This summer, I have been collecting dyer’s chamomile for the first time. I have some in the garden, gifted to me by a fellow Guild member who was keen to have some of my madder (this wish granted, needless to say)! It has white petals.
But recently I found some with vivid yellow petals in the parklands beside the river Torrens.
Our exercise class were astonished when I said I was planning to harvest while we were out on a DIY exercise session (our instructor was off doing the Busselton Ironman–she is our hero). They offered to shield me from passersby who might intervene. I think they underestimated how scared most people seem to be when they see someone doing something so inexplicable (to them)! I let them know I’d only be taking the dead flowers and we all relaxed again. The patch is so big I really want to go back with more time… and it is flowering so generously, I am sure I have weeks in which to organise a return visit.
Meanwhile, we’ve been harvesting at home, too.
I keep thinking I’ll make rhubarb leaf mordant, and then not getting round to it!
Local & Bespoke 