It's February and I'm out with my local industrious witches wildcrafting at a nearby park. We happen to have a newspaper crew following us for a local story, but we mostly pretend they aren't there and go about our business. They braved the rock climbing, swamps and deep mud with us to get their pictures and stories. Our wildcrating excursion was actually Saturday past, and the story ran yesterday, and it was lovely.
Most of snow and ice have receded, and the days have warmed enough to remind us Spring is around the corner. The park is rich with plant diversity, as diverse as it gets in this desert-esque climate anyway. We got lucky. It was calling for rain all morning. We meet up at 11am hoping for the best, determined to stick it out regardless. Our luck holds. It's overcast, but it doesn't rain.
One of the first treasures we encounter are a plethora of wild rose bushes, full of beautifully bright red rose hips. Some of us gather a few and thank the plants for their gifts.
Much of our three hour wildcrafting adventure is spent attempting to identify the plant life. By now I've been at this hobby for several years. One of our Witchy crew works with plants and weeds for a living, and between our small contingent, we mostly have a handle on things. At least we like to believe we do.
Recently I feel the wildcrafting bug is growing. I am ready to move beyond amateur and pursue the ranks of enthusiasts and experts. I know it will be more years still before I can confidently claim an expertise. For now I bumble about, correctly identifying a scant half of the plants I encounter. I have fun all the same.
Some specimens are just photographed. I didn't collect any from this one. Not all plants get wildcrafted. I might leave a plant because I don't know what it is; I do know what it is and I have plenty already; don't need it; or it's otherwise unsuitable. Sometimes it's an endangered or sensitive plant that needs to be left alone, or it's there solely to be admired, and not removed.
I encourage those who venture into wildcrafting to take photos so you can identify the plants later and do your research. Make a note of where you found them in a pocket journal so you can return at a later time to harvest if desired. Note the date for future reference. It will come in handy the following year when you want to remember when and where to find that plant again.
I believe the picture above is of cedar or juniper berries, which I have oodles of. I harvested these little guys elsewhere in the early to late Fall last year, when they were fairly abundant.
Juniper berries are traditionally used in making Gin. I dry them and grind them for incense making. I use the berries, needles and small branches. Juniper is excellent at protecting against theft, unwanted spirits, evil forces and malicious people. A great smudging plant for house blessings, purification and cleansing. It can be used to break hexes, in exorcisms, aid in psychic workings and attract healthy energies.
Juniper can be burned as an incense, made into a 'tea' for your ritual bath, or made into a sachet. This is only a small list. Do your research to learn more ways that Juniper can aid in Witchy endeavors.
There are medicinal uses for Juniper, often in the form of oils, teas & ointments. I have never ingested this plant and can not give a recommendation on that front. Better to do your own research and consult a licensed herbalist before trying any new plant topically or internally.
Some beautiful orange lichen.
A bit of swamp. Living in this sagebrush filled land, the swampy bits are a welcome reprieve from the flat fields and usually dusty vegetation.
Above are the wintered fruits of the Russian Olive tree. The fruits are sweet and edible, though I would only do so after properly identifying them with an expert. In other parts of the world where these trees are native, such as Persia or Iran, the fruits are used in religious traditions, and are often dried & powdered and used in healing potions for joint pain and arthritis.
A witchy friends holds some purslane she collected.
I have my eyes on the prize in this Poplar tree. These are just out of reach. I use the large buds to make Balm of Gilead. Wildcrafting today came after a series of high wind storms, leaving many fallen branches to easily collect from the ground. Below, the harvested buds.
Multicolored moss being ultra-productive on a rock.
A small cave for me to ponder over.
Bright green ground cover that I am not confident enough to identify. I think it's maaaybe chickweed. Maybe. Probably not.
Enjoying the view of the columnar basalt rock structures in the canyon where the park sits.
Velvety Mullein is one of the easiest plants to identify. Also called Cowboy Toilet Paper, it has too many beneficial uses to list here. This specimen was harvested from high above the trails among the tall rocks thanks to an adventurous and daring Witchy wildcrafting partner. Read up on all the medicinal uses Mullein has, and try it for yourself.
Magickally, Mullein is a powerful aid in Dark or Left Hand undertakings, as well as otherwold Witchy adventures. The stalks (from their flowering parts) make great DIY candle wicks, or burn all by themselves. Some traditions burn Mullein to ward off evil spirits. Mullein is a crossroads herb that acts as a key AND a door. I use it in Rootwork and conjure and when dried and powdered, it can be substituted for graveyard dirt. I've used the bright yellow flowers to dye fabric and paper with happy success. I like this herb for seeing and interacting with spirits, necromancy, astral, prophetic and lucid dream work.
A magickal grove of Russian Olive trees seems haunting on this dismal Winter day. It's glorious.
One would think February would not yield many things for the wildcrafter. But they would be wrong! There are wild and native plants everywhere if we just look. When I wildcraft regularly, even once a month, I start to get a feel for when plants are in season and when they are dormant. I can begin to anticipate harvest times and plan for ingredients accordingly. It's a special experience to witness the changes of local ecosystems through the turning of the Wheel.
It's still Winter a few weeks more. It's never too late or too early to start wildcrating. Start with just one plant, and build from there. Wildcrafting doesn't have to take you far from home, either. You probably have something growing wild in your own backyard or driveway!
