Some late season garden pics: harvesting and drying progresses apace. Stay tuned for info about single herb and tea sales. (Skip the last two pics in carousel if you don't want to see bodacious orb weaver spiders) Pic 1: Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Pic 2: Native Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) Pic 3: Native Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Pic 4: Elecampane (Inula helenium) Pic 5: St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) Pic 6: Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis) Pic 7: Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) Pic 8: Anise Hyssop, possibly hybridized with regular hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) Pic 9: Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) Pic 10: Full garden shot Pics 11 and 12: some of the gorgeous and humongous orb weavers in my spearmint and lemon balm patches.

Chipping in to help fill up the river. Plants along it are mostly ok, though some (esp the willow trees) are definitely looking a little crispy. We really really need some rain! I nominate Laurie from @stratford_walking_tours and Terran from @terran.ofearth for the Avon Rivet bucket challenge.

Our beloved Avon River and its reservoir Lake Victoria, has been completely drained this week. But there is good news (which I share in this video). The Avon is a tributary of the Thames River, also known as Deshkan Ziibi or Antler River in Anishnaabemowin. It is a special place and an artery of Stratford. For the past few years, I've been leading monthly plant walks along it, talking about plants and history. Our next one is on August 17 come out! Link to register is in my bio. A huge thank you to the Upper Thames Conservation Authority for all that they do to make this waterway so special and healthy. Love your local rivers.

Some announcements/ updates! I'm happy to share that I have completed my clinical hours for the Institute of Traditional Medicine (ITM)'s Therapeutic Western Herbalism program.  I took a pause in between completing the coursework for this program in 2020 and returning to complete my clinical hours in 2023.  Illness, moving cities, starting my business, a global pandemic were all disruptive, and while I often wish I had made more direct and logical life choices, I've also learned a lot from (literally) wandering around in the weeds.  I went back to school because I love learning and never want to stop, but also to improve my clinical skills and offer better health and wellness advice to my community. Thank you so much to everyone in my life (family, friends, acquaintances) that volunteered to be a practice client for me over the last few years: you know who you are, if you ever want to work with me professionally, you get a forever 15% discount on sessions with me. So what's next for Singing Nettles Herbs?  My main offering this summer is monthly plant walks with Stratford Walking Tours: Local History and Local Plants. The third Sunday of every month, we are walking the Avon River and learning about the history of the waterway and parks, the Festival Theatre, and some of the wonderful weeds growing along the bank. Pre-registration is required: link in my bio.  A Season in Place is taking a little sabbatical this summer as Terran is deep into her Masters degree. We might have an offering later in the summer, and will definitely be doing something for Samhain (late October).  I am currently working in the Supplements and Produce Departments at the Gentle Rain: come and say hello!  The garden is having a relaxed year: I am focusing on soil quality, establishing some more perennials and harvesting to build my apothecary.  In the fall, I hope to incorporate a private clinical practice into Singing Nettles and to apply for professional membership in the Ontario Herbalists Association.  But the main thing I will be doing is some resting, and visioning/planning what comes next. Lmk if you have ideas!

Local Plants and Local History: a plant walk with Stratford Walking Tours. This Sunday May 18th at 1pm. We meet by the river at the intersection of Queen St. And Lakeside Drive. Preregistration required: link in bio. Happy Long Weekend!

Spring Announcements! I've been very quiet here as I complete my clinical hours and plan for the year to come, but I have some announcements and a request for my community. 1) I am so close to completing my clinical hours, but I still need volunteers to do practice intakes with me. Specifically I need someone to be the case study for my practicum, which is Saturday April 19th at 12. We would conduct an intake over zoom with my supervisor Carmen in attendance. If you are interested or available, please DM me. 2) This year, I will be running monthly plant walks along the Avon River with Laurie from Stratford Walking Tours. From May- September, we will run a walk the third Sunday of each month talking about the plants along the river, the history of the waterway and the Festival Theatre. 3) I'm also very excited to be doing some plant walks at Stratford District Secondary School this month as part of their eco week. 4) Finally, in case you're wondering where I have been all winter, the answer is working at The Gentle Rain natural food store in Stratford. I'm usually hanging out in the Supplements/Health and Beauty department, but you can find me any where in the store. I'm still figuring out what the future looks like for Singing Nettles Herbs, but at the moment I'm excited to be putting most of my efforts into learning and teaching. Happy spring to all!

It is that time of year where I ask people to come be my practice clients for my clinical herbalism hours. I am seeking new people to do intakes but I would also love to hear from anyone who has already done an intake with me. Did you try the formulas or recommendations? Did you love the formula? Did you hate it? Any improvements or changes in conditions? I want to know! DM me for more info or to set up a time. Also if you did an intake with me last semester and I promised to dispense a remedy to you, I am working on it. 2025 has already lasted a million years.

IMPORTANT PLANT WALK UPDATE: NEW DATE We have had bad luck this year with plant walks being cancelled due to forces beyond our control. And due to a COVID infection, we are NOT cancelling the best/final one of the year, we are rescheduling!! Join us on Sunday November 3rd at 930 am, the Birnam Wood Arboretum at the north east end of the Avon River. Link to register remains the same, still in my bio. If you bought a ticket and are no longer able to come for the new date, please lmk and I will refund your ticket. #covidruinseverything #plantwalk

Reminder for the final plant walk of 2024, an all-time fave: Dead and Dying, a plant walk and Samhain ritual. Join Terran and I this Sunday September 27th at 9:30 am for this seasonal, kind of goth, hopefully kind of cathartic plant walk experience. Pre registration thru eventbrite always encouraged, tho walk-ins also welcome. $25. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-season-in-place-fall-editions-dead-dying-fall-edition-tickets-872854008837?aff=oddtdtcreator

Reminder of Sunday's plant walk! In collaboration with Stratford Walking Tours, we will be getting to know some of the plants along the south side of the Avon River, as well as some local history about the area. 9:30 am this Sunday September 29th. We will meet at the location shown in the first picture: the intersection of Queen St and Lakeside Dribe. You can register through eventbrite (link in bio) or show up. $25. Hope to see you there!! #plantwalk #autumn @downtownstratford @visitstratfordon @visitperthcounty