Further reflections by the river

I’ve come for a river walk again this Sunday morning, which I’m sure you’ve realised by now is one of my favourite local walks. I noticed the angelica today which was absolutely covered in a variety of insects. Surely that must be a sign of a healthy eco climate. I’d love to introduce angelica to my garden, I think it’s healthy to introduce wild plants to the garden to help insects to thrive. I noticed hogweed has turned up in my garden since last year, and although it can look a bit messy, it has brought with it it’s own unique insects. So I’m putting up with the messy look for now!

The meadow with angelica that was covered with insects

I really love the river environment: the song of crickets, the sound of the ever-moving river, the tall grasses rustling in the wind. Whenever I come here I think it must be my favourite landscape. But as soon as I’m in a forest or surrounded by mountains, I’ll change my mind again…

I had just been talking about how my nervous system recently has been constantly feeling very overactive and ‘frazzled’. The only way I can describe the feeling is it’s a bit like a buzzing electric fence or the snap crackle of fireworks. But as I am sat by the river in complete peace, the only sounds natural ones, I can finally feel my nervous system settle. I wonder if you can bottle the experience somehow, but I don’t think that’s possible. It’s vital to immerse yourself in nature to fully experience that calming effect, whether that’s in the garden or a park, anywhere there’s nature.

Why is it that only nature has the power to calm our nervous systems to this extent? We must be so intrinsically linked to each other, that we need each other for survival. I can see that nature accepts death as a natural part of its cycle, but it’s not destructive like we humans so often are. I still find it challenging to pull my head out of the sand sometimes and be more careful and aware of wildlife around me. I will feel guilty for trampling insects or plants underfoot and I want to slow myself down more. But I often find society and life around me try to push me to hurry up, and it feels like a constant battle not to be rushed. I realise that the work I want to do, of creating herbal potions, oils and scents, is a very slow process. I can’t rush it but have to spend time with the plant and get to truly know it.

With that in mind, I have made some observations on meadowsweet, as I have been wanting to create a facial mist with this flower. I was flanked by meadowsweet today on both sides and you can imagine the beautiful scent it offered me.

The path surrounded by meadowsweet

Meadowsweet

It’s like a bridal bouquet to me, very feminine, fragile and sweetly scented. I love the tall red stems that sway in the breeze. The flowers look like little clouds floating in the air. I think it’s a social plant as I can see it thrives in large groups. It likes watery environments and often grows near a river or stream. It gives of itself abundantly if you nurture it. It’s beauty is enhanced when it grows among other grasses and flowers and it enhances the beauty of other plants too.

When creating a product with meadowsweet I wonder if it will do better with a companion plant. I plan to research rosebay willowherb for this as you can see it growing alongside meadowsweet and it has beneficial properties for the skin. I am looking for plants that complement each other so that I can create a better quality product. I also want the plants that I use to be growing in abundance locally so that I don’t have a large impact on the welfare of the plant and eco system. I will write down my notes on the making of this product in a later blog so watch this space…

A more detailed image of meadowsweet where it’s really thriving by the river