Yesterday I removed the last of the dead stems and leaves of an Indian madder plant (Rubia cordifolia) which nearly filled the dye garden greenhouse last year. The winter cold may have killed it because its natural habitat is sub-tropical. Gentle poking around revealed hopeful signs of some viable roots. So not all is lost perhaps? Mulched and watered the ground and we will wait a bit longer. #PlantDye #NaturalDye #DyeGarden

My natural dyeing journey had taken me down a rabbit hole searching for Symplocos racemosa powder, as the plant is a natural bio-accumulator of aluminium.

Apparently the powder can be used as a mordant before natural dyeing, and can help give lasting colour... #naturaldyeing #plantdye

The natural dye plants that arrived in early December are growing really well.

I think the Lemon Sorrel is ready to harvest the first of it's leaves. I need to do some urgent research on whether I can dehydrate and store the leaves as a powder, or if I have to dye it with fresh leaves. #naturaldyeing #plantdye #sorrel