Hawthorn with EagleSong Gardener + Hawthorn Oxymel

It’s always an honor to connect with EagleSong, and this conversation was no exception. She has such a deep and dynamic presence in the herbal world, and I knew our conversation would be rich with wisdom and insight. We talked about the interconnectedness of people, plants, the earth, and human history—big, beautiful themes that EagleSong brings to life through her stories and experiences.

We also spent time with one of my favorite plant allies, hawthorn. But rather than just listing its herbal benefits, EagleSong shared how she’s worked with this sacred plant for decades, offering a perspective shaped by deep listening and tradition.

One of her favorite hawthorn traditions is making a Hawthorn Oxymel from the fruit—and she’s graciously shared her recipe with us here: https://bit.ly/4i7QBm5

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► How connecting with her ancestors brought EagleSong closer to hawthorn

► How getting to know plants on an individual level can make you a better herbalist

► Why hawthorn is considered a keystone species in many ecosystems

► A traditional method for making hawthorn medicine (and how to keep it from turning into jelly!)

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know her, EagleSong dances her mischief in the hedge, that luminous place between tended and wild. A lifelong gardener, she has designed, managed and tended high visibility kitchen gardens and farms, commercial gardens, herb gardens & nurseries, and has trained in healing & therapeutic garden design. Often called a hawthorn whisperer, she has been researching hawthorns for over 30 years and has traveled to 6 countries pursuing an understanding of "what they are good for.” EagleSong is known for her wit and kitchen table wisdom and her incessant need to go outside and play! Today, she enjoys teaching herbs from the ground up wherever she is called.

I’m delighted to share our conversation with you today!

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Get full show notes and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com

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On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health.

Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com.

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Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.