River Fun and Foraging

A trip from Humboldt County's foggy coast inland to hot Willow Creek brought about an unexpected surprise. The family was headed for the Trinity River, where we can soak up the heat (yes I have come to enjoy sunburns) and play in the sun baked frigid river.  We left the 60 degree coastline to sweat in  the 90 degree temperature of Willow Creek.

 

 

 

I spotted a yellow flower and to my delight discovered the powerful Saint John's Wort plant.  I knew what the plant looked like.  I had just searched Saint John's Wort images, on the Internet to determine if  the sorry looking dried herb I had just purchased, was indeed Saint John's Wort, as the label indicated.   I scurried the landscape, searching for the fresh herb.

The medicinal flower was growing in the fertile soil of a rock.

Next to the river.

On the gravel bar.

I used an empty tupperware container from our lunch earlier, and filled it with the bright yellow flower.  

Once home I quickly made an olive oil infusion. I will wait six weeks for the herbs to infuse the oil before I make a salve. I will apply the salve to burns, insect bites, scratches and minor cuts.