Feverfew

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a medicinal herb found in many old gardens.  I don't remember buying or planting a feverfew plant, although I must have once, because it comes up like a weed every year in the same spots. Feverfew is pretty when it blooms, and has flowers like little daisies with a citrus smell.  It's a tough plant that's almost impossible to kill, and feverfew spreads rapidly if you don't keep ripping it out.

Feverfew has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years, and was first documented by the ancient Greeks.  The word "feverfew" comes from the Latin word febrifugia, meaning "fever reducer."  It was used as a treatment to reduce fevers and headaches, as well as "hysterical complaints, nervousness, and lowness of spirits."  In short, a very useful plant.

Speaking of fevers and depressed spirits, everyone in Twisp is sick this week.  Well, not everyone, but the ones we love the most-- Amanda, Nova and Maya all have fevers and nasty flu symptoms.  So far only Tom seems to have escaped the contagion. Hang in there.

This would be bad enough in the winter when you almost expect to get sick, but this week the temperature is over 100 in the Methow Valley. We're thinking of you and sending cool, healthy vibes across the mountains!