What do I want to be “KNOWN FOR”? 

This question was asked of me by a marketer recently. Pondering it lead me down a few paths, until I had the summer joy of sharing my love of plants and the history of where that came from, with a dear friend seen in the above picture. This delightful way to spend a summer morning made me want to answer the above question with the title of “Rose petal picker EXTRAORDINAIRE”, along with teacher of nature, medicine maker, lover of life,  and of course supporter of Health that Flourishes.   

  All four seasons have their magic and beauty however my dreams and day dreams are usually set in fair weather, with spring flowers and warm breezes.  Perhaps this is a simple craving after a really cool spring, or some peculiarity of mental health, or that I ate watermelon before bed…
Which ever of these it may be I am  and living this new title I bestow upon myself  by sharing a favourite rose patch with a friend who was curious about what to do with them and how they could be medicinal. It is that season of my dreams  and I celebrate it by making anything and everything I can think of with rose petals. Rose petal tea, rose infused honey, rose tincture or cordial , or even rose salad dressings will be made and available in the coming months at Flourishing Health clinic. Another favourite way to enjoy rose is through aromatherapy.  
Aromatically Roses are the highest vibration of essential oils and they are chemically very complex and treat a myriad of disharmonies in the body and dare I say the world.  We give roses as gifts. The smell of them may remind you of a time or event or even special person in your life. Such is the case for me. They literally are heart warming and stress reducing. 
 
 My petite French grandma grew roses and made rosehip syrup and tea which was loaded with vitamin C and other antioxidants. One year she gathered as many of her grand children as possible for a special rose event.  She gave each of us a pair of garden gloves and a bucket or bag and we set off on my parent’s farm for a blissful morning of gathering Wild Rose petals. This special event was filled with much frolicking, wild flowers in our hair, picking and eating contests and eventually about 5 gallons of the delicate pink petals were gathered. 
 
From these fragile pink gems she coaxed the best wine I have in my life tasted. It transported me back to that early June day of sunshine, family and roses, with a taste that entered through taste buds and curled to every cell in a domino wave of delight. As this event happened when I was only 10 years of age one could ask – What did I know about wine yet again the complex aromatherapy chemistry of wild rose?  
The wine was doled in small portion at weddings, funerals, and family gatherings for a few years following the grand day and my original assumption of its magnificence grew with each sip through those years’ special events. 
 
A few years ago, I inherited my grandmother’s wine recipe  books, and will someday make rose petal wine. Until then I invite you to pick a few and sprinkle them on your granola, your salad, your dessert, your life, and cherish the joy with the grand energy of springing into summer they carry. 
I also have rose essential oil and can custom blend a perfume including it if you desire. An aromatherapy consultation complete with blend in lotion or perfume format is available at Flourishing Health in Invermere. I am a  Registered Aromatherapist, and rose petal picker extraordinaire, which some days is more special to me than all the other letters behind my name.  

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It is the season to not only smell the flowers yet also to gather the leaves, flowers, berries, and bark for herbal medicine making. A favorite yet busy time of year, filled with foraging walks and hours of prepping the plant material when I get home. 

My window sills are lined with herbal honeys, and flower infused oils, or savoury vinegars, warming daily for about a month until the herbal elixirs they hold are gently released into the carrier medium. So far this season the rotation on the window sills has included: dandelion, elder flower, mint, rose petal and arnica. Today I will start some sour cherry vinegar to have a choice location in the warm and sunny spot. These infusions will bring a dose of summer whether they are used medicinally or for culinary spice in the coming months. That dose of summer plant magic and the sun’s healing energy may simply brighten a winter sauce or cure an ache or bruise – both extremely needed and useful. 

An even simpler option to adding some herbal medicine making to your summer is to simply pick clean dry herbs and dry them in a dark, dry spot. Bundle a group of these herbs with a string or elastic at the base and drape the herbs over a line hung in your cozy dark pantry. If the herbs have seeds or flower petals that may fall as they dry, placing them into a paper bag to catch the seed or petals, may prove useful. In about 3- 4 weeks the herbs will be dry enough to crush and use as powdered herbs in cooking or for teas. Some easy ones to try this on are: mint, oregano, thyme, lemon balm, marjoram, and rosemary. These herbs are often locally available.

When the herbs are well dried, strip leaves from stems or crush with a rolling pin and store in small glass bottles. They will be much fresher, and save you $ compared to the store-bought versions.  Remember to label each bottle with what plant it is and the date of harvest, so you will know what it is among the many jars of green leaves that may accumulate in your cupboard.  Yes, I’m speaking from experience on that mystery green leaf topic!

Herbs may also be dried with a dehydrator, yet I often prefer the slower air-dry quality to the heat that a dehydrator uses. 

Ok get out there and enjoy the smells and tastes of summer and if you have time or inclination put some of these ideas to use. Another option is to call me as I will probably have lots to share or sell in my clinic. 

My complementary health service clinic offerings of Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Several Massage Techniques and Herbal medicines will be moving to a new space at 518 – 13 Street inside of Fusion Wellness Spa as of July 23, 2019.  Looking forward to seeing you there! 

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