LORE — SAGE BUDNLE

White sage was gathered from the dry hills and coastal valleys of the American Southwest. Leaves were cut from established plants after flowering or as new growth hardened, leaving enough branches for the shrub to continue growing. Bundles were tied by hand and dried slowly.

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Once dried, the leaves burned slowly with a strong aromatic smoke. Loose leaves and bound bundles were stored in dry places until needed. Smoke drifted through open doorways, across courtyards, and into the evening air before fading back into the hills.

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The silvery shrubs grew among rocky hillsides, dry washes, and open ground where little shade remained through the heat of summer. Warm winds carried the scent of sage across the hills, and harvest often took place in the cool of morning before the sun held high.