Forget Me Not
For centuries we used to forage for our own food but these days we typically don’t pick wild plants anymore, let alone eat them.
Not only have we lost our common knowledge of wild plants and how they can nurture us, because these plants are referred to as “weeds”, a lot of people see them as ugly or harmful. Many gardeners remove these plants from their gardens as if they are poisonous but often don’t realize that they can provide great benefits to other plants and wildlife
This book aims to reawaken the beauty of these so-called “ugly weeds” and bring back hope that from now on they will be looked at differently.
All the photographs were taken outside in the wild without damaging any plants or wildlife. I brought a black background into the forest and constructed a small photographic studio around the plant.
Borage - Borago officinalis
Plenty the Elder, a natural philosopher is quoted as saying; “ego Borago gaudia semper ago” Latin for: “Borage always gives me courage”
Borage is a little purple starflower that tastes like cucumber. The name borage is derived from the Latin “borra” which means “wool”, referring to the thick, gray and short hair of the plant.
The plant is used to strengthen the adrenal glands and protects against mental exhaustion and depression.
In Spain the leaves of the plant are boiled, sautéed with garlic and served with potatoes. In Italy the leaves are used in pansoti or ravioli and in Germany it is a key ingredient of a traditional green sauce together with other fresh herbs - parsley, chives, garden reds, chervil, salad burnet, sorrel. These herbs can be mixed with vinegar, olive oil and mustard and eaten with roast potatoes.
Borage can bloom from late spring through summer although the plants will start to decline if they are not deadheaded and are left to go to seed.
Common Mallow - Malva sylvestris
The mallow plant contains vitamin A, B, C and carotene. Tea can be made from the flowers which is soothing for sore throats due to the presence of sap in the flowers.
The flowers can be used as decorations for salads due to the attractive colors of their petals. It’s possible to sugar coat them as a decoration for special occasions.
Common mallow plants flower from early spring to mid autumn. They are sometimes called ‘cheese weed’ because its seeds resemble cheese wheels.
Marigold - Calendula officinalis
The marigold is mostly commercially cultivated now and seldom found in the wild. The flower is known for its many healing properties. The Latin name Calendula means “little calendar” or “little clock” and was given to this plant because the flower opens at dawn and closes at sunset each day.
It’s used to make fresh tea and also used to brighten up many foods such as: butter, cheese, custard, bread, biscuits, soups and rice.
In the the past marigold was called “poor mans saffron” as saffron was (and still is) so expensive. The flavor is nowhere near real saffron and without turmeric, it does not colour rice but it still looks attractive.
British herbalists Nicolas Culpepper (1616-1654) and John Gerard (1545-1612) both described marigold as an effective remedy to be locally applied to the skin. Applying the petals to insect stings will reduce pain and swelling. Marigold flowers demonstrate both astringent and anti-inflammatory properties and marigold infusions, ointments, and tinctures have been used to heal bruises, burns, cuts, and minor infections.
Nettle - Urtica dioica
Most people are afraid of nettles because it stings, but the nettle does not sting when plucked from the bottom up.
The nettle is tasty, both raw and cooked. However when eating it raw, it should be put directly in the back of the mouth as once in contact with saliva it no longer stings.
It can be added to cheeses, soups, made into crisps or baked in a cake. The seeds can be collected and dried at the end of the season and added to cereal.
The Nettle is a plant with many uses. An extract from the leaf helps can help remove head lice. Rope and clothing can be made from the stems. In the garden it’s a particularly important plant for butterflies, some of which could not exist without it.
Stinging nettle is a cold season perennial plant meaning it appears in the early spring.
Poppy flower - Papaver rhoeas
This belongs to the family of the opium poppy (papaver somniferum). This poppy is not known for its addictive properties but instead as a mild sedative.
A soothing iced tea of poppy leaves with lemon and sugar has cooling properties.
The seeds are mainly used in bread and pastries and are very beneficial to health. They are a great source of magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. They help in absorbing other vitamins and they are a good remedy for coughs. They also have a calming effect on the nervous system.
The first flowers usually appear in June but the peak of the flowering season is July and August, though some plants continue to flower into September.
Sorrel - Rumex acetosa
Sorrel is another forgotten plant that used to be eaten and grown a lot. Like rhubarb, sorrel contains oxalic acid so it’s wise not to eat too much of it for this reason.
The plant contains a lot of vitamin C
Sorrel is a great alternative to lemon and vinegar to add a fresh tang to salad.
There are more then 200 different types of sorrel worldwide and in The Netherlands alone there are about 13 types. The most common one is sheep sorrel (rumex acetosella). Another type of sorrel, bloody dock (rumex sanguineus) is becoming more and more popular as the red nerves in the middle of the leaf make it look atttractive on a plate.
Sorrel first appears in the spring and becomes progressively more bitter as the months progress. New leaves will keep on sprouting from early spring to late autumn, making it a green that’s almost always in season.
written by Kitty Hinkenkemper
text editor Rachel Shaughnessy