Around the summer solstice, when the days are at their longest, it’s time for one of my favorite little traditions – collecting wildflowers for tea.
The exact timing depends on the weather. Some years the flowers bloom a little earlier, and some years a little later. This year, after a few days of hot sunshine followed by hot, overcast weather, many of the herbs were ready to harvest, so I headed out with my basket.
There’s an old belief that herbs gathered around the summer solstice are at their most powerful, filled with the sun’s energy after the longest day of the year. Whether that’s scientifically true or simply a beautiful piece of folklore, I love the idea. It makes the harvest feel even more special.
This year’s first collection included fragrant meadowsweet, calming chamomile, and both red and white clover. They will be gently dried and tucked away for cups of homemade herbal tea during the colder months.
I never gather large amounts. We simply don’t need that much, and I believe nature should always be treated with respect. It’s better to take only what you’ll actually use than to pick armfuls that may end up being thrown away. Leaving plenty behind also means there is food for bees and other pollinators, and enough flowers to produce seeds for next year’s plants.
For me, gathering herbs isn’t just about making tea. It’s a quiet way to slow down, appreciate the changing seasons, and spend time outdoors. Every handful carries the scent of summer, and every cup in winter brings back memories of these long, sun-filled days.
Do you collect herbs for tea? If so, what are your favorite plants to gather each summer?
Ilze
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Good on you Ilze – I am ignorant as to which plants in our wild can be made into tea . . . and looking at what is in your basket did not know one could use those either – see how useful it is to come and say hello 🙂 ! Well, thinking – yes, I did know clover ! Love the look of both your basket and your hat . . . oh, and sent your post re your brother’s fishing to three of my friends in the Skane county of Sweden (Malmo upwards towards and past Lund etc – hope you did not mind!).
I love that you shared this with your friends in Sweden—that makes me really happy 😊 And I don’t mind at all, of course! It’s actually wonderful that these little posts travel that far. It’s funny how many wild plants are “tea plants” without us really noticing them in everyday life. I bet there are some plants outside that are good for tea… at least lemon?
A fine routine well photographed
Thank you 🌿 I always find that photographing these small routines makes me notice them more deeply. Do you have any small seasonal tradition that you repeat every year without even thinking about it anymore?
What a lovely tradition, Ilze. There is something deeply comforting about the idea of gathering summer’s abundance and tucking it away for the colder months ahead. I especially enjoyed your thoughtful approach of taking only what you need and leaving plenty behind for pollinators and future growth. That balance of gratitude and stewardship feels just as important as the harvest itself.
Whether the solstice truly lends extra power to the herbs or not, it certainly seems to add a touch of magic to the ritual. Thank you for sharing this gentle reminder to slow down, pay attention to the seasons, and appreciate the gifts nature offers so generously.🙏🏻💛
That balance between taking and giving back is something I think about a lot when I’m out there. It feels simple, but it changes how you relate to everything around you. I also love that you mentioned the “touch of magic” in it—that’s exactly how it feels, even if it’s quiet and subtle. Do you have any seasonal ritual that helps you slow down in the same way?
Thank you, Ilze. I think you’ve captured something timeless. That quiet magic isn’t found in grand moments but in the way we choose to notice the ordinary.
For me, it’s my early morning walks. I walk about 7 kilometres most mornings, and over time they’ve become much more than exercise, and also lets my thoughts settle.
Where I live, we don’t experience harsh winters but we do have long, hot summers and wonderfully dramatic monsoon rains that transform the landscape almost overnight. Each season has its own rhythm and personality, and I look forward to greeting it on my walks.
Perhaps that’s why your post resonated with me. We may experience nature differently, but our rituals share the same purpose. To slow down, pay attention, and become better guests in nature rather than simply passing through it.🙏🏻💛
How lovely, Ilze. I’ve never acquired a taste for tea, but I do love to gather wildflowers for bouquets 🙂
That’s lovely too—wildflower bouquets feel like another way of holding onto the season, just like tea does. I think both are such gentle ways of noticing what’s around us. Are there particular flowers you always reach for when you’re making your bouquets?
Ooo. I love this, Ilze. I have many herbs to choose from here.
That sounds wonderful—having herbs available like that feels like such a gift. Do you tend to use them fresh during summer, or dry them to keep for winter as well?
Your tradition of herb-gathering is inspiring! I’ve not been drinking herbal tea as much as I used to, but still, in recent years I’ve collected lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena, several mints, borage and feverfew from my garden. And elsewhere, along the creek nearby, fennel. I don’t know if I’ve ever used the lavender for tea, but I did use it in ice cream and cookies 🙂
I love your list—there are so many beautiful plants there, and some of them I don’t even think of as tea herbs at first, like borage. Ice cream with lavender sounds amazing actually 😊 Do you usually experiment with using herbs in cooking as well, or mostly teas and drinks?