Iris

These shots were taken last weekend. The Irises are going off in the park right now. They are everywhere. I love the yellow ones but the dark purples are beauties too. Actually, I can't decide which one is my favorite.
Another common name for Iris is Blue Flag. The rhizome is used medicinally as a lymphatic stimulant and has an affinity for hypothyroid type folks. This plant is best taken in tincture form since the constituents aren't water soluble. A tincture is a water/alcohol based extract of plant material. Iris extracts best in an 20/80 ratio using freshly dried plant material. Pure ethyl alcohol is recommended. A store bought tincture from a reputable company will work just as well. This herb combines well with Bladderwrack.

Passion Flower - Medicinal uses

Here's another beauty hiding in the GG Park Botanical Garden. What you can't see from this shot are the tiny curling vines that cover the trellis where these flowers are blooming. The passiflora flower and leaves can be used medicinally as a mild sedative, pain reliever and anti-spasmodic. It is helpful in treating asthma and anxiety and sleep disorders in combination with other supportive medicinal herbs. Specifically, this plant works well for people with a weak constitution who tend to suffer from regular headaches and insomnia. This plant works best when taken as a strong infusion or tea made in a glass quart container with 3-6 grams freshly dried plant steeped in very hot water for about 20 minutes. The quart of tea should be broken up into 3 servings per day. This plant can be taken long term.

Yellow Pom Poms

The Arboretum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park offers so many amazing opportunities to take fantastic pictures of plants. I don't know the name of this one but I love it because the blooms are in clusters and look like bright yellow pom-poms on a green backdrop.