In spring, I really enjoy a morning walk through the garden to investigate which plant has shown its face today. It is usually the culinary plants that attract my attention – parsley – both flat and curly leaf, french sorrel, miner’s lettuce, rosemary, sage, thyme, dill and sweet knotted marjoram. It is the time to make pestos, culinary salts, or drying and blending culinary mixes for use later in the year. 

Other than the culinary plants, it also the flowers- and plantings of the newly germinated calendula seeds are always a priority. I fill the gaps in the calendula beds to ensure a long and productive harvest. 

The sunny face of the calendula flower contains the pigment Lycopene-  this is a powerful antioxidant that will help protect the skins cells from damage. The vulnerary activity (wound healing) is also helpful for gut mucosa, healing ulcers and irritations in the lining of the intestinal tract. For this reason we blend it into the aromatic digestive tisane. 

The warmer weather just lifts your spirits, and as the daylight hours extend, there is more opportunity to get your hands in the soil. Getting your hands dirty in the garden can increase your serotonin levels – contact with soil and a specific soil bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, triggers the release of serotonin in our brains- according to recent research. Serotonin is a happy chemical, a natural anti-depressant and strengthens the immune system. Sounds good to me!!

Valmai x