Elder (Sambucus canadensis)
There is a woman who lives in the elder tree. She is called Elda Mohr by some. Ask her permission before harvesting any part of the elder and your medicine will be helpful. Ignore her, so the tales go, and your medicine may poison you! The flowers and berries are strong medicines, yet safe enough for infants. Tincture of the flowers yields a remedy that gently lowers a fever, preventing convulsions in the wee ones. The berries (which will come later in the year) not only make a great wine and a fabulous jam, they are anti-viral when tinctured. A great ally to have on hand to deal with colds and the flu. Elderflower champagne may have medicinal benefits, too, but I make it mostly because it tastes so good.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
The root of this perennial plant is famous as an aid for those who can’t sleep. I personally find it overpowering; like a kick to the head. And as many as a third of those who take valerian root find themselves stimulated rather than sedated. So I tincture the flowers instead. They are softer and smoother; inviting sleep rather than knocking one out. Surprisingly, the fresh root is odorless. The stink of the dried root is caused by the break down of the active constituents. Consider growing some, if only to enjoy the butterflies who adore it.

Day lily (Hemerocallis fulva)
This showy roadside weed is one of the first edible weeds I put in my salad. There is no mistaking the bright orange flowers! (All upward-facing lilies are safe to eat, no matter what their color. Lilies that face out or down are not safe to eat.) In China, day lilies are dried and added to soups and other foods. Euell Gibbons dipped the flowers in batter and fried them. The blossoms, harvested early in the morning, just before they open, are considered a specific remedy for women with a genetic disposition toward breast cancer.