Jun 6
A-live, a-live, a-live.
Teagan Olivia King, from Bitterbloom
seen from Malaysia
seen from South Korea
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from Australia
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Malaysia
seen from United Kingdom
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Singapore
seen from Austria
A-live, a-live, a-live.
Teagan Olivia King, from Bitterbloom
Rosepink (Sabatia angularis), also known as rose gentian and bitterbloom, is one summer wildflower that never fails to fill my heart with joy. You can spot this tall, prodigious bloomer from a mile away. A sun-loving biennial, rosepink produces a dazzling bouquet of the most amazing pink and white flowers with perfect yellow and lime-colored stars in their centers. Native Americans made a bitter tonic from this plant to increase appetite and aid with convalescence from illness - thus its common name. The bitterness of the plant’s leaves also deter deer from browsing it.
American Centaury
Sabatia angularis
Common Names: Bitterbloom, bitter clover, eyebright, red centaury, rose pink, wild succory.
Medicinal Part: The herb.
Description: American centaury is a biennial plant, 1 to 2 feet high, that grows in most parts of the U.S. on damp, rich soils. The yellow, fibrous root sends up a branched, erect, quadrangular, smooth stem. The leaves are opposite, smooth, and entire, their bases clasping. A terminal umbel consists of many rose-or carnation-colored flowers that appear from June to September. The seeds are borne in short, wheat-like husks.
Properties and Uses: Bitter tonic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, vermifuge. The warm infusion is particularly good as a bitter tonic for indigestion (dyspepsia) and during convalescence, when the appetite suffers. The other categories indicate older uses and may be more or less effective.
Preparation and Dosage: Gather the plant when in flower.
Infusion: Use 1 tsp. chopped herb with 1 cup boiling water; steep for ½ hour. Take 1 tbsp. every few hours or as needed.
Tincture: Take 15 to 40 drops every 3 to 4 hours.
In addition to dense blazing star, rose pink (Sabatia angularis), also known as rose gentian, was in bloom along the edge of the alder thicket tonight. At home in a variety of habitats, including moist prairies, open woods, glades, and marshes, this herbaceous biennial produces multitudes of pink and occasionally white flowers on multi-branching stems. Each flower has five sepals and five stamens, which protrude from the points of a greenish-yellow, star-shaped “eye” at the center of the flower. This is yet another gorgeous native wildflower with a long history of medicinal use. A bitter tonic was once made from its leaves to treat pain and assist in digestion, resulting in the plant’s other common name: bitterbloom. Although biennial, rose pink self-seeds readily and will add dependable annual color to native wildflower gardens.
Rose pink (Sabatia angularis), also known as rose gentian, bitterbloom, and marsh pink, is a beautiful biennial, summer wildflower found growing in full to part sun in open, rocky woods, moist fields, and marshes, as well as on disturbed lands, such as former mine sites. The plant’s central stem is characteristically smooth, squared and winged with opposite branches forming higher up the stem. The plant’s leaves are smooth, green, and bluntly-ovate; they clasp the stem. The rosy-pink or white flowers have five petals, five yellow stamens with enlarged anthers, and a long, divided style; a five-sided yellow star adorns the center of the flower. From what I’ve read, rose pink is common throughout its range, but this was my first encounter with the plant in the local woods. Photos taken along Deckers Creek Trail.
Book Review: Bitterbloom
Title: Bitterbloom Author: Teagan Olivia King Genre: Dark Romance, Fantasy, Horror Rating: 5 Stars Description/Synopsis: The villagers of Rixton—including Adelaide’s father, the vicar—believe her to be the monster responsible for all the town’s tragedies, spurred on by the strange visions and blackouts caused by her chronic illness. Kept locked away except for funerals, even Addie herself…
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Top 5 (anticipated releases of Jan-Mar 2026) Tuesday
I absolutely wrote 2025 first. Right, so let’s get to it! Meeghan hasn’t put up the new prompts yet (I think) but I know the first Tuesday of every quarter is most anticipated releases so here you go! This was so so hard to choose so you’re lucky you’re getting 5 and not like 15. 📚🚀📚 How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days by Jessie Sylva (GR/SG) – 20 JANUARY. HOW TO LOSE A GOBLIN IN TEN DAYS is a…