Winter

This introduction to the plants is arranged by season. Useful as an A-Z directory is, we feel that a seasonal listing gives both plants and people the opportunity to get to know one another at their best.

The simplest way to get to know the plants is to meet them again and again at their most recognisable - and in their most recognisable setting. More than that, though, is the importance of working in sync with the plants, and this means following their progress through the year and understanding when they are available to us and when they are are in retreat. When you are huddled in your Winter coat, and come across a plant wrapped in its own chilly-weather garments, there is a mutual recognition of our place in the wider patterns of nature.

The medicine of green things runs deep. Every plant has its story - and its secrets. The story reveals a plant's medicine; it holds clues to its useful and healing properties. But a plant's secrets need to be worked at - these are the hidden heart of a plant. If you are patient, and learn to listen, the plants will release their hidden depths to you. Like any relationship, the real treasures are given up with time, respect, and love.

Within each season, you will find a selection of the medicinal plants commonly found in Britain at a particular time of the year. Many will be familiar, easily recognisable and abundant. Others may take a bit more effort to track down, but they'll always be worth it when you do find them.

These profiles are only the start of getting to know our green sisters. Besides the traditional monograph information, they include tips for identifying the plants by habitat and season. And they may also tell some tall tales...