July Photo Blog

July was a busy month at Zen Lane, with lots to plan and gather.

We spent some time on a foraging mission for Saint John's Wort. We only make this wonderfully medicinal oil from the fresh flowers once per year. This is one plant friend that we haven't been able to convince to take up residence on the homestead for easy access. We will keep trying! Stay tuned for our next blog post on Saint John's Wort and how to make your own oil from the plant.

July is the month that we begin to harvest Tulsi, one of our favorite plant smells! We've also had an abundance of plantain, marshmallow flower, mugwort, calendula, yarrow, and many others to gather and dry for the months ahead.

Here are just a few plant photos we snapped this month, some for medicine, some just for their beauty alone.

Saint John's Wort, more on this one next time!

We remove the flowering tops of Tulsi so that she can continue growing all season.

The year of the bumble bee! I think we set a record on the number in the garden this year.

Thistle

Calendula

We love these pretty pink yarrow, but we use the white variety for medicine.

Echinacea

and more echinacea!

Elecampane

We don't have many apples this year, but the peaches are doing well.

A black swallowtail enjoying the monarda, maybe my number one suggested plant for increasing pollinators in your yard.

Blue vervain, a personal favorite that we are working on establishing here. This plant feels particularly potent!

Never enough calendula!

One of the tallest, silliest mullein plants I've ever seen.

Pretty quail egg bloom.

Grateful for some time away for a class and herb walk with herbalist 7song this month!

7song and yellowdock

The peony blooms may be faded now, but these beeswax candles (and other summery designs!) are now available in the shop.

Wishing you a wonderful August ahead.