It’s Violet season! You can eat the flowers and the leaves from these wild edibles. The leaves are so tasty. Just make sure you harvest them somewhere where you know that chemicals are not sprayed and dogs are not constantly going for walks. Good luck finding a wild field, but they are still out there. Still important to wash everything very well by soaking; alternating between baking soda water and then vinegar water. If a snail or a wild animal came into contact with it, you want to make sure the plant is clean before consumption. And don’t damage its roots so that it can grow back next year.

Growing fresh herbs is one of the best things ever. They are easy to grow and a great food to start with for beginners. The easiest is to get them from a grocery store at the outdoor section or at a plant nursery. Then replant them into bigger containers or directly in the ground. Oregano and mint will very likely grow back the following year if you plant them in the ground. With sweet basil it is best to plant in a container and to place it in part shade. I once planted basil directly in the ground and bugs ate most of it. Keeping it elevated helps protect it, but a few leaves might still be eaten here and there, but not as bad as when it is in the ground. At least that’s my experience. Since mint and oregano are anti-parasitic, usually bugs do not touch them. If you let the basil go to bloom and form seeds, you can collect those seeds and plant them next year. Growing seeds is very fun and rewarding but you need to be gentle and patient with them, and plant them as early as possible. It is said that as long at the weather temperature does not go below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, plants are safe. If there are some cold nights that happen at the beginning of spring, I bring the planters indoors for the night. Once you start growing food, you will realize how much more delicious and powerful it is compared to the store.

A few years ago I got Lemon Balm seeds at the grocery store. Now this plant keeps returning every year, and it is so delicious. I dry the leaves and make tea with them over the winter. During spring, summer, and autumn I make tea with fresh leaves but to prepare fresh leaf tea you need to add a little bit of cool water on top of them before adding boiling water. I have learned this from several sources. Doing this specific preparation is a way to respect the plant and not scorch it.

Orchids are also blooming nicely this spring. Some say that “orchids encourage peace, harmony and thoughtfulness. They symbolize the desire for perfection, search for truth, and the refinement of the soul. They represent purity and a connection to the sacred grace as well as strength to overcome obstacles and emerge stronger.” A mantra I recently started saying after I heard Jivanmukti say these words in one of her talks, “I do not have an inner dialogue.” As soon as I catch myself thinking about something random I say this. Ideally we are supposed to constantly have a clear and quiet mind, unless thinking is necessary for something specific that we would like to achieve. Otherwise the endless thoughts are draining our energy, invoking emotions, and aging the body. Beauty secret: stop thinking without a purpose.