Midsummer Herbs : Summer Solstice
Solstice celebrations center around the day of the astronomical summer solstice or can be held on June 21, Midsummer, also known as St John's Day. Golden-flowered mid-summer plants, especially Calendula and St. John's Wort, have always been an integral part of summer celebrations, indeed they were believed to have miraculous healing powers when harvested on midsummer eve by the light of the moon. Calendula and St. Johns flowers infuse their magical healing to the oils, creams, and lotions you need to keep summer stressed skin glowing and healthy.
A bouquet of midsummer herbs, a summer solstice bundle, can be made using any combination of the following herbs and wildflowers. The plants considered to be midsummer herbs differ from place to place, but they almost always include the following:
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Burdock root, Arctium lappa -
Calendula, Calendula officinalis -
Chamomile, Matricaria recutita -
Club Moss, Lycopodium clavatum, -
Elderberry, Sambucus nigra -
Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris -
Oxeye Daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum -
St. John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum -
Thyme, Thymus vulgaris -
Vervain, Verbena hastata, V. officinalis -
Wood Betony, Stachys officinalis -
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Looking for something you can read offline? Join our mailing list and get a free copy of Methods for Using Herbs. This free handbook includes instructions on how to make basic herbal preparations at home. It covers making herbal teas, herb infused oils and balms, tinctures, and more.