MULLEIN : One of my favorite summer herbs to wild craft is Mullein . It grows in the most surprising places . You can find it sprouting up on the side of the road , in gravel , near beaches , in the meadows , along the hedgerows . It literally grows everywhere !
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All these plants will be flowering around the Summer Solstice . This is a great time to get outside and meet some plant allies . The plant energy is quite vibrant during these longer days .
DISCLAIMER : Before ingesting any plants , be sure you have referred to a respected guidebook to positively identify edible plants .
Never assume you have the correct plant and never ingest or apply anything you are not 100 % sure about .
3 WILDFLOWERS FOR THE SUMMER SOLSTICE :
MULLEIN : One of my favorite summer herbs to wild craft is Mullein . It grows in the most surprising places . You can find it sprouting up on the side of the road , in gravel , near beaches , in the meadows , along the hedgerows . It literally grows everywhere !
SEASON : Blooms June through September .
IDENTIFY : Look for broad velvet type leaves with a tall stalk that blooms with clusters of yellow flowers . After the flowers die off , the stalk will remain standing tall and brown , lending itself to yet another purpose . Again , please refer to a respected guidebook to confirm the identity of the plant before using .
USES : The dried stalks of mullein are commonly called “ The Hags ’ Candle ” and would often be used as torches during the fall as the days became shorter . The mullein plant is said to offer protection from evil spirits when burned , so these stalks were used to help guide travelers safely through the night and would have also been used during the season of All Hallows Eve to protect the home from evil spirits that may be out roaming the night . I love using these dried stalks during my fall ceremonies . As they burn , they have a pleasant odor of all the good things about cooler nights and autumn days .
The leaves and flowers are primarily used for medicinal use . You can steep the leaves as a tea or use the flowers to create a macerated oil . The oil will turn bright yellow from the color of the flowers . You can use the mullein oil to help ease vertigo by swabbing it just inside your ears . Also , if your dog or cat gets mites in their ears , you can swab the oil gently on the inside of their ears to kill off the mites and deter them from returning .
WISDOM & SELF-GROWTH
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