River Prairie Apothecary

06/12/2026

I’m certainly in my happy place with the plants in the yard, getting ready for sales…

Whatever you’re doing this weekend- have an extra great time! Seems like there’s so many awesome events happening.

Have a great weekend!!

06/11/2026

A lil ode to the beautiful recent rains - much appreciated by us gardeners 🌈

This is Angelica, a biennial. The flowers come in the second year.

A lot of people use the roots. Buuuuut I just can’t bring myself to harvest the roots (which are most potent at the end of its first season or the beginning of it second before it puts its energy into more leaves, stalk and flowers).

So I just enjoy this stunning wetland creature as she is, and she has a lot to offer without me needing to make this plant into anything.

I live on a sandy hill so she’s usually kind of few and small in my garden. Last weekend I was in Madison and saw a stand of Angelica that was well over my head!

Also… I didn’t mulch my gardens last yr and I had bare soil…
And so now there are thousands of lil babies. (i’ve never had Angelica reseed)

Next year, I’m gonna have to have an Angelica party!

06/11/2026

I will be sharing a Japanese knoteeed tincture with everyone who attends this workshop.

Register now for a discount 😘🌱

Join Master Herbalist Kerri Kiernan for a lively 90-minute class to learn about how the invasive Japanese barberry (a major tick habitat indicator) also holds powerful anti-Lyme medicine.

Watch a live tincture-making demo and learn how to utilize plants that offer relief and protection from Lyme.

AND! The first 10 people to register will receive $5 off, just use the promo code HERBALISM10 at check-out (please note: this code will no longer work after the first 10 people register)

Register here- https://secure.qgiv.com/for/l5nyfj/event/berberinebarberryandlymeresilienceherbalismworkshop/

06/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to learn about tea, infusions and decoctions- with the help of Nettle, Burdock and Linden.

Also… I giggled to myself the whole time driving to Madison with burdock beside me in the passenger seat (and ALOT of fresh nettles in the back seat thanks to Amanda M.)

Ill be drinking all the extra nettle infusion from class so im gonna feel extra zippy as I enjoy the rest of my time here in Madison with friends.

It was a treat to meet new folks and to be a part of their herbal journey. Thank you so much ✨🫶🌱

Thank you Olbrich Botanical Gardens for having me.

PS: Ill be back in August for oil infusions and salves with abundant local plants: yarrow, St. John’s wort and plantain/plantago.

06/03/2026

Dog Park Plant Walk!

- pineapple w**d, a.k.a. wild chamomile (tea or extract, use the whole plant if you wish, digestive, and relaxing)

- yarrow (bitter tea, salve or extract aerial parts… for irritated tissues, improved circulation, to stop bleeding, for first aid needs, liver support and sooooo much more)

- dandelion (flowers for vitamin A and moving the lymph, leaves as a bitter nutritive, roots for liver and digestive support)

- cottonwood (we use the green buds (I harvest around Easter) for a pain relieving salve)

- plantain/plantago (leaves for soothing any inflammation, poultice helps to draw out splinters, repairing skin inside and out… cold infusion of tea is quite delightful and amazingly helpful for the entire digestive tract)

- white clover (i just learned about cold infusion of flowers as a beverage for headaches… do you know any other uses? I haven’t tried it yet)

- red clover (nutritive, hormone balancing herbal beverage made with flowers called an “infusion” which is basically like a tea, but brewed for much longer and with more plant material)

What patterns are u noticing in the medicinal qualities of the plants who live at the dog park?

I have some ideas…