The Monthly Herb - Rosebay Willowherb

Along hedgerows nationwide, the red willow herb flowers are turning to fluff. They have fed bees nectar throughout the summer and now form wind blown seeds to spread throughout the countryside. In the spring, the new shoots can be eaten like asparagus and the young leaves as salad. It has various reputed health properties including easing of the stomach and recovering from digestive problems. In Russia, the leaves are harvested and after a light fermentation dried and drank as tea. For now, I’ll be contented to take the fluff and save it as tinder for when the weather gets cooler.