Out walking in the East Sussex countryside today I came across the most beautiful sight ….. a path chock full of wild chamomile flowers (Matricaria chamomilla) growing between two huge plantings of broad beans.

The path must be at least a 1/4 of a mile long and the scent as I trod along in the bright summer sunshine was sweet and heavenly. I also love the fact that the pineapple weed (Chamomilla discoidea), a close relative of chamomile, was getting in on the act and adding its amazing sweet pineapple aroma to the heady sensual mix.

I walk this path regularly every year and its usually just grassy but something quite magical has happened this year. Although I was tempted to harvest a couple of handfuls, I resisted as I am pretty sure the field is sprayed with various chemicals. None-the-less, it was an absolute joy and privilege to spend quality time in the presence of such beauty.

Find out more about the medicinal properties of chamomile at our sister site here http://www.thewildpharma.co.uk/plants/chamomile