Gozo Herbs

07/06/2026

A few days ago, I set off on my bicycle towards Ta' Ċenċ with a simple idea in mind: to gather some flowering wild fennel and thyme.

As soon as I arrived, I was surrounded by the scent of Mediterranean summer. The tall stems of fennel swayed in the wind, releasing their sweet, aromatic fragrance, while patches of purple thyme caught my attention among the dry grasses and sun-warmed stones.

The plants were alive with bees, so I harvested carefully, taking only what I needed and leaving plenty behind. Curious lizards darted between the rocks, insects moved through the warm air, and the landscape felt both peaceful and alert.

Along the way, I also gathered a handful of mastic leaves. Combined with thyme, they create a fascinating balance of qualities: warmth and dryness softened by a subtle touch of moisture.

Back home, the transformation began. The fennel was prepared as an infused oil and as aromatic waters—pungent yet delicate, traditionally appreciated for sensitive skin. The thyme and mastic found their place in another preparation inspired by the principles of Mediterranean herbal practice.

For me, these moments are about more than making remedies.

Taking a few hours to walk, observe, gather plants, and imagine the preparations they may become is an act of freedom. It is a small form of independence and autonomy that connects knowledge, landscape, and daily life.

Freedom grows where knowledge meets the land.

Inspired by the teachings of Luigi Giannelli and the principles of Traditional Mediterranean Medicine.

07/06/2026

Today, on my way to Marsalforn, I found myself surrounded by intense fragrances.

The dry heat of early summer and the gentle sea breeze seemed to awaken the essential oils of the plants, filling the air with scents of fennel, pennyroyal mint, oleander and chaste tree.

It reminded me that the presence of heat and fire is perceived not only through colour, but also through fragrance.

In the Mediterranean summer, warmth reveals itself in golden landscapes, blazing flowers and the aromatic breath of the plants that thrive beneath the sun.

Happy Sunday from Gozo. 🌿☀️

03/06/2026

The Rosemary of 2026

This year, a friend gifted me a basket of wild rosemary growing in her field here in Gozo.

What makes this rosemary special?

It is local, just like me.

It lived through the same cold, humid winter and rainy spring that I experienced. When it arrived, its leaves were dark green and intensely aromatic. As it slowly infused in extra virgin olive oil, it shared that same fragrance.

This is the rosemary of 2026.

This year, a friend gifted me a basket of wild rosemary growing in her small field here in Gozo.

What makes this rosemary special?

It is local, just like me.

It lived through the same cold, humid winter and the same cool, rainy spring that I experienced. When it arrived, its leaves were a deep dark green and its fragrance was strong, aromatic and unmistakably Mediterranean.

As it slowly infused in extra virgin olive oil, it shared that same scent.

This is the rosemary of 2026.

Unique. Unrepeatable.

Every harvest tells the story of a particular place, a particular season and a particular year.

The careful observation of nature and the recognition of analogies between climate, seasons, plants and human beings lie at the heart of Mediterranean Traditional Medicine, as described by Luigi Giannelli in his book *Mediterranean Traditional Medicine*.

Traditionally, rosemary-infused oil is used to stimulate microcirculation, support scalp massage and bring warmth to tired legs.

A few drops, a gentle massage, and a moment to reconnect with the plants of the Mediterranean.

01/06/2026

As summer approaches, the colours of the landscape begin to change. Gold and yellow slowly replace the greens of spring, and many plants enter their season of flowering and fruiting.

According to the ancient principle of analogy, what happens outside also happens within us.

The warm and dry qualities of summer can bring vitality, movement, enthusiasm and openness. Yet in excess they may also inflame, exhaust and dry out.

Those with naturally warm constitutions often benefit from cooling foods, herbs and habits, while colder temperaments may welcome the season's warmth, taking care not to overdo it.

Observing nature is not only a way to understand plants.

It is also a way to understand ourselves.

This reflection is inspired by the work of Luigi Giannelli and the framework of Mediterranean Traditional Medicine, Mediterranean Physiognomy and Gemmotherapy.

21/05/2026

18/05/2026

“Casta Diva, che inargenti
queste sacre antiche piante…”
— Norma, Vincenzo Bellini

The moon, with its silver-golden light, illuminates the plants connected to her: herbs with silvery and glaucous leaves, soft to the touch, guardians of water, sensitivity, and the deeper rhythms of the body.

Yet many of these plants conceal a fiery heart.

Wormwood and helichrysum, with their golden flowers and lunar foliage, are intensely warming plants yet deeply anti-inflammatory.
Rosemary reveals its lunar nature in the silvery underside of its leaves: a plant both warm and fresh, solar and aquatic at once.
Sage, traditionally linked to feminine waters, the menstrual cycle, and lunar rhythms, carries a trace of silver upon its green leaves.

In traditional Mediterranean medicine, phlegm — the cold and moist humour — gives softness, adaptability, and plasticity, yet it may also slow, cool, and create emotional distance.

Lunar aromatic plants often help warm the waters without destroying them: they move, dry, and transform.

If you would like to learn more about the theory of humours and temperaments, and discover which plants are most suited to your own constitution, feel free to contact me privately 🌿

11/05/2026

Among the extraordinary blooms of the Roseto Comunale di Roma, I had the chance to admire hundreds of rose varieties from all over the world. 🌹

Thanks to the guidance of Roberta Donati from
, I also learned more about the traditional uses and properties of the rose — a plant long appreciated in Mediterranean herbal traditions for its gentle action on the skin, its delicate aroma, and its connection to emotional wellbeing.

This experience reminded me why rose preparations have been treasured for centuries, especially Rose Damask hydrosol: refreshing, soothing, and beautifully aromatic. ✨

Soon I will also share my own Rose Damask floral water, prepared for natural skincare and daily botanical rituals. 🌹

10/05/2026

Metamorphosis: when we walk together, something changes. 🌿

What began as a simple day in nature slowly became something more: shared stories, laughter, silence, discovery and connection.

Sometimes transformation does not happen in big dramatic moments.
It happens step by step, along a path, between people who were strangers in the morning and part of the same journey by sunset.

Thank you to Karen Mamo directorate malta of ideas .mt.ngo Joseph Bugeja who shared this beautiful day at Comino. 💚

03/05/2026

This is where it started. 🌿 Available here: https://bit.ly/nettlecream

Fresh nettle and mint, slowly transformed into a handmade cream using olive oil, beeswax, and traditional herbal methods.

No shortcuts. Just plants, time, and hands.

Today, this small batch is finally available.

👉 Handmade Herbal Cream (Nettle & Mint)