When sunlight warms Wild Rose leaves, a spicy, resinous aroma rises to meet the sweet, cooling scent of the blossoms — each flower offering its own unique fragrance. With over seven wild rose varieties growing on Vancouver Island, it’s easy to become enchanted by the subtle yet profound differences in scent and energy. Wild Rose supports the emotional heart, lifts the spirit, tones tissues, and nourishes the body. Discover its habitat, harvesting tips, and medicinal uses.

Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) is one of the great medicine trees of the Pacific Northwest, towering along riverbanks, floodplains, and moist forest edges. Often reaching heights of 40–60 metres, it is one of the largest deciduous trees in North America and is deeply woven into the ecology of Vancouver Island. Its broad, shiny leaves shimmer in the wind, its grey bark deepens with age, and every spring its resinous buds release a warm, balsamic fragrance that has become one of the signatures of coastal springtime. These sticky, aromatic buds are the heart of its medicine and share their properties with the wider Populus family, including cottonwoods, balsam poplars, and aspens.

Discover the gentle resilience of Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)—a beloved Pacific Northwest wildflower traditionally used to support the lungs, soothe inflammation, and calm irritated tissues. In this blog, learn how to identify this silvery, soft plant along forest edges and meadows, how to harvest it ethically, and the unique cooling, drying energetics that make it a beautiful ally for lingering coughs, sinus congestion, and seasonal transitions. Explore traditional uses, herbal preparations, and simple ways to welcome Pearly Everlasting into your teas and wellness rituals.

Discover the gentle yet powerful medicine of Sweet Violet (Viola odorata)—a favourite in traditional herbalism for soothing inflammation, supporting the lymphatic system, and calming irritated respiratory tissues. In this blog, explore where violets grow, how to identify them ethically, and the unique cooling, moistening energetics that make them such a beloved remedy for women’s health, spring detoxification, and dry, irritated coughs. Learn how to harvest and prepare Sweet Violet safely, what the research and folklore say about its healing qualities, and simple ways to bring this tender, heart-softening plant into your teas, syrups, and seasonal remedies.

When Linden comes into bloom, the whole neighbourhood is wrapped in its sweet, honey-dripped fragrance, vibrating with the hum of thousands of bees gathering nectar. A cooling, calming, heart-softening herb, Linden soothes frazzled nerves, eases tension, and restores emotional balance. Learn how to identify, harvest, and use this beloved summer medicine.

Each year I make a new plant friend. Once an innocuous stranger this plant demands attention stating its need to be made to medicine. This year Thimble Berry (Rubus parviflorus) became family - kin to some of my other local favourites like Black Raspberry, Coastal Strawberry, and Trailing Blackberry all Rubus family plants share similar characteristics & use.

Discover the rich folklore and medicinal depth of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)—a traditional herb known for supporting digestion, easing menstrual tension, and enhancing dream clarity. In this blog, explore where Mugwort grows, how to identify it confidently, and the energetics that make it a potent ally for the nervous system, womb, and digestive tract. Learn ethical harvesting practices, traditional preparations, and the ways Mugwort has been used across cultures for intuition, dream work, and restoring balance to the body. A perfect read for anyone wanting to connect with this aromatic, protective, and deeply grounding plant.

Discover the healing gifts of Lungwort Lichen (Lobaria pulmonaria)—a remarkable west-coast lichen traditionally used to support respiratory health. In this blog, learn how Lungwort grows high in the canopy of our coastal forests, why ethical harvesting is essential, and how this symbiotic organism has been relied on for easing stuck mucus, spastic coughs, and congested sinuses. Explore dosage tips, herbal energetics, and how to incorporate this powerful forest medicine into your daily routine.