Above: SOLF zooms in on a “pretty yellow flower” found throughout town, and its surprising association with something that may be in your cabinet. (image cropped from photo contributed by SOLF’s Debbie Costine)
[This post is part of a special guest series focused on appreciating nature in Southborough, contributed by the Southborough Open Land Foundation (SOLF), a non-profit dedicated to preserving and stewarding natural resources here in town.]
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a native shrub that blooms September through November.
Native Americans had learned that boiling the bark resulted in an extract that had useful healing properties for skin abrasions and cuts and as an astringent. They taught this to the English settlers and it was widely used. Eventually, in 1846, Theron T. Pond a pharmacist in Utica New York added some of the extract to alcohol and called it “Golden Treasure,” which eventually was known as Pond’s Cold Cream. Not surprising, Witch Hazel is no longer an ingredient in the “Cold Cream,” but it is still widely available for its benefits.
So, when you are out walking in some of our woodsy areas through then end of November, look very closely for this pretty yellow flower!
Want to learn more about SOLF, or volunteer or donate? Check out our site, we’d love to hear from you.
Debbie Costine, SOLF Trustee
SOLF – Southborough Open Land Foundation
SOLF.org
