Sometimes, a quiet walk turns into a small adventure.
The other day, I grabbed my little basket, filled up a water bottle, tucked a small knife into my basket, and headed out (with my friend Džeina). There was something I had noticed a few days earlier on our walking trail—something that looked very much like wild majoram (oregano)! I wasn’t sure, but I had a feeling.
And I was right!
There it was—tucked among grasses and wild herbs—soft green stems with delicate, light purple flowers, swaying gently in the breeze. Absolutely beautiful. I paused at each little cluster and gently cut just a few sprigs from every “bush,” being careful not to overharvest and not to fall – it grows on the side of where the railway was. By the time I reached the end of the trail, my basket was full and my heart even fuller.
I love discovering plants like this—unexpected, growing wild, waiting to be noticed. For free!
This one is still new to me, though. I’m still learning. I know some people use it in herbal teas, and I did try a little already—it has a strong, slightly sweet herbal taste, very comforting. I’m definitely going to dry some and experiment more.
Finding this plant felt like a gift. I’ll be reading more about its uses and properties over the next few days—and if you’ve used wild marjoram before, I’d love to hear your favorite ways!
Nature really does have surprises for those who pay attention.
Ilze
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a day in the life of a latvian mom 
That’s a beautiful photo!
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Thank you! Do you ever forage herbs yourself or stick to garden-grown ones? I’d love to know your favorites to photograph!
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Great for cooking with.
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Oregano in cooking is something I haven’t tried much yet. Do you have a go-to dish where it really shines?
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To me, Oregano is great in soup and stew. Most Italian dishes taste good as a combo with Basil. I have not cooked in so long, I can’t remember the usages. An important tip I’ve heard, not a fact, taking Orageno is good for your general health. Be sure to check it out before you buy a pill form. 🙂
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Great score, Ilze!
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Thank you! Do you ever stumble upon little surprises like this when you’re out walking? I’d love to hear one!
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It’s my understanding that oregano oil has medicinal value, that it is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, but that it’s very strong and a little goes a long way. So my guess is that the fresh leaves could be used as a medicinal tea as long as it only steeps and doesn’t boil so that you don’t lose the oil in the process. I like to use dried oregano in my spaghetti sauce 😛
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That’s super helpful, thank you. I’d never thought about not boiling it! Do you have any favorite herbal blends where oregano plays a role?
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What a fun surprise, Ilze.
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It really was! Do you forage or garden yourself? I’d love to hear what plants surprise you the most.
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I’m afraid to forage but do grow herbs and plants in a little garden. I have tomatoes, green peppers, jalepeno peppers, long green onions, parsley, basil, and rosemary.
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What an absolutely beautiful story of man living in happy harmony with nature! And with respect, harvesting just a little and saying ‘thank you’! I love oregano and use it often but would be uncertain about picking it in the wild . . . I personally would not know it from a possibly poisonous weed . . .
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I completely understand that feeling—it took me a while to build up the courage to pick something too! One helpful step is to check if there’s a similar-looking plant that’s poisonous. If there is, learn how to tell them apart clearly. And if there isn’t, you’re probably safe to pick—after identifying it with confidence, of course. 😊
Are there any herbs or plants you wish you felt more confident identifying?
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