In Our Forest Now. . .

As summer begins to fade many herbs are waiting to be harvested. Here are some of the plants we’re seeing or harvesting now.

Yellow Passionflower

Yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea), is very small, with leaves 3 inches across while it’s greenish-yellow flowers are barely 1 inch across. It takes a sharp eye to notice the small blooms against the deep green of the forest. Like the more commonly used Passiflora incarnata (a much larger plant), whose blooms are pink, yellow passionflower is a nervine relaxant and
antispasmodic. Because yellow passionflower is rare, I have never harvested
it, preferring to use the more weedy P. incarnata.

Black Cohosh

It is almost time to harvest black cohosh (Actaea racemosa). The flowers have faded, and the seed heads are ripening quickly. I always like to harvest this root late in the year, after the foliage dies back, when the only visible identifying characteristic is the dried seed head of the flowers.

Jewelweed

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is still flowering in damp, cool places. At my house, we’ve been harvesting this plant all summer to treat severe cases of poison ivy. It always works! Now is the time to make jewelweed salve for winter and spring use. [For the recipe, see page 98 in my book, Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians.]

Boneset

Boneset, (Eupatorium perforatum) is one of my favorite herbs. The other day I was happy to see it blooming along the shores of the pond while I was swimming. Look for boneset lining the edges of bodies of fresh water. In this picture you can see the distinctive way the opposing leaves grow together around the stem, making it easy to identify.

For more information on harvesting, medicine making, and uses of these and many other local native herbs, consult your copy of my book, Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians or join me for a class here in the mountains.

Calendar

Events and Special Announcements

2009 Herbal Studies Certification Program Registration Now Open!

Members of the 2008 Certification Program

We’ve begun accepting applications for the 2009 Program. The first class starts the weekend of February 21 & 22, 2009, and meets one weekend a month through November. See Program Details for more information. If you are in the area, we invite you to sit in on one of our current class sessions. Feel free to contact us with your questions!

It’s Time to Start Making Cold Remedies

Many of the plants most effective in the treatment of colds and flu are ready to be harvested now. We’re getting ready to gather boneset, Joe-Pye-weed, spicebush berries, black cohosh roots, a small amount of bloodroot, wild cherry bark and sumac berries. These are the main ingredients used in our cough syrups and winter teas. If you’d like a free copy of my favorite cough syrup recipe, send us an e-mail.

Herb Walk and Medicine Making Class at Foxfire Center on September 18th

On Thursday September 18th, Patricia Kyritsi Howell leads an herb walk along the beautiful trails of the Foxfire Center in Mountain City, Georgia. We’ll spend the morning seeing native herbs that have a long history of use in the Appalachians mountains. In the afternoon, you’ll learn how to make an herbal salve to take home. Cost is only $25. All proceeds benefit Foxfire Foundation. For more information, visit the Foxfire Center website or call 706-746-2528.

BotanoLogos

For over 14 years, the BotanoLogos School for Herbal Studies has specialized in teaching about Southern Appalachian medicinal herbs.

Our programs provide experiential learning in the botanically rich Appalachian mountains of Northeast Georgia, USA.

Program director Patricia Kyritsi Howell, Registered Herbalist (AHG) is the author of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians, an essential reference about how to use native medicinal plants.

Current Course Offerings:

2009 Herbal Studies Certification Program Registration Now Open!

(Please check Calendar or Certification Program for more information)

Buy Your Copy of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians Today!