Happy Summer!

It has been a minute since I’ve written Blog.  My last published Blog was April 30.   Don’t think I haven’t made attempts.  The schedule with my new position first of all, does not allow me to post on Wednesdays, my work day.  I believe I have posted mostly on Thursdays, but it got difficult especially with the hot days.  The hot stretches of four days began May 20 and have only begun to subside this week July 12 with only two hot days.  Whooooo!  Every other day in July last season was 90º.  I don’t know which is worse – stretches of four days or every other day.  The trouble this season is the heat beginning end of May!  Of course, we are not experiencing anything close to the states out west, so thankful for living in a temperate climate. 

Tropical Storm Elsa gave us days of rain with flash flooding affecting some areas.  The subway in New York City and the Deegan Expressway flooded, folks needing to be rescued on the Deegan.  Ahhh, climate change.   As one astute young person commented, “All we can do is watch and hope we survive.”  I get worn out and very lazy.  I get my garden chores done heat or no heat.  Here in July, I am about a week behind, Green Beans, Peppers, Mustard Mix and Parsley left to get in the ground.  Any day now we will be harvesting Garlic.  I harvested scapes and forgot them in the fridge – not looking too good today.  “Sigh.”  We do our best here through climate change, thankful for the exquisite sunny 80º days – the moments that make it all worth it and we can linger in the garden.  

I can be thankful for harvesting Motherwort and Elder flower for tincture.  My goal is a gallon of tincture to serve me and customers.  As of today I need another half gallon of Elderberry, Elder flower, Motherwort and Skullcap tinctures and ¾ of a gallon ogof Milk Thistle tincture.  I did get Milk Thistle in the ground this year, but only enough to collect seed.  Exciting enough since it has been quite a few years since I planted Milk Thistle.  I’m expecting a ½ gallon Joe Pye Weed tincture, a ½ gallon of Yellow Dock tincture and a ½ gallon of Elderberry syrup by the end of the season.  The season is in full swing and although the heat is daunting, I couldn’t be happier.  This week only Tuesday is hot.  Thank you!

Elderberry, Sambucus sp.

Elderberry, Sambucus sp.

Elder Flower Tincture

Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca

Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca

Happy Summer!  June 20 was the longest day of the year and now the days get shorter as Sun draws away from us.  We transition here.  It is our first moment in the season to pull back and in and down, give thanks and reflect on the season.  We’re either on schedule or perhaps a little off like me.  Some of us haven’t done a thing.  Whatever’s going on, we can pull back and in and down, give thanks (as Covid peters out!) and reflect.  The rights and the wrongs, the ups and the downs, visions of next season start to dance in our heads.  It is a sweet ebb and flow that is a departure from the rat race of the Establishment.  Of course, I also follow Moon with my New Moon Prayer Week (July 9).  We wax Full Moon by the 23.  Dare I say these are the tools of woman as we learn our inner flows are connected to Earth and Moon.  We have the space and the time and the energy to recapture our ancient rituals.  We are the everlasting undercurrent through every empire.  We are no longer burned and tortured for our magical ways by the Establishment.  Men have taken to rape and murder.  We are free to engage and explore our natural rhythms.

We send strength, power and energy to our beautiful women leaders who were arrested for marching on the Senate to protect voting rights including the Representative Joyce Beatty from Ohio.  We cannot ignore or forget the role of black women in the struggle for civil rights – Ida B. Wells, Ella Baker and the great Gloria Richardson who just passed on last weekend at 99.  The baton has been passed and we must run our leg of the struggle.  The young folks are rolling up strong behind us and I find myself surrounded by the most beautiful young women of color and I am proud and so happy to lend them support.  Along with boots on the ground, we can vision the world we want, easily as powerful.  The Law of Attraction states that the universe exists to comply with our every wish, we just have to be clear in our wanting.  The Establishment is good at convoluting our thoughts and creating distress in our daily lives, but through meditation and mindfulness practice we can become clear. 

Anise Hyssop is in full bloom these days as are Wild Bergamot, Echinacea and Elecampane.  We can harvest Wild Bergamot flowers for tea, but I usually wait until Autumn when it is time to harvet the root of Echinacea and Elecampane for tincture.  Herb Pharm out of Oregon uses the flower, leaf, root and seed to make a Super Echinacea tincture.  I have been using it along with Elderberry tincture throughout Covid for prevention.

Anise Hyssop, Agastache foeniculum

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Anise Hyssop, Agastache foeniculum

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa, Labiatae, Perennial, Turtle Island
Wild Bergamot is the sister to our well know Bee Balm (M. didyma), the red-flowered version of Bergamot.  I regularly harvest the leaf and flower for tea through the Winter.  Wild Bergamot tea is good for digestive issues and carries a bit of a mind altering kick.  Exquisite lavender colored flowers attract all manner of insects including the fabulous humming bee.

Echinacea, Echinacea purpurea

Elecampane, Inula helenium

Midseason is upon us.  We have managed through the heat to a lovely 58º this morning.  I had to pull my comforter onto the bed.  I am menopausal as I have mentioned (November will be three years).  I got a Moon this week after six months without.  The last two days I have been sleeping in.  Menopause is quite a ride.  Who knows when flow will finally cease?!  I have taken to allowing the days to take the time they take.  No more watching the clock to be on schedule.  Yesterday, I had sooo many little tasks to complete, I didn't get to the garden until 2:00pm.  And then I had to leave at 3:00 to run an errand.  At least I got Tomato stakes in and watered!  What can I do?  I do want to flow with the natural world and Mother shows me how to take it easy.  Grow old gracefully.

We struggle, we dance, we laugh, we cry, we struggle some more.  The great dance of life.  Nothing to it but to do it.  I give thanks for another season.  Breathe and relax.  Happy Summer!  Enjoy!