Somewhere in most gardens there is a stinging nettle patch and I expect you like me have a history going back a long time with this interesting plant. I remember my fear of it when young and the rapidity with which I learnt to respect it and also to identify the dock leaf which would sooth its sting. Nowadays I use Weleda Urtica gel, known in English as Combudoron Gel, which is made of nearly 50% stinging nettle and surely must the epitome of the hair of the dog remedy.

A wonderfully child friendly use of nettles.

We use them ...

That the earth can produce such colours still amazes me after so many years. These colours have been produced by just a few plants.

• Weld for the basic yellows and the foundation of the greens and turquoises.

• Madder for the terracottas and browns.

• The insect cochineal for the pink that is the first layer of the purple.

• Finally indigo to transform the yellows and pink into turquoise, green and purple.

• A few grams of alum, cream of tartar and iron and you have a rainbow.

• Mineral, plant, animal and man or in my case woman.

• Earth, water, fire and air ...