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Farm News
Our Cats Tail Farm Blog of Happenings . Please, visit us often.
As we rediscover our relationship with plants – and what more intimate pathway than through the gateway of healing– it ignites a love, a passion for the green nations, and enables us to become caretakers of that which we love most… ~ Rosemary Gladstar
December 16, 2011: The winter solstice has not yet arrived and the Green is slumbering in anticipation of Spring’s renewal. Roots are buried deep in Mother Earth, infant buds are tightly clasped, only a promise of Summer’s shimmering verdancy. The strength and the power of the plant kingdom are quiescent until the brilliance of the sun’s awakening stirs their beings. We have been abundantly blessed by sharing and exchanging with all the two year herbal program participants, all wise folk who have chosen to search the ways of the Green Path. Our time spent together has enriched all our lives in so many ways, ~ having newly forged bonds that may fade as time and distance grows, but will never, ever break! From the maiden experiencing first birth to the many Grandmothers who so graciously shared their life wisdom with us, newfound friends of all ages, many faiths, many cultural backgrounds … their sharing of thoughts, dreams, experiences and spirits has humbled me with these gifts from their deepest souls. My heart is overflowing with joy! I wish to update all on next years Two Year Herbal Studies Course. The program is full and been closed since the end of October (YAY!) but I am still receiving inquiries as to possible openings/cancellations. I would like to ask that if, at some point in the near or distant future you wish to share in fellowship on the Green Path, please send me a private e-mail so that I may make plans. We never know what the future may bring! To all ~ may we at Cats Tail Farm wish a blessed holiday season, and the coming new year, full of joy, peace, prosperity, health and good fortune to you and yours. “Folk herbalism is the people’s medicine, tried and true, shaped by the land, driven by the healthcare needs of its inhabitants, and handed down through the generations by mouth and pen. Its vocabulary is that of geography, the plants, the elements, the earth and the sky.” ~ P. Light
October 25, 2011:
For women that are interested in herbal study, but
perhaps with a more spiritual emphasis
than previously offered, I am re-writing & re-defining the Cats Tail
Farm Herbal Studies Program to be offered at a point sometime in the
next few years. This new program is entitled “The Green-Spirited
Pathway; a Woman’s Journey with the Plant Kingdom” and will include
plant identification, ethical wildcrafting, medicine making …. some new
aspects of Mother Earths healing power – labyrinth work, earth ceremony
for seasonal cycles, sacred space, in-depth sacred plant medicine …. and
more that will be made clear to me as I write. Yes I WILL be including
homework in my program as well! This is going to be a tremendous
undertaking but I really am very excited to take this on. The next Two
Year Herbal course for 2012 – 2013 will retain the current material and
format.
August 31, 2011: You can taste
autumn's distant promise - a whisper, a softness ... It has been an intense summer for us. We have two flights of Greenies taking their steps into the Green world around them. It is the finishing year for our first group, and almost the midpoint for the second. Time flies swiftly! We have shared how to identify the Green around us, their magical and practical attributes, formulating and making our own preparations, and spent time in plant spirit communication. Lifelong bonds have been forged ~ with the plants and among ourselves as well. It has been a banner year for the garlic and the shallots, and alas for us, a poor year for elderberries (although it was a VERY GOOD year for whichever furred ones stripped our shrubs clean!) the apples are making up for the last few years of barren fruiting, laden branches drooping almost to the ground under their weight. Jars of canned peaches are on the shelves with our other preserved efforts, but our blackcurrant ale failed. Our cordials continue to be truly magnificent, if I may say!
This years the NE Women's Herbal Conference was held at a new venue in
New Hampshire. What amazing energy was generated with over six
hundred participants in attendance ... learning, exchanging, drumming.
dancing, all Wise Women of the Green! I am always in awe of the amount of herbal
knowledge and wisdom that is shared. Each time I attend a
conference, or complete more training, I am humbled to realize
just how much there is to know. When I expressed this to one of my
teachers,
July 28, 2011:
The gardens here at the Farm are
struggling with the lack of rain. Of course, our local
meteorologist has been touting the "large and heavy downpours" that we
"will be" experiencing, only to never have any arrive. We had a
very small sprinkle of liquid a few days ago. Everything and
everyone perked up!
The second month of classes were spiritually uplifting and rewarding. After some time spent in meditation and Plant Spirit communication, our first year group gathered their own Green Allies. Together we created a "Greenie Group Flower Essence" which consisted of the offerings and combined energies of the students, the teacher, and the magical plants that bonded us together. In the seasons ahead, we need only open the bottle and savor the essence to recall the times that we shared with our newfound siblings in the Green! In the last few weeks, our pantry has new additions
of black currant jam, black currant cordial, and black currant beer.
We missed the June 21, 2011: Happy Solstice everyone! T'is the season of abundance on Mother Earth. This is a time of growth and of unlimited possibilities; be joyful and celebrate! Eat, pray - do ceremony - expand your visions - dance - open your heart to the beneficence of Nature........ run through the warm rain ...... gather ye rosebuds while ye may! The first flight of Greenies have returned for their second session. The circle of love, friendship and shared Passion for the Wild plant kingdom dearly held our hearts and spirits through the winter months. What a joy to be together again! The thoughts and visions passed swiftly one to another through our divine connection. It is a true blessing to have found each other, and to recognize the Green making their way into in each of us. The fledgling Greenies gathered the very next day for their first class, tentatively tiptoeing through the gardens, sensing the new world and the treasures of the verdant Green. Will this be their new Path? One can only pray......
So many plants were clamoring to be recognized! From the shy woodland ephemerals and the cultivated medicinals, to the wild, unfettered garden "weeds" that hold many healing powers..... to the unexpected blessings that made an an appearance. A zebra swallowtail alighted feet away from us, the hummingbirds darted playfully through the group, and we discovered a planting of wild oats! This last was welcomed as we were unable to plant our cultivated plot due to the excessive rainfall and our bridge washing out. Many plants are still not yet at peak, others are already at or even past their prime. Mother Nature must have teamed with Coyote this year, they are playfully teasing us and keeping us guessing. Be vigilant, they whisper..... pay attention to us...... you must be ready when WE are ready to be collected.......
Our task must be to free
ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace
all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.
~
Albert Einstein
The environmental crisis is also our spiritual catharsis. In healing the Earth, we heal ourselves. ~ Kenny Ausubel
While the cold winds blew, and the wood fire toasted, our skin suffered and turned dry and red. Indoors, we were busy playing with our infused oils and our home distilled hydrosols from the plants on the farm. We used peppermint hydrosol in a barrier skin cream, our Apothecary's Rose hydrosol with rose infused oils for body cream, and rose geranium hydrosol combined with aloe for a luscious hand cream. All were created for our own taste, and what a decadent and luxurious treat they proved to be! I am forever grateful to Rosemary for sharing this simple recipe in her teachings to us. Soon we will be commencing our classes here at the Farm. Our first group of students is completing their second year of the Two Year Program, and a new group of Greenies are in the wings, ready to begin their studies in the new session of the course. Several workshops are being planned, and "Walks on the Weedy Side" are always available. Follow us on Facebook or check the website often for announcements. The Green is patient, waiting for us to "rediscover" their existence!
December 8, 2010: Winter arrived three weeks early
with a massive snow system moving across Western New York.
Actually, it hovered,
All is quiet on the Farm. We are using the "down time" from outdoor labors to do some painting, wallpapering, building bookcases, and just general home updating. I ventured into the basement to begin inventory of the dried botanicals on hand for crafting herbal teas and smudges for friends, with the result that we are now making lists of "seeds to buy", "ideas to contemplate" and "things to do" for the spring season. The apothecary is stocked with many tinctures, cordials and salves, so next year we will concentrate on botanicals to dry. I have had queries about anise hyssop, nettles, peppermint and lemon balm, to my surprise. These green healers have such a proclivity to naturalize that I foolishly overlooked their abundance and did not harvest a sufficient supply. If anything, these green spirits are encouraging me to "think outside of the box" when I am formulating. At least until we transplant these to new beds, and give them a new accessible area to stretch their roots!
Good people, most royal greening verdancy, rooted in the sun, you shine with radiant light. ~ Hildegard of Bingen
A few weeks ago we paid a visit to Andrea and Matthias in Avoca. When we arrived, they were finishing a
garden tour with a group of naturopathic students from Canada.
Hosts, students, and a few friends all had jars in hand, gathering and collecting
September 28, 2010: Autumn has
arrived, and so have the snow geese with their melodious "cooing" calls,
so distinctive from their Canadian kin. The horses are growing
their winter coats in preparation of the long, dark winter nights.
The hours of daylight are growing short, the darkness is lengthening,
the air is crisper, with an elusive and indefinable scent.
There is much to share this season! This year is the very first
year that we are offering our Cats Tail Farm Two Year Herbal Studies
Course, and the group has already completed
The tree, which moves some to tears of joy, is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in the way. As a man is, so he sees. ~ William Blake
Some of our news did not take place ON the Farm! We have just returned
from a brief visit to Maine, to partake in the Common Ground Fair
sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.
During our absence, back at the Farm, the calendula was still offering sunny blooms, the white sage was growing taller and stockier, the rose scented geranium was as fragrant as ever. Time to plant the garlic, the ground is getting cool enough. The promise of frosts are ever threatening, so we must rush to harvest the rest of the tulsi basil, the ashwaganda, the andrographis, and all the remaining annual medicinal plants for processing before we risk losing them. It is the time of making salves from the fragrant oils that have been infusing on the apothecary shelves, of gathering fragrant armfuls of herbs to soothe us during the ever lengthening hours of darkness. It is the time to withdraw, to become introspective, to tunnel and burrow within our selves and our abodes, to reap the joys of our labors and to humbly give thanks for our harvest. It is also the perfect time to sip herbal tea - and study some of the new books on green spirituality and earth medicine that I have been accumulating since April - but have NOT had time to enjoy! Plants, Not Politics! ~ The Green Mountain Witches, Sage Mountain, July 2006 September 12, 2010: The hummingbirds vanished last week, on their way to warmer, more tropical habitat. Such a long distance for such a tiny bird, traveling solo! The Canadian geese are making their "V" shaped appearances overhead with purpose in mind and miles to fly. The ever more obvious tinges of rust, orange and crimson are feathering the tree branches, soon to carpet the ground beneath. Even the air carries that elusive scent and promise of the Wheel slowly, inevitably, turning to autumn. It has proved to be a bountiful season, even with the drenching rains of June, the heat and drought of July, the insect damage of August, and the browsing deer of September. Our Sweet Annie, famed for both its scent and its healing power, is over seven feet tall! Today we harvested baskets of andrographis for tincturing and drying for immunity support, another cutting of our "Attar of Roses" scented geranium for distillation into hydrosols, and our first harvest of this years English thyme, sweet marjoram, and tender rosemary ........ these last three, comforting and fragrant, essential to wintertime stews, soups, and savory herb breads. Soon the frosts will arrive (not TOO soon, we hope) so we may gather the vibrant roots of burdock, dandelion, yellow dock, elecampane - and a new one for us - ashwaganda. We found a stray horseradish plant, growing outside the gas line, which escaped from the long ago kitchen garden of Owen and Jean, our well loved and dearly missed former next door neighbors. We take this root, give thanks for the blessings that we have been given, and choose a small section for our use. We will replant the rest of the root to ensure a steady and renewable supply of horseradish to make our annual supply of Fire Cider for winter chills and battling the ever threatening seasonal virus. We are fortunate to have many of our cold and flu essentials recently tucked away for this years needs ~ elderberry syrup, elderberry cordial, elderberry jam, elderberry ALE! Black currant cordial, elecampane cough syrup, rose elixir ....... packets of herbs for steam inhalation to ease congestion, sore throats, stuffed and or runny noses...... jars of herbal bath combinations for aching bones or the "chilled through to the core" feelings that we all experience...... bottles of fragrant warming massage oils and lotions to ease our way to restful slumber. And we have jars and jars of peach jam for our morning toast, with a steaming mug of tea on a dark, chilly winter morning!
It has been
a productive past two weeks, with putting away corn relish, jars and
jars of zucchini pickles, the elderberry syrups, jams and ale, and
preserving Moroccan Lemons in brine for culinary adventures. The
herb dryer is full with skullcap, anise hyssop, calendula, Tulsi basil,
comfrey leaves, coltsfoot leaves, mullein leaves and more......the
cupboard is packed with jars of new tinctures, some are lobelia,
yarrow, boneset, anise hyssop .... and several jars of oil for salves
and liniments are steeping alongside. The garlic harvest was very
disappointing, as there was an overabundance of moisture and rain during
the bulb forming stage, and we only have about 50% of what we had
expected. We have on hand a few new varieties to
plant, to see how they will do here at Cats Tail Farm. There is
still much hope for garden produce as we planted our late summer crops
of bush beans, lettuce, radishes and a tiny bit of chard.... all are up,
leafy and growing by the second. They were only planted ten days
ago! The Little Green Herons have been seen frequenting the stream
behind the cottage. Now there are SIX of them! There must
have been four little ones from the nesting pair, all are now winging
through the trees, squawking loudly. The dragonflies and damsel
flies are dancing in the evening twilight, an aerial symphony of colors
and patterns. Of course, the three pair of ruby throats are
still here, now feasting on the coneflowers, the sweetspire clethra and
the Rose of Sharon. Soon they will be departing, and we will miss
their acrobatics and chattering trills.
Walk gently on the Earth. Simplify your steps. Increase your strength. Make a home in your heart. Choose a vehicle for your journey. Embark on your path. Share your dreams at the crossroads. Embrace the stranger on the road. ~ unknown July 19, 2010: This past Saturday at our second class session we all gathered boneset for tincturing in alcohol. As we were walking along the meadow edge, we were fortunate to view fritillary butterflies, a zebra swallowtail, and a darner dragonfly resting on the newly opened Joe Pye blooms. We found fresh scat of a curious shape along the gas line..... we all exclaimed the same thought. It did not resemble coyote, fox or deer...... the only close matches in the field guide show bobcat or bear, which are unlikely but both are plausible. We gave thanks for the opportunity to observe and learn, and passed it by! The valerian was scarce to find unless we crossed the road, so we continued on. Blue vervain is plentiful, so I will return tomorrow to gather some. The peppermint is ready.... must cut it before it is too late. The elderberry umbels are filling out, promising a good harvest for syrup for winter immunity, and the elecampane is blooming! Stately elecampane, also known as Elf Dock and horseheal..... a magical fairy plant! Since we have both fairies and horses as residents here at Cats Tail Farm, it is especially welcome. I gathered yarrow and some St. JohnsWort for oil infusion. The purple coneflower is blooming its little heart out! There is such an abundance of gifts for healing.
Until one has loved an
animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ unknown
Life is not a problem to be solved, but rather a mystery to be lived. ~ unknown
The elderberry blooms are fading, ready to produce the berries for our
syrups and tinctures for immune enhancement for winter health support.
This past evening we harvested our first crop of garlic (Italian
Mountain), and now they are on racks in the cottage, waiting for the
curing. To our extreme disappointment, our Bogatyr garlic
was a complete crop failure this year, most likely due to the extremely
wet soil, even with our raised beds. Still to be harvested are the
Polish Softneck and
Music varieties. Our solitary Eleutherococcus
ginseng is branching and healthy, the only survivor of the several that
we planted last year. The St. John's Wort is in full bloom as I write,
as is the chamomile, while the arnica is fading fast. This late spring
the decades old Lady’s Slipper had TWO flowering stalks in place of the
usual ONE. It must enjoy being photographed! The diversity
of bird population is increasing steadily.... blue herons visit
regularly along with the Little Green heron..... pairs of mating
hummingbirds..... nesting bluebirds........ grosbeaks....
thrashers...... wood thrushes.......and several different owl
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a mellowing of the
scent and sound around us .... the plumpness, the ripening of the fruit
... our feathered brethren gathering on the telephone wires to finalize
their departure. Even the insects are changing their summer
patterns. It's time to bring in the hay, the grains, the fruit and
make our larders and apothecaries groan under the laden shelves.
her response was, "
strawberries, but blueberries are next on our list for "putting up."
The elecampane is suffering from thirst, so this autumn we will harvest
half of our stand and tincture some, make cough syrup with some, and dry
the rest. The white sage is doing well... it likes the heat and
dry! Our garlic and shallots are absolutely spectacular this year,
and we expect many culinary adventures utilizing their bounty. The
skullcap is magnificent, the eleuthero is gaining in size and stature,
and the arnica is popping up in unexpected places! Rather than an
adversarial stance, this year I decided to allow the plants to propagate
where they wished. After all, they know their needs better than I
do. The stand of wild mint has doubled in size; peppermint
glycerite for the apothecary; comfrey leaves and yarrow for
tincture and drying for the first aid kit; oils to be
infused and salves to be made. Our second batch of soap, birch
leaf, is curing alongside the white sage and sweetgrass bars. So
much to do!
May 1, 2011:
Sunny, breezy day. Not only was I
able to work in the dryer area of the yard, but I went for a walk to see
how the Green is renewing! Everything is later in appearing this
spring, since
the weather was so cold for so long. I found several trout lilies
(Erythronium americanum) nodding in the breeze, a solitary purple
violet, some spring beauties (Claytonia virginica) ,and a few brave
dandelion blossoms. The blood root blossoms have faded, but the
stands have increased in size and vigor from last year. We finally
located some tucked away spots where they want to put down roots, and
not float away, to re-establish themselves in locations only visible to
the fairy folk. Up in the old marsh in the corner, the marsh
marigolds are brilliant against the tannish grey hue of the old weeds
and grasses. They were happy to see Father Sun as well.
Coming back through the woods I stopped to check on the lady's slipper.
Too cold and mucky for her as of yet. Soon, she whispered......
soon......
March 1, 2011: The stream by
the cottage is running swiftly, carrying away the winter piles of snow
that were accumulated from the last storm. The thaw was
welcome, only to have a sudden drop in the temperature ~ and
realize that our turnout area for the horses now is a skating rink! (oh,
to have four feet!) The freeze realistically was not unexpected.
After all it is only March in Buffalo..... this morning, on the way to
the barn to feed the horses, we heard and saw several red-winged
blackbirds and our first bluebird of the season. It is time to get
the boxes ready for occupancy! To hear their melodious voices
along with the chickadees, the towhees, the downy woodpeckers, and the
rowdy blue jays, with Father Sun shining benevolently, daylight faintly
lingering until the evening hours ~ it is a blessing to be alive!
The cottonwood buds are swelling and ready to be harvested for their
medicinal virtues. Maple sap is running, as is the birch - now is
the time to try the Birch Beer recipe. Speaking of, our labors in
our Elderberry Ale were WELL received. Our few bottles had quite
the "kick" to them, while our blackcurrant cordial was our smoothest
batch yet! We will be planting more small fruits this year,
more sea buckthorn, more blueberry bushes, and red raspberries. We
may have to replace our wolfberries, thanks to the browsing mammals. 
stationary, over parts of the area for more
than one day. Our farm and town received only fifteen inches of
snow, but many were not as fortunate. Other areas near us were
covered with more than three feet of frozen white. Commuters were
caught unaware and were unfortunately marooned in mountains of slick
snow on the NYS thruway, most in excess of twelve hours, some as
long as
twenty hours. Not us! We were snug at home, listening to the
forceful winds, sitting by the woodstove, dinner
and snacks at hand, sometimes napping after the shoveling and snowblowing efforts. The next morning after
feeding the horses and barn
chores, I trekked out to the cottage and stream with the camera to capture some of Nature's
brilliant display of new white finery. To our dismay, we
discovered a few toppled trees on adjacent property, and a large limb of
our Amelanchier (Juneberry) tree had snapped, and is now lying on
top of the Echinacea angustifolia bed. Nature does her own
pruning, without heed or assistance of the Earth's human inhabitants!
sea
buckthorn for tincturing. If you have never had the opportunity to
harvest sea buckthorn, it is an awakening experience. These
brilliant orange berries are gathered after the frost, so your fingers
are numb and fumbling from the cold. The lack of feeling is a good thing as you must make a
conscious effort to minimize the damage done to your hands by the
fierce and plentiful thorns on the branches. (This plant is aptly named.) Of course, they
do not bear heavily, so you need to reach well into the interior of the
shrub to grab them - only to find that the slightest touch makes them
pop like an overripe slug. One friend had more berries on her face and
on her glasses than she did in the jar.... I won't mention
names........... Then came our tour! What a blessed land,
beneficent energy............nettles, hops, crampbark....... Mother Elder and her
children........rows of angelica..........the lodge grounds by the
running stream. After our foray we all warmed up with soup, bread and
glasses of our homemade cordials and elderberry ale. The
companionship was even better, if possible! We departed
in a very mellow and satisfied frame of mind! And promptly
returned home, and harvested our own sea buckthorn berries.
four
of the five 2010 on-site sessions. I am very pleased and humbled
that it has been very well received, and I am experiencing the same joy
and elation as are the new "herbalists-to-be" who are participating in
the program. We have plans for the October session of this year -
discussing nutrition and herbal support for the winter season,
crafting salves on the woodstove, sampling newly infused elixirs,
brewing tonic beverages for immunity, and sharing our stories,
laughter and heart-centered fellowship among ourselves. Thank you,
"Greenies", for the opportunity to share the knowledge and wisdom
that I have learned from the Wise Ones and the Plants during my years of
seeking the Green Ways of our ancestors.
Some
very dear and special friends have graciously consented to "pamper and
care for" both the cats and the horses, so away we went! We
meandered through Portsmouth, shopped through Freeport, dined through
Rockport, Camden and Belfast, and then toured the rugged, rocky
agricultural lands on the way to Unity. The weather was damp and
breezy, but truly not unpleasant! Because of the chill, it was
ideal for enjoying hot apple cider, spicy chaga chai, and the many local
and organic foods being purveyed on the grounds. The riotous
colors of the produce stands provided a sharp contrast to the overcast
skies, and the scent of Sweet Annie blanketed the entire fairgrounds!
We saw innovations in permaculture and sustainable living , home
building and construction, in alternative energy, in small-plot grain
growing and
processing, in vegetable production, seed cleaning and storage, in
beekeeping methods, in animal husbandry ~ even a "big people " hobbit
house was for sale! There were several well respected herbalists
giving presentations on the medicinal properties of herbs, as well as
fiber crafters, potters, metal smiths, stone masons, Native American
artists......... and so much more. On our return
home, the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont were at almost total
autumnal foliage at the end of September, and we were doubly blessed by
the unexpected early display of scarlet, russets and gold.
August
15, 2010: This was Elderberry Picking Weekend! Bambi &
Company took their share, until we put the netting up to save what we
wanted for ourselves. Then we gratefully put the berries away
..... we made Elderberry Syrup, Elderberry Jam, Elderberry Cordial - and
this year we tried a recipe we found for Elderberry Ale. The
fermenting mash is bubbling merrily away, its first day in the carboy.
How exciting! We froze elderberries to make syrup later in the
winter as well. As we harvested these luscious berries, we found
several new plants sprouting from the base... the babies are spreading.
Now, how to keep them safe and secure from browsing mammals.......
July
6 2010: It was 85 degrees Fahrenheit this morning at only
8:00 AM and the heat had not yet arrived. All the animals are
napping.........the cats are melted into whatever cool spot they can
find. Merlyn and Misty, our two beloved equine family
members, are snoozing in their stalls in the shade, doors and windows
open with the fan blowing "cool" air around them. Today Dr. Katie
and Diana came to float their teeth, so they had even a "little bit of
help" in falling asleep! Their hay is in the barn ...... the
fields finally dried out enough to enable the farmer to cut. Most
of the gardens here on the Farm are bearing the intense heat well, after
one of the rainiest Junes in WNY records. On the herbal side, we had a
pleasant surprise on June 20th..... a GIANT patch of tall, fragrant
peppermint that had escaped from my original planting into the stream
bed. We harvested armfuls to dry, and already it has grown enough
for another cutting.
We
also discovered that our Stinging nettles had spread to a new location.
Miraculously, they were untouched by butterfly larvae. That fact
alone should have made me suspicious. Only three days ago, it
flowered - and we realized it was not Stinging nettle, but Verbena
urticafolia - or "Nettle - Leaved White Vervain!" We
welcome the diversity, but, what a bummer! 
calls
are audible every evening. A litter of fox kits show up every few
days, wrestling among themselves, under the watchful eyes of a parent.
They are a joy to watch! The early spring was welcomed until the
inevitable frost and snow hit all the tender young growth. We have
neither apples nor pears this year on our trees! The lilac blooms,
one of our favorite spring fragrant flowers, were very sparse this
season. Needless to say, we are hoping for a good crop of
our black currants for our trademark Cats Tail Farm cordial. The
Apothecary Rose was truly spectacular and fragrant this season, and jars
of dried petals are in my apothecary for pillows, teas and more.
We managed to save some to make a few bottles of Rose Elixir for the
special occasions..... YUM! The magic is strong this year.