This is Hamamelis Virginiana, more commonly known as witchhazel. Having mildly astringent bark and leaves, its extract is often used in soaps and lotions. I found this variety at Green Spring Gardens during one of Lucy’s walks and can’t believe that while shooting, I didn’t think to take a sniff. I mean my nose was just inches from these beautiful pom-pom blossoms. I read that the witchhazel blooms are very fragrant so I’m especially peeved that I missed out and am making a note to revisit the witchhazel bush on the next walk.
Witchhazel…an interesting name, I always thought…thought as far back as the 60s when I first saw it sitting in my parents’ medicine cabinet, in the same kind of plastic bottle that held the rubbing alcohol. I don’t remember the first time it made its way into the house, but it was probably my mother’s doing since it was a ”cosmetic” item. I know my father had no interest in it—the evening news and what time I got home, yes, but skincare, definitely not. And I don’t remember being told of witchhazel’s purpose, although my mother must have been responsible for that too, as I remember using it throughout high school along with tubes of Clearasil and those blue jars of Noxzema (the contents of which I’m certain are derived from some plant somewhere called “noxious”). Throw in a bag of cottonballs and you’ve got a teenage girl’s skincare routine from the 1960s. The routine being: scrub face, mercilessly (ouch!); pat with witchhazel-soaked cottonballs (aaah…); then dot or slather your chosen poison, depending on the extent of your “damage.” For what it’s worth (which, by the way, happens to be an excellent song on my new playlist!), that’s my memory of witchhazel. Along with its indescribable fragrance, of course…
So, would you believe that 40 years later I’ve discovered a bottle of the stuff in my own medicine cabinet? I first thought that it might be the same bottle of yore (and hoped that it would be, for dramatic purposes, ya know), but determined it to probably be from the 70s. Still. The 70s? Holy cow. Obviously, the bottle (seen below against our lovely yellow 1970s bathroom wall) was dragged from dwelling to dwelling, half-used and unnoticed, however, it is just like me to hold onto it like I did. Besides still being of use, I keep it for its, uh…fragrance. That’s right. Just like the small container of my long-gone grandmother’s face powder that I take a whiff of every now and then, just to remember what it felt like to be near her (uh-oh…that isn’t strange, is it?), the bottle of witchhazel, once inhaled, takes me straight back to my days of self-facials. Although now mixed with the odor of degrading plastic, its fragrance still takes me back…
A strange yet welcome trip.
Hello…another amazing photo shot. I love the angle you use. It definitely brings that flower to ones nose.
Thank you for the information accompanying the flower.
Have a very good day!
Dorothyl
Dorothy L´s last blog post..
Twitter: earthtoholly
Wow, thanks so much Dorothy L! I’m glad you like it. Hopefully that bush has made it okay through our freezing temperatures and I can check out its scent. :o)
Thanks for the info on witch hazel. I’ve read that it’s great for all kinds of things. Though I’ve never seen the flower before. I think your shot is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Michelle´s last blog post..Learning To Blow Bubbles
Great photo – i remember witch hazel from my childhood. I had totally forgotten about it’s many wonderful uses – organic and natural – what could be better. I think I will look at the herbal shop and see if they carry it still. Wishing you the best.
Twitter: plasmanc
Hi Holly,
I’ve often wondered what witchhazel is. Being a man, I’ve never had any lotions near to my face, apart from stuff to nuke zits when I was a spotty little teenager. I’m also sadly lacking in my knowledge of plants and flowers so I wouldn’t recongnise Hamamelis Virginiana if it came up and said “Hi PM, My name is Witch Hazel!”
Also, I wonder how much stuff from the 70′s I have stashed away? I’m curious so I’ll have a look in the loft.
Thanks for educating me, Holly. That’s another step towards world domination.
:-)
Cheers
PM
Plastic Mancunian´s last blog post..It’s All Over The Front Page – You Give Me Road Rage!!
Twitter: earthtoholly
Thanks Michelle. And glad that you got a little something from it. Thanks for coming by.
Twitter: earthtoholly
Hi Marlene, and thanks for stopping by. I’m not sure, but I think that it’s still sold in the grocery stores. Of course, I’ve got half a bottle to finish before I start looking for more!
Twitter: earthtoholly
Hi PM,
I’m glad that you got a little something out of it and am always glad to contribute to a “master plan”!
I’ve got so much buried stuff that I should have a blog “lookwhatifound[dot]com.”
And I’ve been meaning to get back over to your place…you’ve got that excellent post on road rage that I can totally identify with. Wanna put my two cents in there!
Providing the Latin name…to paraphrase Beavis and Butthead: “if I wanted to learn, I’d go to school! Heh-heh heh-heh….”
Just messin’ with ya, Holly, love the pic. Witch Hazel actually makes me think of the witch, named Hazel, in that old Bugs Bunny cartoon (contrary to what people might think from reading this comment, my cultural knowledge really does go beyond cartoons…really) who’d have hairpins flying all around whenever she moved….
YogaforCynics´s last blog post..Not Saying Anything
Twitter: earthtoholly
Hey drjay,
Heh-heh-heh…okay, that was pretty funny. But I had to put that in for all the brainy types that come here, ya know? Don’t worry, if there’s one thing that I’m not qualified for, it’s educatin’!
Actually, I was hoping someone would pick up on the lame “I remember hama” thing. Maybe they did but were too embarrassed to humor me. Or maybe that movie is just so old that no one’s ever heard of it. Heh, that in itself is kinda funny to me.
You know, I don’t remember Witch Hazel…so I wikied her…seems she was named after…what else…Witch Hazel! [resisting urge to put smiley here]
I was just reading in Yankee Magazine (Mar/Apr) issue and they are talking about where and how it’s picked and manufactured. The magazine is on stands now… or you should be able to read about it at http://www.yankeemagaizne.com
They have many of the online articles there to read.
I’ve been reading it for years and seeing your blog story tied in, in a nice homey way (is that a real word?) anyway keep up the good work.
Jeff
http://www.vistaphotography.com
Jeff´s last blog post..Baby’s First Year book a great success…
Twitter: earthtoholly
Hi Jeff,
Thanks! I’m familiar with Yankee Magazine and will give it a look…sounds interesting.
I’ve kind of fallen into posting my amateur photography along with equally amateur writing, and trying to connect them somehow. Yes, homey is a real word, so thank you for the compliment!
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