Spring is a season of revival, where various plants on the mountains regain their vitality, sprouting new leaves, blooming flowers, and growing tender shoots.
During the Grain Rain season, in the rural mountains, by the roadside, under the trees, and in the bushes, there is a flower that stands out, exceptionally beautiful.
Everyone recognizes this flower; rural children should be familiar with it. Approaching it, the fragrance is delightful. Children from the 70s and 80s used to pick this flower to sell, then buy notebooks, pens, and other school supplies. Some children even used the money to buy snacks or toys.
This flower is called 金银花 (Jin Yin Hua) (Honeysuckle), a perennial climbing plant that sprouts tender buds and new leaves in spring, eventually producing flower buds that bloom into stunning flowers.
During my elementary school years, in this season, after school, I would carry a basket and a curved knife to the fields, under the trees, and in the bushes to search for honeysuckle vines. I would pick the flower buds and open flowers, sometimes cutting the vines to take home. In the evening, I would separate the leaves and stems, keeping only the buds and flowers, and then sell them at a small shop near the school the next day, where they collected for others.
I remember that fresh honeysuckle used to sell for 30-50 cents per pound, and sometimes I could earn several yuan in a day, which made me very happy. Now, wild honeysuckle has become quite expensive, with dried products priced around 150-200 yuan per pound. The dried ones are older. Honeysuckle can be used as a medicinal herb and is also a great tea, commonly used for brewing.
The best time to pick honeysuckle is in the morning, during this season when there is dew or on cloudy days. On sunny days, the flowers tend to wilt. When picking, care should be taken not to damage the flower buds, as any injury can cause the flowers to discolor whether dried, air-dried, or sun-dried.
However, in rural areas, honeysuckle is usually picked by children and the elderly, who have more time and can go to the mountains to earn a little money.
The flower buds of honeysuckle are most valuable when they are large but not yet open. Once the flowers bloom, the price drops significantly. This is why it is important to separate the open flowers from the unopened ones when selling, as their medicinal properties and prices differ.
Honeysuckle is truly a treasure, with its leaves, vines, and flowers all having medicinal value, with the flowers being the most prized. In rural areas, if a child has itchy skin or heat rash, it is common for the elderly to go to the mountains to cut honeysuckle vines to boil water for bathing, which is very effective.
Now is the time for wild honeysuckle to grow and bloom in rural areas. Friends, do you have this wild honeysuckle in your hometown? Did you pick it when you were a child?
If you have wild honeysuckle at home, you can take some time to go to the mountains and pick some to dry. Whether for brewing tea or for bathing, it is very beneficial. It is a plant that serves both medicinal and dietary purposes, which can save you a lot of money.
If you want to use it medicinally, be sure to consult a doctor and use it under their guidance. Remember not to self-medicate. This article aims to educate and should not be used as a basis for medication.
Friends, do you have this plant in your hometown? Do you know its other values and uses? Feel free to share in the comments. If you also enjoy knowledge about rural plants, remember to follow me for daily shares. A like or a view is a great support for me, and I am grateful for you.