Spring Harvest & Teasel

The spring harvest is in full swing! This weekend's bounty includes bittercress, plantain, dandelion, speedwell, sweet violets, and lots of purple deadnettle. The find of the day was in an unexpected, out of the way place - wild teasel, Dipsacus fullonum. The root tincture is used by people afflicted with Lyme disease although lately the leaves have been discovered to be medicinal too. I harvested some and will wait till fall to dig up more. Last year we had a drought, and most of the teasel around dried up. This is growing in a damp, sheltered spot away from strong sun and at the bottom of a hill that is safe from problematic runoff. On another note, I have decided to offer more teas this year!