APRIL 2026: PLANT LORE STUDY GROUP: BACH FLOWER REMEDIES, FLOWER ESSENCES, & EDIBLE FLOWERS

The April Study group meets in Oakland, Tennessee on April 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Study Group materials cost $10.00 and include Flower Essence(s) of choice.

To attend the Plant Lore Study Group: email Ginger Winn at irish0072@aol.com and request to attend the group sessions.

Flower essences are the captured whispers of nature that act as liquid sunlight and vibrational magic to harmonize the emotions. Edible flowers are nature’s confetti that turn ordinary recipes into enchanted botanical masterpieces.

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES: nearly 100 years ago, Dr. Edward Bach discovered 38 wildflowers that naturally balance emotions. The original Bach Flower Remedies are a safe and natural method of healing discovered by Dr. Bach in the 1920’s and 1930’s in England. Mount Vernon is the name of the 19th Century cottage where he discovered the Bach flower remedies, and he lived and worked here during the last years of his life. Mount Vernon is located in the heart of the Oxfordshire village Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, near the market town of Wallingford, and the Bach Centre remains the nucleus of Dr. Bach’s work.

The Bach Flower Remedies gently restore the balance between mind and body, and provide peace, joy, and emotional harmony by casting out negative emotions such as fear, worry, hatred, and indecision which interfere with the equilibrium of the person. The remedies allow peace and happiness to return to the sufferer so that the body is free to heal itself.

The Bach Flower Remedies are made from wildflowers and are safe for the whole family including adults, children, during pregnancy, and pets. The remedies are preserved in grape-based brandy and are gluten-free. They are safe to use with herbs, homeopathy, and medications, and this simple, proven system is trusted by millions worldwide.

Edward Bach died in 1936, leaving his work in the hands of his assistants Nora Weeks and Victor Bullen. He asked them to promise to honor the simplicity and completeness of the system, and not to complicate it. Along with Mary Tabor, a local resident, Nora and Victor continued to make remedies and hold consultations. Mary left the village a few years later, but Nora and Victor carried on running the Bach Centre until the late 1970’s, and their successors at the Centre, from Nickie Murray and John Ramsell to Judy Ramsell Howard and Stefan Ball today, have all made and kept that promise.

Bach Flower Remedies:

·        Agrimony: for mental torture behind a cheerful face, hide feelings behind a cheerful façade, dislike arguments, give in to avoid conflict, or turn to food, work, or substances when down.

·        Aspen: for fear of unknown things, feel anxious without knowing why, fear that something bad will happen, or waking up with anxiety.

·        Beech: for intolerance, getting annoyed easily by the habits of others, focusing on other people’s mistakes, or are critical of others.

·        Centaury: for the inability to say ‘no’, neglect of one’s own feelings to please others, or tend to be easily influenced.

·        Cerato: for lack of trust in one’s own decisions, constantly second-guessing oneself, mistrusting one’s own intuition, or changing the mind out of confusion.

·        Cherry Plum: for fear of the mind giving way, losing self-control, sudden fits of rage, or feelings of going crazy.

·        Chestnut Bud: for failure to learn from mistakes or wrong patterns.

·        Chicory: for selfish and possessive love, feeling unloved and unappreciated, or easily feeling slighted and hurt.

·        Clematis: for dreaming of the future without working in the present, feeling spacey and absent-minded, inability to concentrate, or sleeping too much.

·        Crab Apple: for obsession with cleanliness, feeling unclean or physically unattractive, or obsession over little things.

·        Elm: for overwhelm caused by responsibilities, inability to cope under pressure, or temporary loss of self-confidence.

·        Gentian: for discouragement after a setback, disheartenment when faced with difficulties, or a pessimistic attitude.

·        Gorse: for hopelessness and despair, lacking faith that things will get better, or feelings of depression and sullenness.

·        Heather: for talkative self-concern, being self-centered, obsession with one’s own troubles, dislike of being alone, or talking to oneself.

·        Holly: for hatred, envy and jealousy, suspicion of others, or feelings of discontent and unhappiness.

·        Honeysuckle: for feeling homesick for the way things were in the past, thinking more about the past than the present, or what may have been.

·        Hornbeam: for tiredness at the thought of doing something, mental exhaustion, or the habit of procrastination.

·        Impatiens: for impatience, irritability, or preferring to work alone.

·        Larch: for lack of confidence, feelings of inferiority, or expecting failure.

·        Mimulus: for fear of known things such as spiders or illness, feeling shy, oversensitive, and modest, or often feeling nervous and embarrassed.

·        Mustard: for deep gloom, mood swings, or frequent depression.

·        Oak: for the plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion, have a strong sense of duty, never give up, or neglect one’s own needs.

·        Olive: for exhaustion following mental or physical effort, drained of all energy with no reserves left, or have recently been through a long illness.

·        Pine: for guilt, feelings of being unworthy, or blaming oneself.

·        Red Chestnut: for over-concern for the welfare of loved ones, being distressed and disturbed by other people’s problems, or constant worry.

·        Rock Rose: for terror and fright, feeling helpless and frozen when afraid, or suffering from nightmares.

·        Rock Water: for self-denial, rigidity, and self-repression, setting too high standards for oneself, being strict with one’s own health, work, or spiritual disciplines, or always striving for perfection.

·        Scleranthus: for the inability to choose between alternatives, difficulty making decisions, often changing opinions, or intense mood swings.

·        Star of Bethlehem: for devastation from a recent shock, being withdrawn due to traumatic events, or lack of recovery from a loss, trauma, or fright.

·        Sweet Chestnut: for extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left, having reached the limits of endurance, or feelings of complete despair that all hope is gone.

·        Vervain: for over-enthusiasm, feeling high-strung, attempts to convince others of one’s own way of thinking, or feelings of fanatical injustice.

·        Vine: for dominance, inflexibility, being strong-willed, or of over-ambition.

·        Walnut: for protection from change and unwanted influences, being drained by people or situations, or wanting freedom to follow ambitions.

·        Water Violet: for quiet self-reliance leading to isolation, being aloof, preferring to be alone when overwhelmed, or disconnection from people.

·        White Chestnut: for unwanted thoughts and mental arguments, reliving unhappy events or arguments, or racing thoughts during sleep.

·        Wild Oat: for uncertainty over one’s direction in life, lacking direction, or feeling ambitious without knowing what to do.

·        Wild Rose: for drifting, resignation, apathy, and lack of joyful feelings, being resigned to whatever happens, or having an “it doesn’t matter attitude.

·        Willow: for self-pity, resentment, and bitterness, difficulty forgiving and forgetting, or having a “poor me” attitude. 

FLOWER ESSENCES:

·        Borage: White (Borago officinalis): for lightworkers and those experiencing energies from the heavens. Gives us the strength in the shadows and brings transformation and elevated consciousness. Opens the heart to love, compassion for the self, and connection to the divine. Restores full light so we can restore and support others.

·        Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus): fosters self-trust, boosts confidence, shifts negative self-perception, and acts on emotional and etheric bodies to aid transitions, helping us align with their inner strength.

·        Dragonhead Balm: Moldavian (Dracocephalum moldavica): supports a deep holistic place of wholeness within us, courage, strength, and truth, allowing us to be our whole selves with quiet determination and happiness. For those with a discouraged heart. 

·        Lilac: White (Syringa vulgaris): for those who had a sad or traumatized childhood, a reminder of happy times, letting go of past negatives, and renewed joy. For those carrying sadness, depression or isolation.

·        Pear Blossom (Pyrus calleryana): to foster peace, emotional stability, and resilience during crises, trauma, or high stress. It is often considered a premier "emergency" essence for calming the mind and reducing resistance to difficult situations, aiding in grounding and restoring a sense of rhythm.

·        Peppermint (Mentha piperita): for mindful and wakeful clarity, a cool head, and to stimulates our metabolism, energy, and our mental focus. For those who feel dull or sluggish, depleted, and hot.

·        Sage: Prairie (Artemisia ludoviciana): to purify mind, body, and emotions, provide ancestral guidance and support for feeling lighter and connected to our ancestors. Cleansing and protective for our mind, body, and emotions. Allows us to release those things that hold us back or are negative, so we can more deeply connect and move forward.

·        Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum): for harmonizing and balancing our entire system, to support a healthy stress response, heart medicine, purification, and realignment, and to release stagnant energy. Offers a bridge from the earthly to spiritual realm.

·        Violet: White (Viola alba): promotes self-acceptance, trust, gentle and open communication while dissolving social anxiety or feelings of being aloof. It helps highly sensitive individuals maintain a strong sense of self, especially in crowded or constricted environments.

·        Violet: Wood (Viola odorata): for uplifting and fresh vitality, clearing stagnation, restoration of balance, and harmony for our life force. For those feeling stuck or frazzled, tense and blocked. Restores open emotions, flowing energy, and a greater sense of wellbeing.

·        Wood Mint: Hairy (Blephilia hirsuta): for calming, balancing, and rejuvenating, helping to soothe emotional distress and nervousness, cooling, clearing, strengthening, supporting emotional resilience, and bringing the mind into a state of balanced clarity.

EDIBLE FLOWERS: are always best when picked fresh from the garden, and they taste even better if harvested early in the morning. The petals are the best part of many edible flowers, so remove the bitter heel at the base of the petal, the stamens, pistil and calyx, unless the entire blossom will be consumed whole.

Wash and dry the blossoms gently by dipping them in a bowl of water and gently shaking. This should also help remove any bugs or bees that might have stowed away within the petals. Once the blossoms are cleaned, place them straight into the refrigerator in a plastic container and use them within a few days.

·        Anise Hyssop: a mild licorice flavor.

·        Apple: a delicate and mildly sweet flavor. Great for fruit salad.

·        Basil: a fantastic flavor when eaten raw!

·        Bee Balm: a citrus and mint flavor. Use with any dessert recipe.

·        Borage: a mild and crisp cucumber flavor.

·        Calendula: a tangy flavor with hints of pepper.

·        Catnip: leaves and flowers can be used to flavor teas & cocktails.

·        Chamomile: a mildly sweet flavor with an apple aroma.

·        Chives: a mild onion or garlic flavor that is excellent in potato salad.

·        Cornflower: a hint of clove flavor.

·        Dandelion: sweet and honey-like flavor when picked young.

·        Elderflower: a sweet floral flavor with hints of honey and fruit.

·        Hibiscus: a pleasing mild flavor with a citrus zing.

·        Lavender: a mild floral flavor.

·        Lilac: a highly fragrant lemon flavor.

·        Mint: a robust mint flavor that ranges from chocolatey to lemony.

·        Nasturtium: a delicious sweet and peppery flavor.

·        Pansy: a grassy flavor that can be used to decorate desserts and salads.

·        Rose: a sweet floral flavor.

·        Safflower: a very mild flavor that can be added to rice dishes and salads.

·        Sunflower: a mild artichoke flavor that is slightly bitter.

·        Violet: a subtle and sweet floral flavor.

·        Zucchini: a faint squash flavor that can be battered and deep fried.

EDIBLE FLOWER TASTE PROFILES: the five main tastes are ones that the taste buds can detect, and each offers a unique sensory experience, including sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory or umami which is a little difficult to access.

To experience taste, place a piece of the plant directly into the mouth or use an extract such as a tea or a tincture.

·        The Sweet Taste: is nourishing and demulcent and is associated with   carbohydrates which come in varying forms; simple sugars known as monosaccharides, and longer-chain sugars known as polysaccharides. The sweet flavor determines that an herb is likely to be demulcent, an herbal action that describes coating and soothing tissues with a slippery substance. Not all sweet flavors come from sugar molecules. There is a category of herbs called sweet tonics that are known for their profound nourishment.

·        The Sour Taste: is cooling and astringent, awakens the taste buds with its tangy profile, is commonly found in berries, citrus fruits, and fermented foods such as vinegars, and indicates that there are organic acids present in the plant being tasted.  Sour herbs have a cooling effect on the body that helps alleviate heat-related conditions, and the sour flavor is associated with astringency.

·        The Salty Taste: is balancing and diuretic, and in herbalism, the salty flavor is used to describe the taste that communicates the presence of minerals. Water follows salt, so when salty herbs are consumed, the minerals within them will draw water along for the ride. Salty herbs have a mild diuretic action that encourages the elimination of excess fluids and waste products; therefore, they are also used to soften hardened tissues, through their ability to move fluids.

·        The Bitter Taste: is drying and acts as a digestive stimulant. Bitter is a flavor often associated with herbs, and though it can be an acquired taste, it has much to offer the body. Bitter herbs have the ability to promote optimal digestion and liver function, and this makes them valuable allies in maintaining overall health. Through stimulating digestive actions, bitter herbs help to balance appetite and blood sugar levels, which makes them a great herbal ally. Bitter herbs are most commonly going to be drying because through moving the fluids of the body, bitters can have an overall drying effect.

·        The Savory or Umami Taste: signals the presence of amino acids and protein, and acts as an appetite stimulant that enhances satiety, boosts savory, meaty, and earthy flavors, and reduces the need for salt. It offers a long-lasting, savory, and sometimes slightly bitter or furry sensation on the tongue, often described as "meatiness" or "brothiness", multiplies the flavor intensity, makes food taste more rounded and complete, and reduces bitterness.