It always starts with a yellow bloom. Soft, sunny and unassuming — the kind of wildflower you almost miss unless you're paying attention.

But oh, when you do.

Dandelion is more than a plant to us. It’s a sign. Of warmer days coming. Of roots going deep and bodies waking up. Long before the hedgerows blush or the nettles stir, dandelion rises — early, brave, and generous.

And generous it is. From root to petal, dandelion gives. Rich in minerals like potassium and magnesium, it helps flush and balance from within — a gentle nudge for the liver, the kidneys, the whole system. On the skin, it’s a quiet healer: calming inflammation, easing acne-prone or reactive skin, and helping to even tone with its natural detoxifying touch. Its antioxidants fight free radicals, while its bitter compounds bring clarity — to skin and spirit alike. Folk medicine knew it, and now our skin does too.

Our Dandelion Revival Face Serum was our first love in a bottle. Inspired by this golden friend that grows at our feet, it's a silky elixir that feeds the skin just like a fresh spring salad feeds the soul. Earthy. Honest. Alive.

Later came the Sun Elixir — because dandelion knows how to dance in the light, and we wanted something that could too.

There’s something beautiful about working with the seasons, letting wild plants lead the way. About trusting what grows naturally to also heal naturally.

Dandelion reminds us: beauty doesn’t need taming. Just space to bloom.

There’s a quiet woodland near our home where the birches grow tall and slender, their white trunks marked with charcoal scars, like they’ve lived many stories. Every year, we return to them in spring , first to tap the rising sap, then to gather the sticky buds, and now, as the days warm, to collect the fresh young leaves, still folded like secrets.

Birch has been with us since the beginning. In Slavic lands, she was the first tree to be honoured, the first to be sung to. Our ancestors saw her not just as a tree, but as a sacred presence , a protector of the home, a guide in times of transition, and a vessel of deep feminine power. She stood near cradles and graves, reminding us that beginnings and endings are part of one great rhythm.

When we go to the birches now, it’s more than foraging , it’s connection. I love to stroke the papery bark and speak softly to my favourite tree, while our little ones climb on her with joy. Michał often steps into the circle of birches at dawn, standing barefoot and still, breathing deeply. He says it’s the best place to meditate , quiet, grounded, alive. And I agree. There’s something about the way the birch filters light and sound that brings the mind to stillness.

The leaves, once gathered, are dried slowly in the shade. Their scent is green and slightly sweet, like spring’s breath. We use them in tea, add them to bath blends, grind them into powders, infuse them into oils. They work gently but deeply , like the tree herself. Birch doesn’t shout her gifts; she offers them with grace.

What’s inside those delicate leaves?

Betulin & betulinic acid — powerful anti-inflammatory compounds

Flavonoids — antioxidant-rich, help protect against cellular damage

Tannins — gently astringent, support detox pathways

Saponins — support the lymphatic system and immune response

Vitamin C — skin-brightening and immunity-boosting

Essential oils — light and cleansing

Methyl salicylate — pain-relieving and circulation-enhancing

Internal health benefits of birch leaf:

-Supports kidney and urinary tract health

-Acts as a mild diuretic and detoxifier

-Eases joint inflammation and arthritis symptoms

-Stimulates digestion and liver function

-Helps with fluid retention and cellulite

Strengthens the immune system

Benefits for the skin:

-Clears congested skin and tightens pores

-Reduces puffiness and inflammation

-Soothes eczema and psoriasis

-Promotes brighter, more even-toned skin

-Gently detoxifies and revitalises dull skin

-Supports healing of minor wounds and irritations

-Boosts circulation for a natural glow.

Here are some recipes one may enjoy;

Birch Leaf & Mint Spring Tonic Tea

Refreshing and cleansing

1 tbsp dried birch leaves

1 tsp dried peppermint (or a few fresh sprigs)

Optional: a squeeze of lemon and a dash of raw honey

Steep in hot water (not boiling) for 10 minutes. Strain and sip slowly. Enjoy warm or chilled.

Wild Birch Bath Infusion

Perfect for tired muscles and full moons

2 tbsp dried birch leaves

1 tbsp dried chamomile

1 tbsp oats

Tie in a muslin cloth or sock and let it steep in your bath. Light a candle. Let the water speak.

There is a moment in late spring when the world shifts, almost imperceptibly, into tenderness. The air becomes warmer, yes, but also more alive. You can feel it in the breeze that brushes your skin like silk, in the way the morning light stretches through the leaves and dances on your tea. And then there is the linden.

The linden tree doesn’t shout its arrival. It doesn’t blaze like the cherry or the hawthorn. Instead, it breathes. Quietly. Steadily. You may not even notice it at first. But one morning, as you walk through the garden or down a shaded street, your eyes fall upon a cascade of heart-shaped leaves, green, light-filled, almost glowing.

I often stop beneath the old linden that grows near our allotment. It feels like an elder, like someone who has seen many things and chooses to remain soft. Its branches sway not with drama, but with presence. I touch a leaf and it feels like skin, cool, tender, alive. The kind of softness that doesn’t disappear with time, but grows deeper. The kind that heals.

These leaves are more than just pretty forms fluttering in the wind. They are the lungs of the tree, yes, but also quiet medicine. They hold stories of slowing down, of returning to rhythm, of choosing gentleness in a world that often forgets how. And when you begin to work with linden leaves, infusing them, soaking them, placing them against your skin, you enter into an old relationship. One where nature reminds you how to care for yourself as she would.

Health Benefits of Linden Leaves

• Naturally calming to the nervous system – reduces stress and tension

• Mildly diuretic – supports kidney and bladder function

• Helps reduce inflammation – gentle on joints and muscles

• Soothes sore throats when used in teas or gargles

• Supports restful sleep and emotional balance

Skin Benefits of Linden Leaves

• Anti-inflammatory – ideal for sensitive or irritated skin

• Cooling and soothing – great in compresses for sunburn or rashes

• Tannins tighten pores gently – great for mature or tired skin

• Rich in mucilage – offers hydration and softness

• Supports healing of minor wounds or insect bites

 Simple Linden Leaf Compress for Calming the Skin

You’ll need:

• A handful of fresh linden leaves (washed)

• 1 cup of warm water

• Soft cloth or cotton pad

Instructions:

• Gently crush the leaves with your fingers to release their natural juices.

• Place them in a bowl and pour warm (not hot) water over them.

• Let it sit for 10 minutes.

• Soak the cloth in the infusion, squeeze out the excess, and place on clean skin for 10–15 minutes.

• Breathe deeply while the linden does its work.

There is a reason bees love the linden tree. It offers without asking, heals without boasting, and hums with quiet sweetness. May we learn to care like that, with softness, strength, and grace.

There’s a hush in the world when Hawthorn begins to bloom.

It’s not silence exactly, but a softening. A slowing down. A whisper from the Earth herself: “Here is something sacred. Stop. Breathe. Look.”

Each May, as the hedgerows thicken and the winds grow warmer, she appears, clothed in soft white blossoms like lace draped across thorns. Her scent, sweet and musky, fills the morning air and draws bees in by the dozens. She’s not a showy tree. She’s a tree of boundary and edge, of protection and quiet devotion.

To the old ones, she was never “just a plant.” Hawthorn was a guardian tree, standing between the worlds of the living and the unseen. In Celtic lore, she grew at the threshold of fairy realms. You never cut her without asking. You never rushed past her flowers. You stopped. You gave thanks.

In our home, she’s the tree of the heart, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Her flowers, her leaves, her deep red berries, each one a medicine of love, protection, and restoration.

 There’s something about her, both fierce and gentle. She reminds us that it’s okay to be tender and strong all at once.

If you walk past a blooming hawthorn this spring, pause for a moment. Smell her. Touch her leaves. Whisper a wish. She’s listening.

Health Benefits of Hawthorn Flowers

Hawthorn is mostly known for its support of the cardiovascular system, but her gifts go deeper:

• Strengthens and tones the heart muscle

• Improves circulation and lowers blood pressure

• Supports emotional healing—eases grief, anxiety, and restlessness

• Acts as a gentle nervine—soothes the nervous system

• Rich in antioxidants (flavonoids) that protect tissues from oxidative stress

• Can help reduce palpitations and arrhythmia when used regularly

Benefits for the Skin

Hawthorn’s soothing, antioxidant-rich properties make it an underrated gem for natural skincare:

• Calms inflammation and redness

• Promotes collagen production and skin elasticity

• Gently astringent—great for balancing oily or acne-prone skin

• Softens and tones mature skin

• Supports skin repair and resilience against environmental stress

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A Simple Skincare Recipe: Hawthorn Flower Toner

You’ll need:

• 1 handful of fresh hawthorn blossoms (gather on a dry day, midday sun)

• 200 ml distilled water

• 1 tsp raw apple cider vinegar (optional, for extra toning)

Method:

• Rinse the flowers gently and place in a clean jar.

• Pour freshly boiled water over them and cover with a lid. Let steep until cool.

• Strain through muslin or cheesecloth.

• Add the vinegar if using.

• Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Use morning and evening with a reusable cotton round or spritz as a refreshing mis

Every late spring, as the days stretch longer and the air hums with quiet life, something magical begins to bloom along hedgerows, woodland edges, and forgotten corners of the countryside: the elderflower.

These delicate white blossoms, tiny stars clustered in fragrant halos, carry an ancient reputation. Revered by herbalists, wildcrafters, and kitchen witches for centuries, elderflowers (from the Sambucus nigra tree) are not just beautiful. They are medicine. They are flavour. They are folklore.

A Short History Rooted in Wisdom

In traditional European herbalism, elderflower has long been used to help the body release fevers, soothe colds and coughs, and cleanse the skin. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote about the elder tree, and in many cultures, it was considered sacred, a tree of protection and healing. Elder trees were believed to house spirits, and in some traditions, one had to ask permission before harvesting from them.

Elderflower in the Modern Kitchen

Fast forward to today, and you’ll still find elderflower in use, but now it graces summer lemonades, sparkling cordials, herbal teas, and artisanal syrups. Its taste is subtle but unforgettable, floral, with hints of honey and a touch of green.

We make our own elderflower syrup every June, blending the fresh blossoms with lemon slices, raw sugar, and spring water. After a few days of steeping in sunlight and love, the result is bottled sunshine, ideal for cocktails, fizzy water, or even drizzled over a fruit tart.

This year, we paired it with tart rhubarb for a potion that tastes like childhood adventures: sweet, tangy, and full of life.

Foraging with Respect

If you plan to gather elderflowers, remember: never take too much from one tree, leave plenty for the bees and birds, and always make sure you’ve correctly identified the Sambucus nigra species. Avoid the red-berried elders and don’t use any green parts of the plant—they can be toxic.

Only pick from clean, unsprayed areas. If in doubt, ask the landowner.

Elderflower in Ritual and Imagination

Beyond taste and healing, elderflower is a bridge to story. In some cultures, it’s said that if you sit beneath an elder tree on Midsummer’s Eve, you might see the fairies dance. To us, elderflower represents that liminal space between the wild and the home, the edge where transformation happens.

Every time we harvest it, we offer gratitude. To the tree. To the Earth. To the seasons that remind us that magic is not something far away. It’s here, in blossom and bottle.

Do you use elderflower in your kitchen or apothecary? Tell us how. Share your recipes. And if you’ve never tried it—maybe this is the year to begin.

Health Benefits of Elderflowers (for the body):

• Natural diaphoretic – promotes gentle sweating to help reduce fevers

• Supports the respiratory system – soothes coughs, colds, sinus congestion, and sore throats

• Anti-inflammatory – helps calm internal inflammation and supports immune response

• Mild diuretic – aids in flushing out toxins and reducing water retention

• Rich in antioxidants – helps neutralize free radicals and supports overall cellular health

• Traditional remedy for colds and flu – often used in teas and syrups to ease seasonal illnesses

 Benefits of Elderflowers for the Skin:

• Anti-inflammatory – reduces redness, swelling, and irritation, ideal for sensitive or acne-prone skin

• Antioxidant-rich – helps protect the skin from oxidative stress and premature aging

• Natural astringent – tightens pores and tones the skin

• Brightening effect – used in natural skincare to promote a radiant, even complexion

• Calming and soothing – perfect for sun-stressed or inflamed skin

• Mildly antiseptic – supports clear skin by gently combating bacteria without harshness