Woad!

Back in the summer of 2015 my husband and I went to Europe on vacation.  When we were in the countryside in France we met a lady who showed us her herb garden.  She had woad growing there and because I showed an interest she gave me some seeds.  I planted them last spring (2016) and they did grow into a few plants.  I read that you can't use the leaves as dye material until the second season so I brought some plants in for the winter and left one outside in the garden.  The plants I brought into the house died but the plant outside has survived beautifully!  I guess it wasn't a very cold winter because woad isn't supposed to do well here.  Anyways, here is my plant below with the yellow flowers and I'm planning on making some indigo dye out of it.  It seems to be quite a process but I have a video by Michel Garcia and some information and will do my best.  I plan on collecting the seeds again so I could reseed next year.  I love dyeing with natural materials.