Creative Nature

Elderflower Magic   So I looked out for recipes to make elderflower cordial and was put off by the use of lemons which I prefer to avoid. I found instead recipes to make a couple of interesting vinegars: an elderflower one using white wine vinegar & from: www.indieherbalist.com a lovely recipe for 3-Flower Vinegar, which can be used as a beauty treatment (gorgeous toner); first aid (for sunburn, eczema, dry skin, liniment for tight, sore muscles); a refreshing drink (teaspoon of the concoction added to water with a little honey), or used in cooking or salads. Marvellous! I used my own lavender heads; rose petals & foraged elderflowers. I just have to keep the stuff in a cool, dark place, & stir occasionally for the next 2 weeks. It's so good to be doing this stuff instead of just thinking bout it! I knew this project would do me the World of Good, I was soooo excited when I signed up: it's been the best thing!   I also have some...

The 'Outback'   I'm wondering if 'wild' actually means neglected? Or, Free-range? Free rein? Free? My back-garden is now totally wild: a little bit exciting! I like it's bare-foot, long-haired style, and I love fresh flowers in the house.  The wildness adds up to: roses, forget-me-nots, harebells & jasmine (intoxicating scent!). Enough for a friend, too.   A recent visitor told me the lavender (& geranium) in the front garden is making leaving & arriving more of a challenge. I'm looking for things I can do with soooo much of it; perhaps make a bundle for 'smudging' - so I can do a little shamanic space-clearing (much needed!)     On my walk down to the sea front today I saw a sweet use of a tree-stump that had been cut down (Dutch Elm Disease?) An altogether tidier way of containing lavender: quite a contrast. City lavender, left; mine, right (ahem, almost blocking the front gat...