Heather's Library

Gathering Blue
by Lois Lowry

p.85 Kira closed her eyes, thought, and said them aloud. "Madder for red. Bedstraw for red too, just the roots. Tops of tansy for yellow, and greenwood for yellow too. And yarrow: yellow and gold. Dark hollyhocks, just the petals for mauve."
     "Snotweed," Matt said loudly with a grin and wiped his own runny nose on his dirty sleeve.
     "Hush, you," Kira said to him, laughing. "Don't play foolish now. It's important I remember.
     "Broom sedge," she added, still remembering. "Goldy yellows and browns. And Saint Johnswort for browns too, but it'll stain my hands.
     And bronze fennel--leaves and flowers; use them fresh--and you can eat it too. Chamomile for tea and for green hues."