I just read the symptoms of Fireweed Fever and realize that’s what’s wrong with me. Okay, so maybe not the full-blown fever but something close. I have a strong inability to stay inside and an irrational sense that work can wait and I have to go pick Fireweed to make tea and honey and… well whatever I can put Fireweed into.
I suddenly feel anxious because I realize that time is rapidly running out. We just entered August and I see the blooms rapidly moving up the stalk. There is still time but I need to get going soon.
I was bummed when I read that it’s critical to pick plants early for tea before they bloom. Well most of the fireweed around here is blooming. And then I read this: Before the plant blooms, fireweed shoots can be harvested for food. They are a good source of vitamin C and vitamin A. Young stems of the fireweed plant can be eaten raw or in salads. Well shoot, I have pretty much blown that! Ugh. But then I was happy to read on and find scores of recipes for the blooms. And the blooms I still have. I need to get on it so that will be a focus for the next few days.
Unfortunately today it’s cloudy and rainy so guess that fever will just have to build until the sun comes back and I have the time to get out and pick the flowers.
In the meantime I’m excited to think about what I will do when I have the flowers. I found several really yummy recipes to try like Firweed Scones, Tea and Jelly.
The tea requires searching for plants that have not bloomed so that is going to take a little foraging in areas that have been mowed down. I still have places like that around so when I can get out, I’ll head there. I did find that you can extract the juice by boiling 2 ½ cups of water and pouring this over 2 cups of hard packed flowers and buds. Then you let it stand until it cools off and then 
refrigerate overnight. In the morning you strain off the petals and buds and you have the juice water left you can use for tea. Fireweed is a bowel balancer and helps with constipation so that should make me feel better for sure and cure this darn fever I have.