My R. Chamomile is blooming, what do I do now?

[Faery-Wings]

I am a herb harvesting virgin.:D

I know I need to take the blossoms, but where and how do I take them? Should I take a bit of the stalk to hang them dry?
And last, what are some good offerings to leave?


BTW, this is a great feeling that I am actually able to grow and harvest a plant! :)

Thanks guys!

Chris
:sunny:

[Lavender]

You can harvest the flowers when the petals begin to turn back from the flower head. I always found the flowers pretty small for hanging. You can cut them off just a bit past the base of the flower head & put them into paper bags to dry. Shake them daily. If you cut off the flowers as you go along, it will encourage your plant to produce more flowers. If you want, you can leave some of the flowers for seeds late August or so. The Roman chamomile is a perennial so you don't really have to worry too much. It's probably easier to propagate from the little offshoots.

A nice offering would be a drink of water with diluted plant food. I also like talking to my plants before taking anything. I know a lot of wildcrafters do that with plants in the wild & not with the plants they grow. I like to do both because I feel I'm just the caretaker, so to speak. I think that giving thanks also increases the potency of your herbs, having the devas be part of your magic.

[Spirahl]

Congrats Chris! I love harvesting chamomile especially. Smells somewhat like apples. My chamomile hasn't done that great this year, my yarrow is over-running it. I'll have to remedy that in the spring or fall!