The Plants

 Within the Nemeton, often unnoticed under the feet of the traveler, lies a soft palette of color and life.
The plants there are capable of sustaining life as food sources, making magik with special properties, healing injury with natural medications, as well as scenting the air, or body, with natural perfumes.
Dyes made of plant life have a natural beauty unsurpassed, and fade in a way which is far more harmonious than those which are man made.
Cosmetics and perfumes are more heady in scent, and far less likely to cause irritation than those man made counterparts.
Some plants are difficult to grow when cultivated, but grow well if left on their own.
Others are endangered and need propagation to continue.
The vegetarian would have us each believe that to eat meat is wrong, and plant life, acceptable.
The simple facts are that to sustain life, something with special qualities, be it plant or animal life, will die.
The living qualities, special properties of a plant are no less important to the Earth, and those of us who dwell here, than the animals, or humanity.
Each is a living entity, offering gifts, and responsibilities to those who make use of them.

Properties

 Plants, as well as being edible and medicinal, have properties, or attunements with either solar/male, or lunar/female energies.
Solar Energies
Rose
Heather
Clover
Chamomile
Basil
Sunflower
Ginseng		 Lunar Energies
Ivy
Lavendar
Thyme
Yarrow
Jasmine
Willow
Natural Offerings
A small number of recipes for dyes and natural cosmetics are listed below.
These scratch the mere surface of what is possible with natural plants and herbs.

Dying Cloth Naturally

Pink/Rose/Lavender- Elderberries, Blackberries, Pokeberries,Rose hips, Sorrel Berries are not colorfast. Adding a alum as a mordant will help them to stay true . Cook the berries with materials - if color is too blue, add white vinegar, a tbp. at a time, to make color more red.
Golden Yellow - Tumeric Powder, Saffron(although it is highly expensive) Field Mustard Saffron and turmeric is found in the grocery store. One tbp. per oz. of yarn, dissolve in water and boil with yarn.
Sunshine Yellow - Golden rod, Apple and Pear Tree Bark Scrape bark from trees or branches,( bark needs to be moist)and boil with materials. Need 3 times as much bark as yarn. Try other barks - cherry gives a light pink or a tan , Experiementation is the key.
Yellow/Oranges- Onion Skins, beetroot,privet leaves, dahlias, goldenrod, heather, marigolds,pear leaves Use 3-4 handfuls of outer skin, preferably dry per oz. of yarn. Boil with yarn.
Gray/Green - Dandelions, Red Onion Skins Boil varied amounts to achieve different shades.
Greens,-Shrubbery clippings,Privet, Bracken, Lily of the Valley, Nettles,Weld, Boil varied amounts, a good rule of thumb use about the amount in weight as the fiber to be dyed
Deep Brown - Gipsywort, Sassafras, Walnut Hulls,Hawthorn berries Use the outer hull of nut, not just shells. Soak overnight in water,boil,using the same water, adding as necessary to assure it covers the hulls and materials.
Blues - blackberries, blueberries, dandelion root, wood, woad, indigo plant, Soak overnight in water,boil,using the same water.


Natural Cosmetics
ROSEWATER SKIN CREAM
Scents, moisturizes, and softens skin
1 tsp beeswax
1/4 tsp honey
4tbsp almond oil
4 tbsp rosewater
Place in double boiler over hot water
Stir until blended
keep stirring gently til cooled

SAGE TEA HAIR RINSE
Softens and gives incredible shine
to dark or auburn hair
2 tablespoons sage
1 cup water
steep sage in hot water
Stir until blended
strain and use in final hair rinse

LAVENDAR BUBBLE BATH

scents and soothes skin
bunch of lavendar
large bottle hypoallergenic organic shampoo
large clean jar
4 drops lavendar oil
Place lavendar in jar, heads down
add oil
let stand approx 2 weeks, tilting
jar occassionally.

***NOTE**Lavendar is the most widely used essential oil,
and for good reason. It is one of the few
which is safe to put directly on the skin.
Allergic reactions to lavendar are almost unknown.
Lavendar is used in sleep pillows to promote sleep,
It is excellent for treating minor scrapes and burns and deters mosquitos
Naturally Beneficial
JewelWeed
Commonly known as touch me not, the stems, split and rubbed on poison ivy will aid in healing and drying the rash
Elder Bark
boiled in water makes a remarkable poultice to heal poison oak and ivy
Rose Hips
Rich in vitamin C can help to prevent scurvy and vitamin deficits
Lavendar
Repels some flying insects, a natural astringent, as well as being soothing to the senses
PennyRoyal
Repels moths and fleas, was traditionally used in pillowcases in medieval times
Horehound
Traditional remedy for coughs.
Rue
commonly used in toiletries and cosmetics,a marvelous natural insect repellant for plantscan be made, when boiling water is poured over the leaves of tansy, rue and wormwood
Chamomile
Natural stress reducer, is usually ingested as a tea. Has mild soporific qualities

This is a partial list of some of the incredible properties of plants.
Plants and Plant alkaloids are also used in the treatment and prevention of certain types of cancer, as well as sleep disorders.
With all this to recommend them, aren't they worth a second look??


**NOTE** While it seems silly to have to say this, Please be responsible.
Don't pick what you don't know. I am not, and cannot be responsible for the actions of another, who may use, correctly or incorrectly, the remedies, dyes and cosmetics of these pages. They have not caused irritation to my own person. Other than this, I make no claims for them.