Plant Spotlight Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) The Eucalyptus is a sacred tree native to Australia, with over 700 species that are now planted all over the world. In Portugal, it is an extremely controversial plant associated with vast monocultures planted by the paper industry that intensify Portugal's problematic wildfires and have replaced a lot of its native fire resilient forests. For natural dyer's it is a generous and exciting source of color. I would even say that it wa

Plant Spotlight Wild Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Native to the Mediterranean, fennel is edible by humans and insects alike. In Portugal, its feathery fronds appear widely in disturbed soil. As the season progresses, snails often consume it entirely. Fennel is mostly known for its aromatic properties in culinary uses, but it is also highly medicinal. As a medicinal plant, it's mostly used to aid digestion. As a dye plant, I only use it for its detailed lace-like prints. Wild D

Plant Spotlight Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) Native to North America but widely grown in gardens, there are dozens of varieties of Coreopsis. The one I grow in the garden is Coreopsis tinctoria, a historial dye plant to indigenous North Americans. The full plant has dye and printing potential producing warm yellows, bright oranges, rusty reds, and even dark greens or browns depending on mordant and concentration. It’s a pollinator favorite, feeding bees and butterflies th

Plant Spotlight Oak - Quercus sp. The oak is the backbone of the Portuguese forest. Several native species, such as Quercus suber (Cork Oak), Q. ilex (Holm Oak), and Q. faginea (Portuguese Oak), are endemic to Portugal, supporting countless insects, birds, and mammals. The most famous oak in Portugal is Q. suber - whose outer bark is harvested for cork. Though there are many more introduced species, including Q. Negral which is one of my favorite for printing. Oaks contain