Sunday 6th January

Herbs

I've had the whole family watching the evening primrose flower over the last week or two. Last night I was sure we would witness one of the flowers opening and I was right. Quickly the family was gathered as I suppose one does to watch a tv show - we mustof looked funny all looking at one plant. Just as well we are rural don't you think?
 The flower opens within a minute at dusk (which we caught on video below). The flower lasts less than 24 hours which then the previous evening’s flower slowly crumples and changes colour during the following day

Evening Primrose leaf.

Evening Primrose
Family Onagraceae
Genus: Oenothera
Latin name Oenothera biennis
AKA sun drop

Language of Flowers.
Inconstancy

Description
Often classed as a weed and once in the garden it will spread.A herb for the moon garden. The flowers open up at dusk and has the most unusual scent - kind of buttery. The yellow petals emit phosphorescent light at night

Habitat and cultivation
It needs sun, but will grow in most soils especially sandy and well drained soil.

In the Kitchen
The seeds can be gathered and ground into a paste. Mix with equal parts of flax seed oil and keep in the fridge. 
The seeds can be used as you would a poppy seed, but it is best to grind them first to get some of the oil from the seeds. Otherwise the seeds will pass right though you without getting any benefit of the plant at all.

The leaves can be added to salads and stews, they have a mild peppery flavour. They can also be picked and cooked as a green vegetable.

The young roots can be used as a vegetable a bit like a parsnip.A young root is the plant in it's first year - before it has flowered.

The flowers are slightly sweet and can be added to salads.(the plant flowers in its second year)

Medicinal
Parts used - All.

The seeds contain gamma-linoleic acid which is only found in three other plants - black currants, borage seeds and hemp seeds. Take the above seed paste of 1 -2 tablespoons per day. The oil extracted from the seeds can be applied by the midwife to the cervix to quickly ripen it.

The dried root can be ground to a fine powder and then mixed with warm manuka honey - take 1 tablespoon for sore throats or coughs.

The whole plant can be used as an anti spasmodic coughing or menstrual cramps. make into a tea or tincture.

The flowers and leaves can make a good poultice for the skin.

Folklore
As the flowers open at dusk and close again at noon the next day, it is believed to be a witches herb. Linnaeus named the plant Oenothera, from the Greek oinos, "wine," and thera "a hunt"

Magical uses.
Add the root to any charm bag to ensure a successful hunt.

The Evening Primrose - A Poem

by Dorothy Parker

You know the bloom, unearthly white,
That none has seen by morning light -
The tender moon, alone, may bare
Its beauty to the secret air.

Who'd venture past its dark retreat
Must kneel, for holy things and sweet,
That blossom, mystically blown,
No man may gather for his own
Nor touch it, lest it droop and fall....
Oh, I am not like that at all!

At 8.45pm last night we all sat around the evening primrose to watch the flower open.  It opens well under a minute and Brent caught the second flower opening for the night on camera for you all.

Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced.
John Keats

FarmStay Guests...

I'm not sure if Molly's family are going to be too thrilled with this photo of Molly draped around Brent's shoulders. Molly adores Brent and gave him lots of nose rubs...

 Bella is proving very hard for me to get a good photo of - she never keeps still. Big purrs from Bella too.

 Minka has been playing with all her toys her family brought. I tidy them up for her and place on the shelf - but couldn't find her bunny anywhere.

That's because Minka had taken bunny to bed with her last night and it was all tucked up.