Afternoon Walk in the Garden

Today we had thunderstorms, but after the rain stopped the sun came out again so I decided to take a walk through the gardens to see what might be happening.



The Tansy is blooming beautifully.






The white Yarrow that I was gifted in April is settling itself in very nicely and looking healthy as well. The other patch had two blooms already. I am greatly pleased that my namesake is thriving in my garden.

My old dear teacher, Comfrey has become an entity unto itself. I am sharing more and more of this wonderful healing plants leaves every year and will most likely have roots to share this fall.

Looking among the tall, beautiful Mugwort plants against the fence, what is that I see? It's a little bright pink Bee Balm (Monarda) struggling to grow, but growing it is, underneath the towering Mugwort, Catnip, and Lemon Balm.

So pretty, I thought all of the bright pink had been smothered out, but no....

I love walks in the garden, especially after a good rain. Garden blessings to you all.

St John's Wort

St. John’s wort (botanical name Hypericum Perforatum) is also known as Tipton’s weed, Klamath weed and goat weed. It is an aromatic perennial plant belonging to the Hypericaceae family. The herb is native to Europe, but over the years has been introduced to several temperate regions across the globe, especially in the United States, and is found to grow naturally in numerous meadows. The herb derived its name St. John’s wort because it bears golden yellow blossoms that appear in abundance particularly on June 24 - the day customarily commemorated as the birthday of John the Baptist. The aerial parts of the plants, including the leaves and flowering tops that are therapeutically applied are harvested at about that time. On the other hand, the genus name Hypericum is derived from the Greek terms ‘hyper’ (denoting above) and ‘eikon’ (meaning picture) indicating that once the plant was conventionally used to protect against evil by hanging the plants over a religious symbol in the house during St John's day. The herb’s species name ‘perforatum’ denotes the existence of small oil glands in the leaves that resemble windows and are visible when they are held against the light.

Today is the day traditionally when St. John's Wort was harvested as it was usually in full bloom by this time. Legend has it that the plant moves around to hide from those who seek its powers at midsummer when it is made into garlands and charms to protect the home and livestock. It had to be gathered in a particular manner:

St.John's Wort, St. John's Wort,

I deem lucky the one who will have you;

I harvest you with my right hand,

I store you away with my left hand;

Whosoever finds you in the fold of young animals

Will never want for anything.

Country folk often picked bunches of the herb and hung them in byres and stables to frighten evil spirits and keep the devil away. It was tossed into the bonfire or hearth fires and allowed to burn to protect the home against lightening and storms. St. John's Wort gathered at noon on Midsummer day was reputed to be effective against several illnesses.

St. John's Wort Tea

2 tsp. St. John's Wort flowers

1 cup boiling water

Infuse for ten minutes and strain. The infusion is used for the treatment of anemia, rheumatism, headaches, nervous conditions, asthma, bronchial catarrh, irregular menstruation, mild depression, and insomnia. St. John's Wort has been called "nature's Prozac" and ahas been proven effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression with fewer side effects than prescription antidepressants. As such, doctors in Continental Europe frequently prescribe it. (I have been using capsules of St. John's Wort for depression for a year now, it works very well for me.)

Dreaming of the Sun

I am dreaming of the sun and springtime. I have already made many plans for the gardens this year. Including expanding the vegetable and herb gardens and adding an additional area for flowers. I hope to add to our income this summer/fall by selling surplus produce and flowers. We did fairly well last year, but the odd weather made for less harvest in the end.

It has been a very cold winter so far, for East Tennessee. We don't usually see such cold until February. It has been below freezing for the past two weeks, just yesterday we made it above freezing. Our rain barrels are frozen solid. :) We have even had a small snowfall already. Very unusual for this area.

Since I have been dealing with depression, it has been hard to think of much else, besides getting through each day, one day at a time. It has only been harder since my grandmother and aunt passed away. Needless to say, that did not help my emotional state any. I have been taking St. John's Wort daily for the past two months and it has made a huge difference in how I feel and how I deal with daily life. I am so thankful that I have a natural remedy that works for me.

Herbal Goodies

My beautiful St. John's/Joan's Wort. It has been blooming for a couple of weeks now and shows no sign s of stopping.

I harvested some blooms and leaves two weeks ago and covered them with olive oil to make St. John's Wort oil.

St. John's Wort oil is wonderful. It is generally used topically for nerve damage,pain, swellings, bruises and other types of trauma to the skin.

But you can also use it internally as well. Add it to salad dressings and mix it with stir fries. Even add i to your animals food when they are feeling particularly stressed or anxious.

St. John's Wort Oil

St.John's Wort flowers and leaves

Virgin olive oil

Place the St. John's wort flowers and leaves in a widemouthed jar. Pour in enough olive oil so that it rises 2-3 inches over the herb. Cover tightly and place the jar in a warm, sunny location,(mine is in the garden) for 4-6 weeks.

Strain the oil through a fine-meshed strainer and rebottle. The oil should be a deep blood red, the redder the better. Apply topically to strains, bruises, wounds, swellings, and other areas of tissue trauma. Beautiful!

Red Clover!

I finally have Red Clover growing in my gardens! I am so happy. I have tried ever since we moved here to get some to grow~we have tons of white clover, but no red. I gathered some seeds last year and tossed them around on the back bank, and tada! Beautiful, glorious Red Clover!

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) is one of the best detoxification herbs and respiratory tonics, red clover is especially useful for easing chronic chest complaints such as coughs, colds, and bronchitis. Red Clover is rich in minerals, most notably calcium, nitrogen, and iron. It is used for all skin conditions, as it is an excellent detoxifier or blood purifier. It is commonly used in anti tumor formulas. It is mentioned as a folk cancer remedy in Jethro Kloss's Back to Eden. It is one of the ingredients in Hoxsy, a formula used at alternative cancer clinics in Mexico.

Red Clover is found in pastures and gardens. Leaves are trefoil shape, sometimes mottled with a paler shade. Flowers are purple-pink (not really red) globes and are richly honey-scented. Considered by herbalists as being a Goddess-given remedy. A pleasant tasting herb,red clover is beneficial to young and old.

Red Clover flowers are the part most often used, although the leaves are beneficial too. A small amount of the flowers may b eaten raw, shredded into a salad. Make red clover tea by infusing a heaped teaspoonful of the flowers in water just off the boil, allowing to steep well and then sweeten with honey. Red Clover makes a delicious tea. Blend it with other herbs, such as mullein, for persistent respiratory problems. In addition, you can use the tea for building blood and improving the skin. The tea or tincture can be used when there are growths on the body such as cysts, tumors, and fibroids.

Caution: Hemophiliacs or people with "thin" blood should not use red clover regularly, as the herb can exacerbate the condition.

*Sources: The Family Herbal, Common Herbs for Natural Health, 101 Medicinal Herbs*

Herbal Studies Begin~Lemon Balm

This weekend Sophie and I began studying herbs using "A Kid's Herb Book" by Leslie Tierra. Sophie has always been very interested in the plants of Mother Earth and when I came across this book on sale last year I knew we had to use it. Sophie is very open to reading about herbs and then studying the ones we have in our garden. I thought I would share some of what we learn here for any one who wants to share it with their children. We began with Lemon Balm or Melissa officinalis. Lemon Balm is used for fevers, colds,flu,coughs, nervousness,whining or crying, wounds and sores.

Touch and feel the stem of a lemon balm plant. Feel for all four sides. Do you feel the square stem? Lemon Balm is in the mint family of plants. All the mints have square stems. Pick some lemon balm leaves. Now rub them between the palms of your hands. What do your hands smell like? Bite off one leaf and chew it. What does it taste like?

Lemon balm's name comes from the Greek word meaning "bee." The sweet-smelling oils of the leaves attract bees that in turn produce a wonderful honey. The popular name of the oil in lemon balm is balsam,

which when shortened becomes "balm." Science has discovered that the balsamic oils of plants give off protective ozone that promotes the healing and stops infection.

Use the sun to make Lemon Balm tea! We filled a quart jar to the top with fresh, clean Lemon Balm leaves, then filled it with water and set it in the hottest part of our garden. It needs at least six hours of direct sunlight to make a strong enough tea. Once its finished, strain it, add a lemon peel or juice, if desired, sweeten to taste.

Sophie and I had a picnic lunch while we read. It certainly was a beautiful day for a picnic.

Lemon Balm leaves are the part of the plant that is used. This is a very mild and safe herb. You can drink several cups of tea a day. For fevers, colds and flu, drink 1/2-1 cup every two hours until the fever breaks.

You can make a tea, tincture, syrup, bath, capsule, sun tea, pill,powder, dream pillow, mouthwash, poultice, potpourri,sachet,slave,steam,foot bath,fomentation, or oil from lemon balm. Wow!

*if you look closely in the top photo, you can see the green lemon balm in her teeth*

Yule Smudge Sticks

I made a lot of these last solstice and gave them as gifts to friends and family. They were easy to do and turned out beautifully. We are using them this year to smduge the house for the holidays. They give a clean, refreshing scent to the air.

Gather and use your own smudge stick

Winter is often a cruel time for the trees; harsh weather causes many of them to fall or snap their limbs and send them crashing to the earth. If your yard, a neighbor's yard, or a nearby natural area has any fallen cedar branches, you may want to try this special way to bring the magic of the living green home with you and keep these valuables from going to waste. Smudge sticks are easy to make and satisfying to look at, and the purifying smoke will make a meaningful addition to your Yule celebrations.

Native Americans have known for centuries that cedar, as well as sage, has special purifying properties, especially psychospiritually; if the atmosphere in your home is tense or unhappy, a quick go round with a burning smudge is one way to clean things out and restore a feeling of harmony. Native people harvest the herbs and branches ceremonially and prepare the smudge bundles with ritual. Cedar and sage are also burned in bulk in large abalone shells, with feathers used to direct the smoke.

If you want to make smudges but your cedar trees are all intact, you could see if any judicious pruning is needed; it doesn't take much to make a smudge stick. If you do this, you may want to leave a special gift to thank the tree. (Check a field guide to make sure its cedar you are taking)

To make your own homemade smudges, find several pieces of cedar branch that are green, full, and well leafed, about a foot long. Cut longer ones to this measure. Arrange the branches in a bundles with the tips all facing the same way; these bundles should be about two or three inches thick at their widest point. Then wind the cedar bundles firmly with thin cotton string (embroidery floss works well) starting at the bottom and working up to the tips, then winding back down again so that the thread crisscrosses. Look at the smudges commercially available to see how much string to use. You can sing a special song while you do this, if you like:

All around, all around

Peaceful, peaceful

All around, all around

Peaceful, peaceful

Spirit of the cedar

Calling me, calling me

Spirit of the cedar

Blessing me, blessing me

All around, all around

Peaceful, peaceful

When you have wound the string up and back down, knot it at the bottom and cut off the uneven ends of the branches an inch or so below the knot to make a uniform length. Allow these smudges to dry before lighting. (This can take a good long time)

To use your smudge, light the tip with a match and let it flame fro a moment, then blow out the flame and allow it to continue smoking for as long as you like. Enjoy!

Children

I love this poster written by Luther Burbank. This past week I have been doing a lot of thinking about the kind of spiritual education that I want Sophie to have. She is becoming quite the little herbalist already. Last week I found her on the steps by the herb garden putting a crushed up Plantain leaf on a bug bite that she had. She talks to the plants and to Mother Earth, and more importantly, Mother Earth talks to her. It is delightful to me to watch her learn so quickly and easily the many lessons of the Earth that it took me years to learn. It is truly a blessing. Give your children an extra hug today and remember the magic of childhood~ I know I am.

Herbal Learning for Sophie

I found this gem of a book at my local used book store today for $10, sounds like a lot, but its brand new, and I used trade in credit!! I have wanted this book to use in teaching Sophie for a while now, and I was very happy to find it today. I have been teaching her a little bit this summer about the herbs, their names and some of what they can be used for. She has had experience with plantain's bee sting soothing properties and itch relief, and lavender's relaxing benefits. We take a walk through the gardens most every day and check on our herbal friends, who she calls by name. This week we begin making some herbal remedies in preparation for the winter colds and such, and our herbal medicine kit is running low. I hope to be able to include Sophie in some of the prep work and let her feel the satisfaction of working with Mother Earth's medicines. Herbal blessings.

A Bit More

Joshua & Sophie enjoying the swing together.














Sunny Primroses














Daylily and Marigolds














Chamomile and Lavender - I'm sleepy just looking at them.














Our first tomato!!!

More Catch Up

Cleopatra in the catnip.














Bumblebee enjoying the Bee Balm.














Gorgeous pink/purple hydrangea.














Squash flower-how very pagan!














Yarrow's first blush.

Lovely Thrifting

Check out my thrifting score this week! Four ceramic clasp-locking canisters. In four sizes, only one had the little wooden spoon, but hey......I plan to store dried herbs in them. I have most of my herbs in recycled glass jars, which is great, but these are so pretty, don't you think?

Catnip Harvest

Believe it or not, my catnip over wintered in the garden. In East Tennessee! We had such a mild winter that it really never died back all the way, and it is over a foot tall, or at least it was. Though it is a bit too strong for tea, the cats love it and I cut the tops to dry for them. I gave them the leaves that were loose after hanging them up and as you can see they were in heaven. Cleo had hers on top of the van, Sabrina loves to roll in it, and Goober, well he was wondering what he had done to deserve such a treat.

Beauty in My Garden

The roses are in bloom, they smell so sweet with a hint of spice. An old rose, its been here for a very long time, the previous owners had been cutting it back, I have let it go and it ahs gone crazy! Beautiful!
Plus that is my Comfrey plant. I have had it for three years now, and this is the first year it has bloomed. I couldn't be happier. Comfrey and I have a long standing relationship. I use it in many herbal preparations. Blessings.

Trying to Be Good

This is my breakfast this morning. Oats with strawberries, nutritional yeast and ground flax seed. Yummy! I enjoyed it very much. I had the same for breakfast yesterday morning. I finished my yoga routine this morning just as the sun was peaking into my window. I really can't wait to take my mat out side. It is just not warm enough in the AM yet. It promises to be another beautiful day. Yesterday I spent some time out in the herb garden. There are a lot of things up, and I mean way up, at least 8-10 inches high already. Lavender, Yarrow, Bee Balm, Catnip, Comfrey, Tansy, and Cone flower. It was just lovely, warm sunshine and herbs. There is no better cure for depression, which I have been dealing with a fairly mild case, I guess. I realized that I have been letting little things go, like eating well, and my yoga routine and taking care of myself. Personal issues are weighing quite heavy on me right now and I have just been going through the motions, not really noticing things and letting things go that I would normally not. So now that I am realizing this, I hope to pull myself out of it and get busy with the things I need to do to help get us out of this financial bind we are in. I am more hopeful today than I have been. And that is a good thing.
On to other things. I am preparing to make a couple of television cozies, to cover the TV for TV Turnoff Week, which we are participating in beginning on Monday. I figure that if the TV is out of sight, it will much easier be out of mind. I am also hoping for great weather, because that makes a huge difference in how well the kids cope with no television/computer.
I am also working sporadically, on my second skirt. Well its actually done, all but the applique and neatening the seams. I am stoked about it. I am attending a Beltaine Gathering in May, and hope to take some to sell there, along with some t shirt shopping bags, and 'magic' wands for the kids. I will post a couple of pix when I get one finished. More about Beltaine as it gets nearer......Sorry for the ramble, but I feel better now. Thanks.

Day 17!

Well I have made it seventeen days of doing yoga everyday. I am quite proud of myself, actually, I have been known to be gung ho for something one week and over it the next. But yoga seems to be my thing. I enjoy it so much and even more everyday. The changes in my body and mind are miraculous in my opinion. I feel wonderful. I have so much more energy and my outlook on things is greatly improved. I have had no bouts of depression since I started. I can do more and have more to give to my family, and believe me they need a lot.
Sophie alone, consumes my day and energies. She is constantly on the go. She needs much to stimulate her mind and body. She is so advanced for three that she needs things that my other children were not ready for at this age. So I am in fact relearning to mother a three year old, because she is unlike the others. On the other hand, it is very entertaining and I am learning as much as she is. We are now at a point in her discipline where she has simply been refusing to do as she is told or doing what she is told not to do. When I got stern or angry with my other kids, they would become repentant and mostly obey. Sophie, she gets angry right back and even more defiant. She has a mind of her own, in a whole different way than I remember three year olds having. So.....I am working on a new plan of discipline for and with her. I will let you know how it goes. Keeps me on my toes, that one does, but I can't remember ever having such fun and a constant source of joy!
I found, at the used book store, the book "Magical Herbalism" by Scott Cunningham. I had been looking for it for some months now, since I decided to combine my herbal medicinal knowledge with the magical properties of herbs also. So I am appropriately excited about finding it again. The winter months are a great time to study herbs and create medicines and beauty products from the herbs you've dried. Since I can't be out in the herb garden, this is the next best thing. I can dream of my gardens and plan them by immersing myself in herb and garden books. Oh such fun!

Well, here, finally is a photo of the athame that David gifted to me. Isn't it gorgeous?! It is about a foot long from handle tip to blade tip. In the photo you can see that it has some rust on the blade and a bit of tarnish on the hilt, but David can clean that all right up. I cannot wait to get it purified and on my altar! Woo, hoo!