Warming and Invigorating Winter Plants
Winter is a season of stillness, reflection, and rest—a time to turn inward and seek the quiet wisdom of darkness as a guide for the year ahead. It’s the perfect season to focus on self-care, nurturing your inner light to stay grounded and centered. By embracing this slower, quieter time, you can discover what you truly need to restore balance and clarity in your life.
Here in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, we embrace winter’s rhythm by leaning into self-care rituals, daily practices, nourishing foods, restful sleep, and the gentle support of plants. Surrounded by towering evergreens and the stillness of nature, we find inspiration to nurture and uplift ourselves during the colder months, letting the forest guide us through the season.
ST. John’s Wort flowers during harvest at the Gatherwise Farm.
St. John’s Wort, with its golden blooms, brings a sense of radiance as warm as the summer sun. Celebrated for lifting spirits and dispelling darkness, this herb has long been a symbol of light and resilience.
Its vibrant flowers yield a rich red-hued oil, supporting both skin and spirit with soothing, revitalizing properties to reduce inflammation, calming emotions, and relieves nerves. Throughout winter I rely on St. John’s Wort to help guide my own inner light of warmth and brightness on even the darkest of days.
Cedar leaves getting ready for the Copper still for drying and distillation.
Cedar, known as the "tree of life," has long been revered for its grounding presence. Its earthy aroma is both comforting and protective, helping to clear stagnant energy and create a sanctuary of calm and strength. In winter, Cedar offers warmth for the spirit, wrapping you in a gentle embrace of resilience and renewal. I have been calling on Cedar over the last few months for it’s ability to draw strength from within, offering its sturdy and grounded energy for each day.
Rosemary harvest on the Gatherwise Farm.
Rosemary, an herb of remembrance and vitality, is like a spark in the cold. Often associated with clarity and focus, its invigorating scent sharpens the mind and energizes the body. Used in rituals and remedies, Rosemary is a reminder of life's evergreen strength, even when the world feels dormant we can come across the vibrant and nourishing rosemary to carry us through the winter months.
Rose geranium leaves ready for distillation on the Gatherwise Farm.
Geranium is a wintertime ally for both skin and spirit. Emotionally, its sweet, rosy scent soothes anxious thoughts and restores balance, lifting the heaviness of darker days. For the skin, Geranium’s astringent properties tone and rejuvenate, making it ideal for dry, dull winter skin.
Whether in a night serum or toner, Geranium brings warmth, radiance, and harmony to your self-care rituals, reminding you of beauty and resilience even in the coldest months.
Snowy Forest at the Gatherwise Farm, 2024
As you journey through winter, let Gatherwise skincare rituals bring you the warmth and grounding support of these plants. Feel the comforting touch of Geranium on your skin, the invigorating lift of Rosemary, or the calming embrace of Cedar. Each ritual is a moment to connect with the quiet power of nature’s gifts, nurturing your skin and spirit through the season.
These plants aren’t just ingredients—they are companions, offering their ancient wisdom and gentle care. Like the steadfast Cedar or the resilient Geranium, they remind you that even in winter’s stillness, you hold the strength to thrive and the promise of renewal within.
In Warmth,
Melissa
