In Bloom in August

This article originally appeared in our August edition of Witch, What?, a newsletter for witches of all experience levels which you can pick up in person at our stores or receive for free with an online order. It includes information like that month's full moon, any Wheel of the Year holidays coming up, what is in bloom that month, and helpful articles like this one! These articles will not appear on our blog until the following month, so if you want to get them right away, make sure to drop by our booth at the 400 Market!

By now you may have noticed big, bright, yellow flowers along the roadsides. These are very likely our native Rudbeckia laciniata, or Green-Head Coneflower. While related to Black-Eyed Susans, their flowers do look more like Purple Coneflower (Echinacea spp.). They have limited edible and medicinal uses. However, as they stay in bloom for several months and are known to thrive at roadsides and abandoned places, they are quite magically connected to perseverance, surmounting hardship, and growth and renewal after hard times. It is thought to be very comforting to those experiencing grief.