Fruits of a dry season

World was on fire and no one could save me but you; it’s strange what desire will make foolish people do- Chris Isaak

The green and lush semi-natural grasslands of Cavan are just so and are looking well, but we can’t say the same about many other parts of the country. On a quick visit to south Dublin, I had a refreshing walk around Blackrock park where the maintenance staff were repairing fences instead of the usual green keeping. Not only has the grass stopped growing, but it has been reduced to a short brown thatch. There is a tall herb that is doing very well out of all the dryness and lack of competition and that is yarrow. It is so interesting to observe how some plants thrive in these conditions.

Yarrow, is a plant great importance. “It is one of the seven herbs that nothing natural or unnatural can injure; along with vervain, St John’s worth, speedwell, eyebright, mallow and self heal” (Irish Wild plants, Niall Mac Coitir 2006/2008). Its use is both magical and medical around the world.

Yarrow leaves in Ireland and yarrow sticks in China were used as divination tools. The former to find a love partner and in China in conjunction with the I Ching (book of changes). It heals where boundaries have been breached - whether that is a physical wound or an energetic overstepping. Its resilience against the scorched grass is a testament to that. I wouldn’t dream of using a herb growing in such a location as plant medicine, simply because it may have absorbed toxins from weed killers but it is safe to pick some to dry and use in floral decorations.

This year I am giving dry flowers a go. I went a bit mad and bought lots of seed from seedaholics, it’s so easy to get carried away. So far the results are good probably due to the fine weather. Plants that are going to be used in dry arrangements tend to like dryish conditions. They have papery petals and stiff stems and must be harvested as soon as they are in colour or a little after. They are then tied in small bunches, and hung upside down in a warm dark dry place for a few weeks.

I sometimes give classes in flower arranging and it is very expensive to buy dried flowers. I suppose because of the lengths taken to harvest, dry and store them. These will go well with many of the grasses that I have been collecting. If you are thinking of collecting grasses in the hedgerow or at the edges of fields for ornamental purposes, it’s a bit late. June is the time when they come into flower and it’s then they should be picked. They get to keep a little of their green at this time, which is lovely. Timothy, crested dog’s tail, meadow foxtail, Yorkshire fog, cock’s foot, sweet vernal grass, sweet grasses and holy grass are only a few.

Sadly holy grass has now been lost from its only site in Ireland due to the artificial lowering of water levels in Lough Neagh (BSBI website 2026), more bad news from the calamitous situation surrounding the lough. This grass is sacred to indigenous people in the USA and has been use to make a well known Polish vodka drink. In the book braiding sweetgrass, Prof. Robin Kilmmerer refers to it in the title.

On the plus side, pots of holy grass or Hierochloe odorata are growing quite well in my garden. I got the seeds some years ago to try it, while unaware it had become extinct in Ireland. When harvested and dried before flowering (I have never seen it in flower), you get the most fragrant vanilla scented leaves that can be used in basket making, it’s quite an experience I can tell you. I keep a hank of it in a cardboard box that, when opened, gives off this wonderful sweet scent that is due to the presence of coumarin.

Dried flowers are a lovely addition to wreaths and other indoor arrangements so it’s worthwhile drying a few bits. You can pick roses in bud and dry them, giant marigolds, yarrow (of course), feverfew, lavender, oregano in flower, poppy and honesty seed heads. Sweet Annie (a variety of Artemisia) is a fragrant base for a wreath. Anything that is an interesting shape can be sprayed white, gold or silver to good effect later. When they are bone dry, take them down from hanging and keep them in a cardboard box, separate colours or varieties using big sheets of tissue paper. Store in a warm dry place until you are ready to use them.