Summer is the time of flowers, when flowers enter in their radiating power
With the Sun having just passed the summer solstice, we experience a window of serene peace.
This period of longest days is a prime time to get some rest and to contemplate the beauty of flowers all around us. Under the long days of Sun, flowers develop brighter colours, stronger aromas and offer very potent medicines to the world. Summer is traditionally the best time to make medicine from flowers.
Here are a few flowers I would love to share some insights from.
Pohutukawa
Along the wild coasts of Aotearoa, Pohutukawa put up grand fireworks, blooming with thousands of crimson red fragrant flowers. Her sweet nectar can be collected to make an astonishing cordial. Or simply laying on one of her welcoming branches, one can benefit from her powerful medicine. Pohutukawa works majorly on the heart, and on our connection to our ancestors. It is said she helps truthful communication from the heart with people around us, and with our departed ones.
Cordial recipe: Harvest with great reverence a few handfuls of Pohutukawa flowers, placing them in a big mason jar, pouring water almost to the top. Add 3 big spoonfuls of honey or sugar and squeeze in a lemon. Stir with a wooden spoon. Let it sit for a few days if you like it fizzy (stirring every day), or just a few hours. Strain and serve it cold.
Calendula
“She who follows the Sun” as she is called in Latin, Calendula flowers in many gardens. Her bright yellow or orange flowers bring an immense source of vitality. They soothe any membrane: gut lining, lungs, throat, womb. They are amazing for many skin ailments, wounds, rashes, eczema, etc., as well as for the liver. The simplest way to capture her medicine is through an infusion of her fresh flowers. I like to add them in my smoothies and to my cooking too.
Daisies
The time has finally come when we can relax and lay down on the grass. In New Zealand, Daisies flower all year round, offering us their medicine just outside our very doorstep. Daisies bring the medicine of simplicity and the joy of being in the present moment. Laying down in a field of daisies can help us simplify our lives, even just for a moment. They are also an amazing remedy for shock, very similar to Arnica.
Rescue oil: In a delightful joyous state, pick some daisies and dry them away from direct sunlight. A few days later when they are dry, place them in a little jar (clean & dry), and with your special intentions, pour virgin olive oil onto them, to cover them completely. Leave the oil to infuse in a warm space for 2 to 4 weeks. Strain & use. You can add a few drops of essential oil for the smell. Can also be used as a facial serum.
St John's Wort
In the valleys of big mountains (Taupo, Ruapehu), St John’s Wort flourishes on stony grounds. She seems to store all the rays of sunlight until she’s burning like candelabras on the side of the roads. St John’s Wort brings the light of the Sun to anyone who needs more light in their lives. She works wonders on the nervous system too and helps us synthesize certain neurotransmitters and hormones like serotonin, melatonin and histamine. Enjoy her as a tea at night. Contraindicated with many drugs though.
Wild Carrot
All summer, Wild Carrot blooms in wild paddocks and meadows. Her white umbrellas are composed of hundreds of flowers, attracting bees. Then, she encloses her seeds in the shape of a comfy nest. Her medicine is all about mothering and nourishing ourselves. I love to integrate Wild Carrot flowers and seeds in my cooking. Her sweet, spicy and floral aromas go very well in home made custard, dessert and dressings. Beware to identify her properly, as look-alike hemlock is poisonous. Contraindicated during pregnancy.
Written By Clio Meyer
