Botanical Anthology is an indie magazine made by and for plant lovers, which I am lucky to write articles for, edit, and help produce. It is very much a labor of love and is full of herbal and seasonal magic! Apothecary knowledge, tasty recipes, gardening tips, creative crafts, folklore, seasonal celebrations, interviews, and more!
Now through 6/26, you can pick up the digital (ebook) edition for only $15 and it comes with the All About Chamomile bonus booklet free!
Or purchase the print edition via Amazon or Lulu, and email your proof of purchase to plantwondercollective@gmail.com to get your free digital All About Chamomile booklet!
June is here! For my family that means trips to nearby and faraway lakes, balmy-breezy backyard days, jar after jar of fresh herbal sun tea, and strawberries galore. Summer is here in spirit, even before the solstice has occurred, and we feel it on our sun-warmed shoulders.
To that end, here are some of my favorite June plants!
Linden: the herb of the month with the Plant Wonder Collective this June, my local linden trees aren’t in bloom yet but I have some lovely, high quality dried linden leaf and blossom to work with. This gentle, soothing herb is perfect for refreshing and calming with its moist, cooling action, making it perfect for summer. I plan to make the most of working more closely with this herb in tension-taming recipes, inside and out! Whether applied to sunburn, added to cooking baths, or dipped in chilled herbal concoctions, I have a feeling linden will become a summertime staple for me and my rambunctious kiddos. Stay tuned to see how I work with it throughout the month!
Chamomile: these joyful, sunny blooms begin to really take off in my garden in June! I love sipping soothing chamomile on summer evenings to wind down, pairing it with strawberries in fresh and baked treats, and even just burying my nose in their little delicate blooms as I harvest them. I always make sure to dry at least one jar’s worth despite feeling greedy to enjoy it all fresh—because there is nothing like the honey-sweet scent of freshly dried chamomile when you open the jar and stick your nose in. It is true garden magic!
Mint: mint is so easy to grow, it thrives in June, and my kiddos love tending their own pots of it. I love making skin-soothing fresh hydrosols on my stovetop with mint! It’s easy to do and when stored in the fridge in a little mister bottle, it is the best thing ever to spritz onto sunburned skin or even just your overheated face after toiling away in the garden under the summer sun. I also adore adding mint to every cold drink I make in the summer, be it tea, lemonade, mocktail, or cocktail.
Tulsi: it is my first year to grow tulsi in my garden, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! This amazing herb is beloved by plant nerds, and for good reason. Also called holy basil, and sacred in Ayurveda, it is the queen of herbs and a boon to mind, heart, body, and spirit. Though energetically it is gently warming and drying, it is still lovely in the summertime (perhaps I’m a good candidate as I can feel so soggy and wrung out in the hot weather). I plan to brew many jars of fresh tulsi chai to enjoy on ice this summer—here’s to that extra tulsi pep in my step!
Echinacea: I have recently fallen in love with this native species which begins to fan out its showy blooms in June where I live. It is more than just a cold remedy! Echinacea attracts pollinators to the garden, and planting it is a small act of giving back to the earth as the species has suffered from over-harvesting. Echinacea represents inner strength, healing, and prosperity.
Strawberry: ripe for the picking, sweet strawberries are a June staple! So much so, that June’s full moon is often called the Strawberry Moon. These berries’ sweetness is the perfect pairing with many other herbs: with chamomile in shortbread, popsicles, or cakes; with lavender in delicious cocktails; with lemon balm and lemons for a super relaxing lemonade drink; with thyme, in a surprising savory-and-sweet combo; and the list goes on.
I am so excited that June’s full moon (the Strawberry Moon) and Litha (the summer solstice) fall together this year. It is a convergence that doesn’t happen often—in fact, the last time it did was 1985! All that bright energy of both the longest day and the full moon combined—so magical!
For me, I think the order of the day is celebration, gratitude, and soaking up every bit of that energy I can. I feel like too often, we see these astrological occasions as calls to act in grandiose ways, to manifest changes and new directions, to enact grand gestures. But this pressure is not necessary, and most likely you have many plates spinning already at this busy cusp of summer! Instead, it is perfectly okay to give yourself permission to rest, recharge from the added light, lean into the sensation of lightness, and simply enjoy and give thanks. Mindfulness can be your act of devotion.
To this end, I am going to brew a Sun and Moon Tea!
I am calling the tea such because I’ve chosen a blend of herbs and botanicals that includes affinities for both the sun and the moon to reflect the meaning of the occasion. There are also botanicals chosen for their ties to Litha, fire, water, and Venus, all of which I am feeling strong influences of during this time.
Here are the ingredients, and a few of their astrological ties:
•Linden (sun, Litha)
•Chamomile (sun, Litha)
•Jasmine (moon, water)
•Rosemary (sun, moon, fire)
•Strawberry (strawberry moon, Venus, water)
•Hibiscus (fire, water, Venus)
•Lavender (Litha)
And here is the recipe! It’s simple, so you can concentrate on enjoying your mindful moments under the solstice sun and Strawberry Moon.
Ingredients
32 oz mason jar
1 cup sliced strawberries
2 Tbsp hibiscus
1 Tbsp rosemary
1 Tbsp linden
1 Tbsp chamomile
1 Tbsp jasmine
½ Tbsp lavender
Honey to taste, optional
Directions
Add ingredients to mason jar and fill with cold, fresh water. (If using dried herbs, you might choose to place them in a large eco-friendly tea bag or linen reusable tea bag.)
Cap tightly and place in a sunny location (free of disturbance by kids or pets!) for 2-3 hours.
If not using a tea bag or strainer, strain tea into a fresh jar or a pitcher over ice if drinking immediately. You can stir in honey while it is still warm if you’d like! Refrigerate and drink cold.
Note—
You can substitute fresh herbs for dried ones if you have access to them! You don’t necessarily have to go by the measurements in that case—just add sprigs of each.
For a printable Litha Tea Meditation journaling page and a printable version of this recipe, join my Patreon at Patreon.com/theherbologyfaerie!
It’s here! The launch of theSummer edition of Botanical Anthology is TODAY! It’s coming at ya just when the heat is rising, and plants are coming into their full glory.
A plant lover’s dream, Botanical Anthology is a seasonal, plant-centered digital + print magazine bringing you over 40 articles from over 40 contributors in 110+ pages to incorporate herbs in your apothecary, kitchen, self-care, foraging, gardening, crafts, and summer celebrations. This is our ninth edition, beginning our next circle around the sun.
(I am extra proud of this magazine because not only am I a contributing writer, but I am also the copyeditor of the magazine!)
At Plant Wonder Collective, we love sharing daily inspiration on our plant of the month, but for this project, we really want to connect to the seasons. Let us be your guide to working with plants in the months ahead.
Through 6/19, grab your digital copy for just $16 and receive the All About Rose booklet for free!
This is an excerpt from the Summer edition of Botanical Anthology. A plant lover’s dream, it is a seasonal, plant centered quarterly publication bringing you over 45 articles from 46 contributors to incorporate herbs in your apothecary, kitchen, summer foraging and gardening, crafts, and celebrations.
This herbal magazine, featuring remedies and recipes with medicinal plants for budding herbalists, can be purchased as a digital version here and as a printed version here.
Photo by Kristine Clay
If you enjoy the classic herbal cocktail, the mint julep, then this fruity, floral rendition is sure to become a fast favorite.
Infused whiskey lends stunning color and bursts with fresh strawberry flavor, while lavender rounds out the beverage with pleasant herbaceous notes that hint of mint. Lavender can ease stress and anxiety, helping you to unwind as you sip.
Serve this boozy beverage at your next get together or enjoy with friends on a warm summer evening.
Strawberry Whiskey Materials
2 c strawberries, fresh, sliced
Whiskey
16 oz jar
Strawberry Whiskey Method
Place strawberries in a jar.
Pour whiskey over top, filling the jar.
Cap tightly with a lid and shake well. Let the strawberries steep in whiskey for at least 1-2 weeks, shaking daily or as often as you remember.
You can use the whiskey after about a week, but giving it a full 2 weeks to infuse will allow the flavor to really develop.
Note
If you won’t be using the whiskey right away, there’s no need to strain out the infusing strawberries after 2 weeks. Longer steep times allow the flavor to deepen, and can make for a very tasty liquor.
Photo by Kristine Clay
Lavender Simple Syrup Materials
¼ c lavender, dried
½ c sugar
¼ c lime juice
¼ c water
Lavender Simple Syrup Method
Add the ingredients to a small saucepan.
Bring the liquid to a rapid boil then reduce the heat and simmer lightly for about 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and let the syrup cool.
Strain out the lavender pieces and bottle the syrup.
Store leftover syrup in the refrigerator.
Photo by Kristine Clay
Strawberry Lavender Julep Materials
1 ½ f. oz strawberry whiskey
½ fl oz lavender simple syrup
Ice cubes
Fresh lavender sprigs
Club soda or sparkling water, optional
Strawberry Lavender Julep Method
Pour whiskey and simple syrup into a glass and stir.
Add ice.
If desired, top with a splash of club soda or sparkling water.
Garnish with a sprig or two of fresh lavender.
Note
This recipe makes one cocktail.
Article written by Kristine Clay. Kristine is a mother, herbalist, & writer who lives on an off-grid homestead in the Ecuadorian Andes. She enjoys crafting botanical concoctions, baking, and hiking with her partner in the eco-sanctuary they steward. You can read her musings about herbs, nourishing foods, & holistic mothering on her blog: mamalibelula.com and find out more about Andean plants, regenerative land management, & raising rabbits at: SierrayCielo.org.
I am so, so very excited to share with you about this labor of love, the Summer edition of Botanical Anthology, which is launching tomorrow, June 12!
I am personally more involved than ever in the production of this publication—aside from writing articles for it, I am now its copyeditor. I’ve worked closely with the magazine’s founder/editor, my friend Harmonie, on the design and content of this edition as well as editing all the articles. I can tell you that all 46 contributors are bringing amazing articles, recipes, and other content centering around summer and how to incorporate herbs in your apothecary, kitchen, spring foraging and gardening, crafts, and summer celebrations.
Here is a sampling of what’s inside:
* Whip up an itch soothing salve, steep a California poppy tincture + infuse an evening primrose oil
* Whisk a milky oats honey mustard, make watermint chocolate chip ice cream + bake a starflower cucumber cake
* Grow amaranth, make fertilizer with comfrey + learn why you should add herbs to your garden
* Create clay mushrooms, eco print with coreopsis + make sidewalk chalk
* Form summer rituals, build a Lion’s Gate altar + discover rose family folklore
* Celebrate Summer Solstice + Lammas with simple observances
* Meet Rebecca Desnos, Susan Leopold + Tiffany Jones
From June 12th – 21st, receive the Botanical Anthology Summer edition digital download, plus our lavender bonus booklet download, for just $18. Come next week, the lavender booklet will no longer be included, and the price will increase.
And now you can purchase a printed option via Amazon!! Plus we have gift card and digital subscription options on our website!
As a thank you for being here with me as a BLOG FOLLOWER, enjoy $3 off the publication with the code: BASummer23Take$3
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this message as I share my excitement about this magazine I am so lucky to be a part of. If you’d like to learn more about the publication and what’s inside, and consider buying your own copy, follow this link:
If you’re in the northern hemisphere like me, then the summer solstice, or Litha, is approaching! To me, there is nothing more hygge than aligning yourself with the seasons, the natural world around you, and traditions associated with each spoke on the wheel of the year.
To that end, this week I have a few super simple, low-energy activities planned to do with my kids. I am all for low-cost, low-prep ways to ground yourself in the season and reap what it has to offer. But I never seem to have time or energy to put a ton of effort into anything elaborate. That’s not really necessary, though! Do things up as big or as small as you like, but in my opinion, simplicity never goes amiss.
Summer Treats: Fruit Salad, Herbed Lemon Bars, Popsicles
The summer solstice revolves around the idea of transformation. The fruits of the season are ripe for the picking! So I’ve been making super simple fruit salads with local fruits, fresh herbs, raw honey, and squeezed citrus. This is an excellent way to experience the transformation of spring blossoms into summer bounty.
Watermelon, strawberry, peach, basil, lime, and honey fruit salad
Later this week, the kids and I plan to also incorporate some of those fresh fruits and herbs in simple homemade ice pops! We are going to add vanilla yogurt (you can use dairy or plant-based) to make it a creamy, satisfying treat.
Finally, lemon bars are a summer favorite of mine. Add summer rosemary or lavender, and you’ve got a festive, cottagecore-worthy baked treat! While you can find some excellent recipes on Pinterest, I am probably just going to make a boxed mix and add my own herbs in. (No shame in the boxed mix game!)
Summer Sips: Cooling Iced Sun Teas
You can’t beat the power of the sun to brew tea. It’s so simple, and you feel like you’re sipping on summer sunshine when you drink your brews! Just add about a tablespoon of herbs per cup of water in a tea strainer or eco-friendly paper teabag, place in a glass jar, fill with cold water and put the lid on tightly, and leave in full sun for 2-4 hours. I sometimes stir in a bit of sweetener (honey works great or your own choice of sweetener), place in the fridge for several hours, and then sip straight from the jar with a reusable straw.
I have been mixing up hibiscus-based teas for the kids and I lately. Hibiscus is a delightfully tart, cooling botanical that is perfect for hot summer weather. It tastes a lot like cranberry juice as an iced tea, so it’s great for kids! Hibiscus is also known to be beneficial for your heart, circulation, and blood pressure.
Hibiscus, lemongrass, orange peel, rooibos, mint, calendula, gotu kola
Summer Moments: Fires and Flowers
Recently we took the kids for their first trip to a “beach,” at one of the largest lakes in our state. We had a blast swimming and playing in the sand! If you are lucky enough to live near a lake or ocean, it’s obviously a fun way to experience some nature in the summer sun.
Most of my plans for marking the solstice are much lower key, however. Taking evening walks when the heat of the day has just passed, burning citronella candles on the back porch (we don’t even have a fire pit, let alone a place for a bonfire!), and maybe making a craft from spent flower petals are all possibilities on the list.
So, those are some of my simple plans for celebrating Litha / the summer solstice this week! How are you planning to celebrate?
The Herbology Faerie 