Calendula is one of my favorite flowers to grow in my garden. Not only is it easy to grow and collect seeds. The bright flowers are useful in making your own natural skin care products. Natural skincare has gained significant attention as more people seek gentle, effective alternatives to synthetic products. Among the many botanicals used in skincare, calendula stands out for its soothing and healing properties. This bright orange flower, also known as “pot marigold” has

I gave a talk at the 2026 Northwest Flower and Garden Festival in Seattle on using natural color or rather creating plant dyes and colors from garden plants. It is not a new concept or practice but one that is trending this year as we discover or rediscover ways to use our garden plants. This year at the show there was a “dye garden” on display with naturally dyed ribbons that could be used to tie on an arbor and honor a loved one. There was also lots of buzz around the os

I was part of The International Herb Societies “Herb of the Year book for 2026 “ which was a really fun and interesting project. This year’s herb is Turmeric and it is perfect for natural wellness and body care. If you are interested in ordering send me a message and I can send you the link. Turmeric has become a superstar in the world of wellness—showing up in everything from golden lattes to healing skin balms. Its popularity is at an all-time high, and everyone is in love