I have just made my first infusion of wild Boneset.
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I noticed a fragrance while on a walk and nosed out the culprit. Very different for this time of year to have something that smells so soft and flowery. I get those notes mostly in spring. So I harvested some eventually, and sitting in a vase for days it scented a room beautifully but not strongly at all.
Though the scent is subtle the plant is hearty, and I get a distinct vibe from it that is a mix of stoicism and brazen strength. I picture a wizened and seemingly unamused old woman who has a streak of whimsy a mile wide when I am near it. A dry but lovely humor it evokes. Protectiveness for sure comes across as well, like in its wildness and the way its roots are near cemented in even moist soil, and how it groups itself and in doing protects itself from strong winds. Smart plant to come about when the competition is mostly faded. Like its scent, this protective quality seems very subtle in a pervasive way.
I made the infusion with water to sprinkle about the house as I read in Cunninghams (I have a little issue with a possible mentally ill spirit in the neighborhood - had the Boneset already and when I looked it up, it seemed too serendipitous to ignore) and was very pleased with the way it held its beautiful fragrance. This has not been my experience with some other plants (milkweed has been very difficult to capture for example). I used it as an additive to floor wash and I love that after three days it is still lightly scenting the room. Next year I hope to make an infused oil of it to add to a perfume mixture.
Are there any plants that you have experience with that have charmed you and that others may not be aware of?
Do you have any experiences with this plant that you woud like to share? I have not researched the medical or other properties of the plant outside of finding out it can be poisonous to take internally. I feel a bit remiss out that!
It's not the best season for some plants but there are still many about and I'm curious as to what others have discovered. Still, even if a plant you've found and love is not of this season, it'd be interesting to read why you've been drawn to it and what you might use it for.