to the raccoons I guess I should clean that sucker today. Big hugs from our home to yours friend.
EW, Justin!
Hugs back to you and C. I hope you guys have a great weekend.
I have herbs for herb teas too, my 2 favorite are Rosemary and Verbena….may be I should also grow chamomile…you just make me want to grow chamomile!!!!!!!!!!! I so understand for your Instagram break too, we are living in weird times, it is nice to be grounded in nature and soil and plants, and keep control n our own lives as much as we can. I wish you a wonderful beginning of Summer, here the weather is still a bit cold (southern part of BC, Canada) but it will come and we have a lot of rain so everything is lush, beautiful, all tones of greens in nature right now!!!!!On my way to find some chamomile starter!!!!!!!!! Thanks!
Rosemary is a beautiful herb to grow — it can make a really nice indoor plant, too, if you are inclined. Verbena is one of my favorites!!! I failed to get one planted this year because all our plant nurseries have been closed or I haven’t made it outside of the farm in eons. I should see if I can find one somewhere…
I’m really focused on my own heart, my home, my neighbors and my community right now…the rest of the world can wait.
XX
“happy goose in the oregano” that just brings a smile – thanks!
Keep the Joy –
Thanks for being here, David!
X
Yeah, goose in the garden.
I was kinda sorta at a loss of which flowers I wanted in my garden this year. Now I see I should have planted chamomile. Maybe next year. [Slapping forehead….] Maybe THIS year, I might make an extra row in the garden!!
xx
Put it where you want it to grow forever!!! It will keep coming back! You’d like the slow picking of these flowers and I know what a tea/tisane drinker you are. Hearts. Hearts. Hearts.
XX
It was lovely to collect chamomile blossoms with you today. And the goose ….. ♥️ I hope all is well with you.
All is well here. Quiet. Steady. Faithful.
I hope you are finding time to work, my angel.
XX
Time? Yes. Peace of mind and heart? That has been much more difficult to find.
Time? Yes. Peace of mind and heart? That has been much more difficult to find.
🙂 Love your journal always. Such good writing and photography!!!!
~ Lover of tiny things ..:)
You’re always making me itchy for a longer growing season! The rogue chamomile at the end of the drive won’t be up till July, but last week down along the Green, the flow just tipped over from a couple of hot days, so I forgot the rod in the truck & happily harvested violets along it’s banks instead. Hard to beat a cuppa of cheery pink lemonade courtesy of the sage steppe! For the first time ever, inspired by ye, I’ve planted flowers with no edibility or so-called purpose to my human self other than sheer joy at seeing what comes to blossom for the pollinators. Wish them warm nights & a wind break!!
I’ve missed reading your blog, seeing and imagining your life. Over the years its been an inspiration to me to get out on the land more and I’m finally in the beginning of that reality.
Can’t wait to have my own giant patch of chamomile!