You might have seen couple of my previous posts about heart shaped flower clusters, this time I found one in the by the road on a meadow. Yarrow is one of those plants you’d easily recognize in Finland’s meadows, especially since it has a ton of local names. You’ll often find it thriving in open areas where people hang out, not just in clearings but even in thicker forest undergrowth and along the sides of forest roads.
The plant’s scientific name, Achillea, is a nod to the legendary Greek hero Achilles. Traditionally, yarrow has been used as a medicinal herb for various issues like cramps, fevers, and slow-healing wounds, and it’s still enjoyed as a tea in Finland today. That said, it’s not for everyone; some folks might get a rash just from touching it, and taking too much can lead to dizziness and headaches. Its unique scent comes from the bitter compounds and volatile oils in the shoots, which give off that classic herb-like aroma. Interestingly, the flowers emit a smell that flies and beetles find appealing. When winter hits, some of the seeds from a pollinated yarrow plant stay on it and disperse across the snow, and even small birds like bullfinches and redpolls snack on them throughout the cold months.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 
What an interesting collection of facts . . . I quickly checked with Mr Google . . . in Estonian it is called ‘raudrohi’ > ‘irongrass’ 🙂 !
Google is my source of information too 😀
A beautiful image, Ritva. 😊
Thanks, It was 💙 find
Great images. Thanks for the interesting info, too.
Always happy share, thanks Eg´dio
You are always open to finding beauty and meaning.
In a small life – you need to try to find them near.
Interesting background.
Thanks, it’s interesting to learn more of the topics as you post them
Agreed.
Dear Ritva
Thanks for the all the info.
Great pictures like always.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
What a great find, exquisitely captured.