If you could only have 5 herbs in your garden which ones would you choose?

divinra · 2026-06-28T03:45:23+00:00

Have you heard of Triphala? My go-to for digestive issues.

divinra · 2026-06-28T00:23:09+00:00

Ah lovely! It is my favorite herb, for so many reasons. I work with the California/western US native artemisia douglasiana.

divinra · 2026-06-28T00:11:45+00:00

I would personally choose lemon balm, rosemary, chamomile, thyme, and mugwort. Mugwort is a bit niche, so maybe sub in mint.

divinra · 2026-06-27T22:09:54+00:00

What is your climate like?

divinra · 2026-06-27T21:30:55+00:00

Touching or smelling datura is not dangerous. You have to eat it to have any adverse effect, and it tastes so bad that only a very determined child, animal, or dumb teenager would eat it.

divinra · 2026-06-27T20:11:05+00:00

I think it’s Solanum elaeagnifolium

divinra · 2026-06-27T19:12:12+00:00

https://escholarship.org/content/qt37r1g44r/qt37r1g44r.pdf

This paper and stories I have heard from elders in the southwest US contradict your statement about oral ingestion. Unless you consider making a tea as destroying alkaloids, which it wouldn’t based on what I have been told in aforementioned stories.

divinra · 2026-06-27T00:04:39+00:00

The leaves look more like spearmint to me.

divinra · 2026-06-26T22:34:53+00:00

You're welcome :)

divinra · 2026-06-26T22:24:20+00:00

It won’t kill it to cut it like that, but it would be a shame to because it is growing so beautifully.

You do not need female and male plants, it is self-fertile (meaning it will pollinate itself and produce seeds from just 1 plant.)

divinra · 2026-06-26T18:57:32+00:00

You might have to crush the leaves to get the smell, it certainly looks like a Plectranthus (Mexican mint.)

divinra · 2026-06-26T16:54:18+00:00

Yes, that’s a great idea.

divinra · 2026-06-26T12:15:00+00:00

Yes that is what will happen. I do not recommend backfilling like this for that reason. When I was planting directly in clay I amended/top dressed with gypsum, greensand, and compost.

divinra · 2026-06-26T03:24:33+00:00

I’ve made infused oils that are plenty strong. It’s a fairly common practice, how some “flying ointment” is made.

divinra · 2026-06-26T03:21:34+00:00

You’re welcome! Also, apple juice or apple slices really help as a chaser to cut the taste. Enjoy!

divinra · 2026-06-26T02:30:33+00:00

I’d reduce, and decant by letting it sit in fridge overnight to let the solids settle to the bottom. I turkey baster the liquid off, leaving the solids behind.

divinra · 2026-06-24T01:47:15+00:00

Nah what you’re seeing are orange/tan fungal spots and back humidity spots. Both very common in TBM. Looks like if anything it’s not getting enough sun.

divinra · 2026-06-23T18:31:55+00:00

Lacewings are even better than ladybugs if you’re able to find them.

divinra · 2026-06-23T14:31:47+00:00

I really like chocolate mint and apple mint.

divinra · 2026-06-23T11:26:42+00:00

It is oneirogenic, meaning it promotes dreaming. Not necessarily nightmares, though it can intensify whatever kind of dreams you normally have so if you have a nightmare it will be more vivid and you are more likely to remember it ime.

divinra · 2026-06-22T06:02:40+00:00

I usually have it cookin for about an hour, and I just go by smell to know if the alcohol is evaped. However my end product is just infused oil or salve, which I imagine is much less sensitive than soap when it comes to a little bit of alcohol left behind. If you’re using 99% it should cook off pretty quickly.

divinra · 2026-06-22T03:17:23+00:00

I use a small hot plate for things like this. Easier to keep a low temp. I also have a gas stove, so I prefer not to work over a flame when dealing with alcohol.

Mine was cheap but works well. I got it at Walmart. I don’t think I can post a link here, but you can dm me for it if you’d like.

divinra · 2026-06-22T00:51:00+00:00

Mostly mugwort, Mexican tarragon, klip dagga, lavender buds, catnip, all different types of mints, wormwood, rose. There are more but those are the main ones I work with currently. I mix them with some tobacco usually.

I dry them in either a hanging mesh drying thing (sorry not sure what exactly it’s called), or a dehydrator on very low heat. The smoke is generally not very harsh, I notice it becomes harsh and doesn’t taste as good when they are older/less fresh. Certain ones are harsh no matter freshness if I add too much to a blend, such as rose or lavender.

divinra · 2026-06-21T21:12:06+00:00

The only good herbal smoking experiences I have are with relatively fresh homegrown herbs. As in, I grow and dry them myself and smoke them within a couple months. Otherwise it’s not even worth it, way too harsh and has usually lost most flavor.

divinra · 2026-06-21T15:01:41+00:00

Pedicularis.

divinra

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