The air is sharp and sweet with the scent of cottonwood these days. Spring has “come on” so quickly that I’ve missed the window of time for making Balm of Gilead this year but I collected the sticky remnants of the buds anyway. This wonderfully scented oil is easy to make and I like to … Continue reading Seasonal Observations: Balm of Gilead
Got aches and pains? Check out black cottonwood medicine. There are probably more black cottonwoods in our valley than there are people. Despite the fact that they provide welcome shade from our blistering summer sun and important wildlife habitat, some of us love to hate them because they have a nasty tendency to rot from … Continue reading Black Cottonwood – Good for What Ails You
by Dawn Johnson Black cottonwood trees (Populus balsamifera ssp.) release their seeds during times when the rivers and waterways are at their highest. This is to ensure that the water surrounding them will carry their seeds into the far reaches of the riparian areas that sustain so much life. The banks are so ripe for … Continue reading Sighted: Cottonwood Trees
The Wellness Almanac 