Occasionally, I live in France, too. More specifically in Bellegarde and Diois, a small village somewhere between the town of Die and Nyons, between Drôme and Provençe, between dream and deed. Here's an impression of a February stay.
“Poplars are not my favorite trees right now, but here in Bellegarde, these old gnarled specimens along the mountain streams have stolen my heart. They grow up and along the typical stone walls together with Hawthorn, Wild Privet, Cardinal Hat, Red Dogwood and lots of whimsical Palm Trees. This creates a narrow swinging forest strip, dense and dark along the stream side and light and dry along the field side. Because of the different biotopes, the undergrowth is very varied from Primrose, Maart's violet, Liver flower to White fatty herb and Tripmadam and there is a variety of orchids and even blue-blooming gentians. But the flowers I have to think for myself at this time of year. Except for the Stemless primrose, which is sheltered low by the ground from the cold wind and the Liver Flower, which shamelessly shows its first blue flowers.

Poplar for the joints

From the low growing, often pruned branches of the giant poplars I pick some buds to make a glycerin macerate. The elongated, aromatic poplar buds have traditionally been known as ointment against hemorrhoids and against winter hands. Now, in modern gemmotherapy, the glycerin macerate is also used in rheumatic joint diseases. I put the fresh buds directly in a mixture of pure alcohol, mixed with equal parts glycerin and water and now let it infuse until I come back in April.

A few days later at the market in the town of Die

Sunny but very cold. At the market in Die the icy wind revolves around the cathedral and strikes the faces of old acquaintances, herbalists and other market stalls. They try to bring their organic vegetables, wild jams, dried herbs, hydrolates and second-hand herb books to men and women even now. Is it out of pure conviction or miserable necessity?

The Dutch Veronica, wrapped beyond recognition, sells her homemade herb vinegars. Claire's husband offers his chestnut honey, lavender oil and other herbal waters, also their wax and propolis lip balm now provides good service against parched and chapped lips. The herbalist from the Verçors tries to sell his beautiful, dried Willow roses, Violets and Droppplants. New is its assortment of jams of wild fruits, such as hawthorn (Aubépine), Alier (Sorbus) and wild pear-like fruits.

Surprisingly in winter, is the presence of two booksellers, who mainly offer second-hand plant books. I now buy the book 'La phytoyhérapie entre science et tradition'. Just a professional herb book written by three French-Belgian doctors, published by a Brussels publishing house and bought on a French winter vegetable market by a Flemish loose herbalist who thinks he could live better in France.

Making glycerin macerates

We prune beautiful yellow smooth branches of a shooting willow. Now not to make a tincture from the bark, but to construct the skeleton of a lamp with it. In one of the old poplars I discover a lump of resin mixed with ice. I'll take a piece to defrost. A new method of preparation? There are still all kinds of tree buds waiting for me to make glycerine macerates with them. Only now it's way too cold and a few weeks too early. Maybe I'll get another chance at the beginning of April. Grove pine, linden and blackcurrant still have to succeed in April.

The buds (gemmae) of the berry bush are best known for their stimulating effect on the adrenal glands and are therefore mainly used in rheumatic and allergic complaints. For the joints, Black currant is also well combined with Esblad and Birch sap.

Poplars in the night

In the evening in Bellegarde only defied the darkness of nature. 'It's pitch dark, 'says M. and she's right. It's just outside our French village. Fortunately, it's still dark. But still, I'm going out to face the dark silhouettes of the poplars. Occasionally they seem to really move, imagination of course, until there really is a poplar with a hat and a flashlight under its branch passing me and even just saying goodbye. So the wonders aren't out of the world yet.

#dagboek #mauriceherborist #populier #bellegarde
2004. The year I kept an extensive diary about my life with plants. The year that I lived even more than other years, between Belgium and France, between Keerbergen and Bellegarde. Here's an excerpt from that diary. The digital brochure is available from me for the price of 10 euros. vlaamseherboristen@gmail.com