Herbal insights for over two decades.
The Herbaria
Personal observation and evidence-based research of herbs in the Mountain West
About The Herbaria
Nature has an acute a sense of balance. People intuitively gravitate to the outdoors to immerse themselves in a natural landscape’s cohesive vibe from the less-is-more beauty of the desert to the oasis-like ecosystem in one of its water-carved canyons to the nurturing richness of the mixed conifer forest.
I personally find the connection among plants with their pollinators as fascinating as I do their eagerness to supply humanity with its medicinal needs. The flora do both with admirable detail, and the latter in curious ways sometimes still unsolvable to those they succor. This is what I write about for your enjoyment.
The Herbaria is an independent project. All monographs and photos are copyrighted by Christine Maxa. All monographs are featured on The Herbarian Substack page.
Read the latest post on Substack!
Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
Redder than ruby and more royal than garnet, hibiscus adds a stunning hue to whatever it’s added. Its best seasonal fit is happening right now, in the depths of summer.
Read about Verbena on Substack!
Ancient Romans considered it holy. Virgil called it the symbol of enchantment. The Druids prayed with it. Vampires shunned it. Medieval Roman Catholics said a prayer before gathering it. That great Roman thinker Pliny thought dining chambers should be sprinkled with its infusion “to make the guests merry.”
Our It herb is Verbena officinalis, also called Blue Verbena or Vervain.
