I made some beautiful St Joan's Wort (St John's Wort) Tincture in the sun the other day, and it is so red! I put the wilted leaves and flowers in a mason jar with 100 proof Vodka and put in the sun. I went into the house for a few minutes to get the laundry and by the time I was outside again it was bright pink! A few hours later it was red (looking like a true herbal potion should!). I put it inside on a window sill to receive both sunlight and moonlight, and will strain it and bottle it in about a month. I still have a bunch of herb drying in the loft, and will infuse it in olive oil as soon as it is dry.
I have been "finding" St Joan's Wort all over now that I know what it looks like - I saw it in the median of the Mercer St roadway during the Livestrong walk; on the side of the highway by Federal Way; on a street in Georgetown; in a corner of my farm; and several empty lots in West Seattle... pretty cool! The one way to tell for sure you have the right herb is to wait for it to bloom (it is now) and squeeze the flower between your fingers- if it looks like you cut yourself and there is dark red on your fingers, you have it! Make sure to dry it before you infuse it in oil, but the fresh herb can be put into any type of alcohol to infuse- Brandy is nice to use.
