herbs, flowers and homeopathy

I have this beautiful book dating back to 1826, I wonder about it's history, who held it before me and what recipes were made and used most if at all. I found it in a book shop, selling off old books 3 for £1, I whipped this up. Curious how many more astronomical signs there are there in comparison to the ones spoken about now. I shall try one of the syrups and let you know how it goes. I am a big fan of using natural ingredients to sort something if you can.

Good weekend to you all

Helen

flowers from Penrith

my post this week is a little late as I've been away on a little trip/holiday, apologies

here are a view photographs from some beautiful flowers I was camping next to in a field in Penrith which is in the Lake District

hope you are having a lovely weekend

Helen

scent

 

Does anything really compare to the smell of unpicked or freshly picked naturally grown unforced flowers, you can't beat it. Some times some flowers that are known for their smells can often because of how they are grown, out of season for forced production, lose their smell and this saddens me. One of the best things about flowers is their natural smell. Predictable maybe but lavender has to be one of my favourite smells, I love the smell of wax flower (Chamelaucium) too. 

What's your favourite smelling flower, foliage, plant or herb?

jam jar lids for flowers

I have made these recently inspired by an Ikebana style of arranging, I have seen something similar on another site somewhere a few months back but can't remember where. They are made with crank clay, I rolled the clay out and then placed a piece of lace over the top and rolled that lightly to leave the impression behind. I then added some holes so flowers and foliage can be placed in. They have a lip underneath that means they won't fall off the jar and I've made them so they fit on to most any jar in the home really. These aren't fired so can't use them properly yet, I shall fire them and then away I go, with all sorts of minimal arrangements and what a perfect way to reuse jars.

last day

the theme this week was 'last day' because it quite literally tied in with our final day on our floristry diploma, so together we made some little jam jar posy's that were given away to a few helpful people we have met along the way, the top posy was made by me, helen, and the bottom one made by Caroline. 

posy one contents:

Alchemilla mollis,

Eustoma,

Ruscus,

Rosemary

posy two contents:

Alchemilla mollis,

Delphinium,

Iris,

Aster

mini medicine bottle composition

mini vase composition using Veronica 'Anna', spray Dianthus and Eucalyptus 

I have always enjoyed having one flower standing alone in a vase, I remember when I was still in school, I must have been about 14 years old,  occasionally on my way home I would walk the longer way round in order to walk past a beautiful flower shop that I loved to go in. At the time I was working my Saturday job in the local bakery so had a bit of money to spend. To me then (and now) a single flower was awfully expensive but as a treat I would buy one, I would often choose the most unusual, one that I hadn't seen before and it would sit with pride of place in an awfully ugly blue recycled plastic vase I had bought myself, I loved that vase, it was hideous. 

Still now not much has changed, I prefer a single flower to stand alone in a simple arrangement and I still promote recycling and upcycling. At least I don't use the same ugly vase.....