Journal — Wild Inks & Colour

Caution: berries are toxic! Identification Short tree with waxy, irregularly shaped leaves. Leaves often have thorns. In winter, some trees have red or white berries. Garden cultivars may have yellow stripes on the leaves. Botany Spikes on the leaves are a response to predation. Leaves higher on the tree often lack spikes. Part of the plant to use Berries - caution! they are toxic! Lore Connected to yule festivities. Often planted near houses to protect them from lightning strikes. Colour holly ink made from berries Deep browns: cooked in alkali Light brown / pinks: cooked in acid Black and greys:...

Identification Its smooth bark is grey-brown and its leaves are complex – or pinnate in scientific terms. The leaf itself comprises 11-19 toothed, oblong leaflets, paired but with a terminating leaflet. The leaflets have no stalk of their own. Rowan trees flower in May and have bright red berries come autumn. Botany The rowan tree does not form forests of its own. It likes lots of light and can easily tolerate poor soil, if well drained. Part of the plant to use Berries Lore One of the most revered trees, being called the Tree of Inspiration, the Tree of Life,...

On the high moor of Dartmoor, late spring into early summer is a bleak time for colour collection. This is when I look to the hedgerows, ditches, and our back garden for colour. I've been carefully cultivating our backyard so that I have a ready-supply of dock, dandelion, and nettles. I'm sure our neighbours are thrilled with my gardening choices but no one has commented directly, yet. It has been reported that the root of the dock plant gives a lovely pink colour. They're also notoriously difficult to uproot thanks to an extremely strong taproot. I've not been able to...

Iron gall ink is a black ink made from oak galls, iron salts, and gum Arabic. Iron gall ink has been in use for thousands of years. It is considered permanent, and has been used for legal documents until recently. Oak galls are wasp incubation pods found on oak trees. Iron gall ink is also known as oak gall ink; however, technically you should include the word “iron” if it contains iron.  (I use both interchangeably, but I'm trying to be better.) History of Iron Gall Ink In use for more than 2000 years. Generally agreed to be the “standard”...