September 2015

Plantain ~ The Wonder Weed

September 28, 2015 // 1 Comment

Plantain – Plantago major, Plantaginaceae Description: Deep green, lily like plants found along streams, roadsides and lawns. The flowers are a yellow-green in appearance and when mature 7 inch spikes that resemble miniature cat-tails protrude from the center. The leaves are 8-10 inches long, oval to [ ...click to read more ]

From the Herb Basket – 23

September 28, 2015 // 0 Comments

The Hanging Gardens, in what is now Iraq have been called one of the seven wonders of the world. Legend has it that the gardens were built by King Nebuchadnezzar for his favorite wife who was homesick for her native trees and mountains. The Hanging Gardens were actually terraced roof gardens, built over massive stone [ ...click to read more ]

Cleanup Time

September 28, 2015 // 0 Comments

When it comes to putting the garden to bed (for winter), the first step should be clean up your plants — this would include any food crop beds or any annual herb plants. You’ll prevent diseases from returning the following year by removing any diseased plant material and disposing of it by putting it in the [ ...click to read more ]

A Basket of Love

September 20, 2015 // 0 Comments

It was cool this morning, and after a very hot summer I welcomed 58 ºF. I picked all of the ripe tomatoes and the remaining green peppers and harvested the last sweet Spanish onions (the onions didn’t grow very large as I had started them from seeds). Hard to find this type of onion in the grocery — the [ ...click to read more ]

Some FAQs About Herbs

September 14, 2015 // 1 Comment

Q : Herb – how do you pronounce it? A: That’s easily the most asked question about herbs. It depends on where you live. If you’re in the UK, the “h” is pronounced, as in “herb”. In the US, it’s usually pronounced “erb” (no “h” sound). Q: What exactly are [ ...click to read more ]

Versatile Lemon Balm

September 14, 2015 // 0 Comments

Description- An upright perennial herb with attractive lemon scented leaves. Leaves are oval and serrated, about an inch long with clusters of pale yellow flowers blooming in late July. The entire plant emits a pronounced lemony scent. Lemon balm is native to southern Europe and North Africa, and grows wild throughout [ ...click to read more ]

How to Make a Vodka Tincture

September 7, 2015 // 1 Comment

. Many of the active constituents in herbal medicines are readily soluble in alcohol, which is also an effective preservative. For this reason alone, a vodka tincture is preferred by most herbalists. You may use dried herbs if fresh herbs are not available. Take care that the herbs are of the highest quality and [ ...click to read more ]

Scents and Sensibility

September 1, 2015 // 1 Comment

Fragrances can enchant us with their immediate presence. Bring a bouquet of roses into the dining room or brush against a lemon verbena plant. These scents instantly brighten your spirit and perfume the air. Fragrances can evoke memories from years gone by: the scent of bayberry at Christmas time, or the pungent aroma [ ...click to read more ]

Vervain – Verbena officinalis verbenaceae

September 1, 2015 // 0 Comments

By far, not the most beautiful or fragrant of herbs, but certainly the most magical of all herbs in Europe, the Middle East, and China. Sacred to the Druids, vervain was used for purifying sacred spaces among the groves of oak trees and in spells, potions for divination, crop fertility, and protection from evil spells [ ...click to read more ]

Happy September to All Our Readers !

September 1, 2015 // 2 Comments

Good morning, and a Happy September to all ! I trust you’ve had a good summer. As I was signing off in my previous post, I mentioned the problems I was having with slugs, and I sounded pretty optimistic about the sandpaper I had just fitted around my huacatay seedlings. Sandpaper did not deter the slugs ! They [ ...click to read more ]