Essence of Oregon by Travel Oregon

Essence of Oregon

For Felicia Howe, founder and owner ofPrimrose Apothecary(opens in a new tab), Oregon is the perfect place to be an herbalist. Howe grew up in the state, where her family has farmed for generations, including a dahlia farm in Ontario in the 1920s. After a stint in Los Angeles, she came back to Oregon to grow her own plants. “Being back here helped me get back in touch with the seasons,” Howe says. “It helped me align with nature.”

Since returning to Oregon, Howe has published “Sibyl of the Flora(opens in a new tab),” a series of books and affirmation cards featuring botanical illustrations drawn using plant inks. She’s also deepened her practice as an herbalist, relying heavily on flowers that thrive in Western Oregon. Her catalog of offerings reads like an encyclopedia of local flora, including native species such as lupine and yarrow as well as the state flower, the Oregon grape.

“I work with a lot of the flowers that you’ll see out in the Columbia Gorge, such as lupine and goldenrod,” she says. Her handcrafted essences not only embody the nature of the plants; they’re also anchored in a sense of place by virtue of where they’re grown. In Howe’s case, that’s her Portland garden, where she grows over 60 types of flowers that she harvests and transforms into essences.