found in meadows: RED CLOVER

I spent the morning in meadows, grateful, picking red clover flowers.

Trifolium pratense

According to wikipedia), in Latin, pratense means "found in meadows."

And it's true!red clover

On the last day of June, I drove out to a friend's farm here in central Kentucky. There are a few old horse pasture fields where now chicory, clover, daisies, thistle, poison ivy, etc. grow.

old tobacco/horse barn & daisies

Red clover is the first flower I ever harvested at herb pharm, and for that I feel a special connection to it. It's a warm, nourishing herb, and a delicious tea. I like it for menstrual cramps (sometimes with a shot of brandy) and Rosemary Gladstar says it's an 'excellent detoxifier or blood purifier,' and is used also for respiratory problems. It's a very strong, feminine herb, and the bees like it too.

Another thing I like about red clover is that it grows everywhere. Good medicine from the good earth! It's easy to find, especially on farms and in pastures. On my friend's organic farm there was so much I was able to easily follow overharvesting wildcrafting guidelines and leave plenty for the earth. I mostly stayed away from tractor paths, too.

inspired by m. blankets' 'harvesting apron' and my wildwoman ancestors
who have for eons gathered flowers in their skirts as they roamed

I also had for company Luna who has taught me how to live with abandon, leap through fields, follow my nose, and smile into the wind.

luna: LA LOBA

The days have been hot, and since I'm still sojourning and don't have my own herb shed [yet!], the best place to dry these flowers, I figured, was my car.

north lexington's favorite place to dry herbs

And then we'll have tea.