Over the long weekend we took a picnic over to Banks Peninsula. Didn’t actually get any further than Corsair Bay’s playground,
and wandered up the track behind the Pirate ship to find an abundance of Flat-leaf Italian Parsley growing all the way along the path and many self seeding bushes amongst Sweet-peas and Fennel.
So not only could we gather some Parsley but we got to collect some seeds for planting at home too!

Also spotted these interesting looking greens amongst Shepherds purse and Puha plants…
anybody know what this is? Briar thought they might be fairy umbrella’s..

There’s so much of this Red Dead Nettle growing about the place at the moment,

though it’s taken me up until now to find out what it is…

Someone gave me a hint when they said they thought it was some kind of nettle,

and in spite of its name it’s tasty, edible and medicinal.

The leaves and upper plants can be cooked as pot herbs or added to salads,

and it’s very nutritious, high in iron, vitamins and fibre.

Hooray for finding new nutritious free food! Bet I’ll start seeing it everywhere now that I know what it is.

Red Dead Nettle, more purple than red..

Also known as “Mother’s hearts”.
Shepherds Purse can be found growing wild in almost every garden at all times of the year
though is little known for its wonderful delicate peppery taste when added to salads
and it’s useful healing properties.
Interestingly the heart or womb shaped leaves can be used as an aid in childbirth
to encourage contractions in a slow labour and after birth to reduce bleeding.
It is also useful for reducing the intensity of heavy periods.

Shepherds Purse Tea…

Dry the leaves.
Use one teaspoon per one cup of boiling water,
Simmer or brew for 2-4 minutes.
Drink as required.

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Watercress grows wild in and around Christchurch especially along the Coastline in areas like Diamond Harbour,
Governors Bay and near the Estuary.

I collected a green bag full yesterday from one of the places put up on the Otautahi map,
dropped half of it off at a friends place around the road, and she suggested making a soup with it.

Yum!