A Moment in Thyme

12/21/2025

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12/21/2025

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🌒🌲 The longest night of the year, the winter solstice, is a beautiful time to reflect and to dream, before we begin celebrating the slow return of the light. ✨

I recently spent time in a dreaming lodge and brought this tea blend to share. 🍵
Mugwort is often associated with lucid dreaming, while yarrow offers a sense of protection. Linden and skullcap are there to relax and soften the edges, and rose reminds us of self love and healthy boundaries. 🌿🌹

I made this as a large batch, so the recipe is shared in parts. I recommend starting with lower doses so you can notice how these plants interact with your own psyche.

Dream Blend
• 1 part mugwort
• 1 part yarrow
• ½ part linden
• ½ part skullcap
• ½ part rose petals

Pour just boiled water over the herbs and steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain.
This is a decidedly bitter brew. A pinch of salt can help soften the flavor, if desired.
Sip with intention, whatever that may be for you. 🌙

💛 This will be my last post of the year.

I’m deeply grateful for this herbal community and for everyone who is focused on the joy and healing that plants bring into our lives.

🌟 Wishing you a beautiful holiday season filled with connection, warmth, and rest.

💭 How are you honoring the solstice or closing out the year? I’d love to hear.

12/21/2025

🌕❄️🌕❄️🌕
Tomorrow, December 21st

12/21/2025

"A Greener Path" 12x16 inches, oils on copper panel. A painting about taking your time to notice the small things, staying calm, and remembering that progress takes patience. 🌼

12/21/2025

12/21/2025

What looks like “yard waste” in winter is often life support.
Leaves, stems, logs, and brush trap heat, block wind, and hide animals from predators during the coldest months.

When debris disappears, so do the animals that rely on it.

These six species survive winter because you didn’t clean too much:

1) Fireflies (Larvae)
• Overwinter in leaf litter and soil
• Spring glow depends on winter cover

2) Native Bees
• Hollow stems and plant debris shelter queens
• Early pollination starts here

3) Frogs & Toads
• Leaf piles protect from freezing
• Moist debris prevents dehydration

4) Hedgehogs / Small Mammals*
• Brush piles block wind and predators
• Insulation is critical overnight
(regional equivalent in the U.S.: chipmunks, voles, mice)

5) Overwintering Butterflies
• Chrysalises hide in debris and stems
• Cleanup destroys next year’s pollinators

6) Ground Beetles & Beneficial Insects
• Logs and leaves keep soil alive
• Natural pest control starts in winter

A messy garden isn’t neglected.
It’s working overtime to keep life alive. 🐦❄️

12/17/2025

This nourishing tea blend is a beautiful ally when your body needs extra support. It helps strengthen the immune system, offers a rich supply of antioxidants, and gently supports healthy digestion. 🌿

Elderberries are both powerful medicine and delicious food. They are widely known for helping shorten the duration of colds and flu, but their benefits reach far beyond that. 💜

These dark, vibrant berries help modulate inflammation, support cardiovascular health, and ease inflammatory pain. They are truly one of my favorite herbs to return to again and again. 🌿

You will find this elderberry and evergreen tea recipe inside my Elderberry eBook, where I share three of my favorite ways to work with elderberries in everyday life. 💜

👉 Type ELDERBERRY25 and I will send you a direct link to the Elderberry eBook.

12/17/2025

Send a message to learn more

12/11/2025

▪︎ UNDERSTANDING LICHENS ▪︎

Lichens are fascinating survivors often overlooked in nature. They are not plants but a partnership between a fungus and either algae or cyanobacteria. Together, they form hardy organisms that can thrive on tree bark, rocks, old wood, and even rooftops.

Each of the four legendary lichens has its own unique form and story:

Crustose Lichens
These lichens form thin, flat patches that are tightly attached to the surface, almost as if they were painted on. They are hardy and resistant to harsh conditions, making them common on rocks, tree bark, and old wood. Crustose lichens help stabilize surfaces and absorb nutrients and moisture from the air.

Foliose Lichens
Foliose lichens grow in leafy layers that curl and lift at the edges. Their slightly raised form allows them to capture light and moisture efficiently. You often find foliose lichens on tree trunks and branches where there is moderate sunlight. They contribute to the ecosystem by providing food and shelter for small insects and helping retain moisture on surfaces.

Fruticose Lichens
Fruticose lichens branch out like tiny shrubs or hair-like structures that hang down or rise up. They are highly efficient at collecting light and air nutrients due to their intricate, three-dimensional form. Fruticose lichens are common on trees and in open areas with good air circulation. They provide habitat for small organisms and add a distinctive texture to natural landscapes.

Leprose Lichens
Leprose lichens appear as soft, powdery, or dusty patches on wood or rocks. They lack distinct edges and are often overlooked because of their subtle appearance. Leprose lichens excel at absorbing moisture from the air and contribute to the slow breakdown of surfaces they grow on, helping recycle nutrients in the ecosystem.

All four types of lichens serve as natural indicators of environmental health. Areas with abundant, healthy lichen growth usually have clean air and a balanced ecosystem. Once you begin recognizing crustose, foliose, fruticose, and leprose lichens, you will start noticing them in places you never paid attention to before, appreciating the tiny but important roles they play in nature.