 Monarda didyma Scarlet Beebalm Gender: Feminine Element: Water Planet: Mercury The brilliant scarlet bee balm, is a perennial herb and belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. My fondest memories are the patches that grew at Camp Arcona, a much loved Girl Scout Camp in Mechanicsburg, PA. Sadly, the camp was sold for real estate development. Our beloved camp may be gone, but our memories remain. When day camp began in June, the gorgeous crimson flowers were always there to greet us!
There are two reasons bergamot has the folk name bee balm. One is bees are attracted to it, and another is the leaves are soothing when rubbed on a bee sting. The flowers are edible and the petals add a tangy flavor, in addition to a splash of color, to garden salads and fruit salads. Add to corn muffins or corn bread for unexpected zest! They compliment sweet as well as savory. Use your imagination and make this versatile herb a part of your welcoming summer ritual!
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In celebration of the Summer Solstice, I made a wreath of some of the herbs currently in my garden. Lamb’s Ears Lavender Rosemary on a Silver King Artemisia base  Lavender wands are easy to make and a Facebook friend just old me she has had one for 40 years and it still holds its fragrance! Begin the wands immediately after the stems are cut so they will be flexible when you bend them. You will need 15 stalks of lavender, ribbon (buy good quality satin - I used about 3 yards of 3/16 inches wide, but amounts will vary depending on the length of the lavender stalks.
 Wrap the ribbon diagonally down the stem, secure at the base of the stem with a couple of knots, then cut the ribbon.
 1/2 cup sugar 2 Tablespoons fresh lavender blossoms I cup (two sticks) butter at room temperature 2 cups almond flour 1 cup flour Combine the sugar and fresh lavender blossoms using a food processor. Add the butter and combine. Next add the flours. Mix until thoroughly combined. The batter will be soft. Chill for 30 minutes. Flour both sides of the dough and place between two long sheets of waxed paper. Using a rolling pin, roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Work quickly. The dough will get soft again as you work with it. Cut cookies with a floured cookie cutter. Remove all the excess dough and return to the 'fridge. This will make it easier to move your shaped cookies. Gently lift cookies onto a cookie sheet lined with baking parchment paper. Chill the cookies on the baking sheets for 30 minutes Set oven temperature to 300 degrees F. Once the oven is preheated, bake for about 30 minutes. Begin checking at 20 minutes and don't let the edges of the cookies brown. Cool on a wire rack placed. Glaze 1/2 cup confectioners sugar 1 Tablespoon water. Mix thoroughly with a fork. Add a little more water if needed. Keeping the cookies on the wire rack, move them over the sink if your rack fits, or place waxed paper under neath for easy clean up. This can get messy! Use a spoon to lightly glaze the cookies. Top with lavender blossoms. Let the glaze set up and serve.  My last harvest of lavender and almond lavender cookies to celebrate the summer solstice.
 One of the simplest ways to use lavender is to simply gather the stalks of lavender and tie with a ribbon. It's best to cut them as soon as the flowers are in bloom in the spring. Cut them a few inches above the woody growth so you won't harm the plant. Gather first thing in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun becomes intense. Hang to dry in a cool dark place.  Lavender hearts You'll need 6 stalks of lavender Ribbon - I've been using 3/16 inch lavender satin ribbon for all my projects. It's not too large to over power the lightness of the flowers. Make two lavender braids using 3 stalks for each braid. When they are braided, bend into a loop. Put the two loops together to form a heart, keeping the flowers on top. Cut off the stems in the back and tie with a ribbon.  Lavender garnishes 12 to 18 stalks of lavender One egg white, beaten until frothy 1/3 Granulated sugar Waxed paper or parchment paper Dip just the flowers of the lavender into the egg whites to completely cover, then dip them into the sugar. Place on waxed paper or parchment paper and let dry away from heat or sun. Use as a garnish with fruit salad, lemonade, or iced tea. Stir some fresh lavender flowers into your favorite sugar cookie recipe, vanilla ice cream or lemon sherbet.
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 Say this prayer as you guide the smoke toward your heart, over and around your body. |  Gather your materials. A feather for directing the smoke and a brass bell to awaken the energy in each room are optional but lovely if you have them. |
The next step is to gather your materials. If possible, use natural materials.
- Smudge Stick
- Candle, preferably lit with a wooden match
- Shell to catch the embers, or you can also use a pottery dish
- Feather to direct the smoke - you can also use your hand
- Brass bell to wake up the energy in each room as you move through the house
It is best to declutter each room before you begin. Open all of the doors, closet doors and windows so you can move from room to room easily and without interruption.
1. Light the candle and set your intention. You may use the prayer above or something you have written or found that expresses your personal perspective.
2. Use the candle flame to light the sage. Once the sage has caught fire, blow it out and watch for glowing embers. When you see the smoke begin to roll off of the smudge stick, it is ready.
3. Guide the smoke toward your heart, over your head and around your body to purify yourself before you begin.
4. Go the the lowest area you will be smudging. You will be working clockwise in each room. Use your feather, or your hand, to direct the smoke from the lowest part of the room to the highest as you move in a circle around the room Be certain to direct smoke into the corners of the room. Direct the smoke out the door or windows before you move on to the next room.
5. KEEP THE SHELL CLOSE BY TO COLLECT BURNING EMBERS. I tap the smudge stick on the shell when I begin in each room and usually another time or two as the leaves burn.
6. After you have completed smudging each room extinguish the sage by rubbing it onto the shell or on sand or dirt. Check to see that there are no burning red embers.
DO NOT wet the sage. If you do, you won't be able to use the sage again.
After the smoke clears and the negative energy has been released, fill the space with love. You can say prayers, meditate or journal about love, have dear friends over, read inspirational materials or do what ever feels best for you!
DO NOT wet the sage. If you do, you won't be able to use the sage again.
After the smoke clears and the negative energy has been released, fill the space with love. You can say prayers, meditate or journal about love, have dear friends over, read inspirational materials or do what ever feels best for you!
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Viola spp.
Gender: Feminine
Element: Water
Planet: Venus
Violets delight me! They visit for such a short time in the spring, yet have numerous attributes and an extensive history. Violets will protect you from “wykked sperytis” and will bring luck and love. They are featured in mythology, folk lore, literature and poetry. They have been used to cure headaches, calm tempers, and induce sleep. They have been crystallized, used for syrups and jellies, and candied.
There are over 550 species of violets, found in temperate climates around the world. They have many folk names and most of them are reminiscent of sex or love. In addition, their leaves are heart shaped, giving them a place of honor with the romancing herbs!
Like the rose, the color of the violet has great significance in sending messages. Blue violets promise "My love will always be true", purple send the message, "I return your love." White signifies "I'm willing to take a chance on happiness". They also represents modesty and humility as they often hide their spectacular beauty under heart shaped leaves. In William Cullen Bryant’s poem The Yellow Violet, it symbolizes a lost love. In the language of flowers, yellow symbolizes friendship, happiness, joy and success.
They are highlighted in many myths and legends. One story comes from the goddess Venus asking her son Cupid if he thought she was more attractive than a group of maidens playing along the edge of the woods. He said he found the maidens to be more beautiful, so she beat them until they were blue. Since then, because of their association with Venus, they have been associated with love and romance. Huh?
Another legend suggests at one time violets were white, but Mary's grief at seeing the suffering of Jesus on the cross turned them all blue. They have been associated with the modesty of the Virgin Mary, the Angel Gabriel, the Holy Trinity, and Greek and Roman legends and lore. Athens has been referred to as the "Violet Crowned City”. Napoleon returned from exile in the spring and used the violet in a secret code to determine loyalty. This tiny, delicate little flower has had a powerful impact.
In addition, there are recipes for aphrodisiacs, love portions, and beauty products.
My favorite use for violets is sprinkled on a tossed green salad when she first appears in the spring. She is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants. Add strawberries, orange sections, and avocado. My raspberry poppy seed dressing from an earlier blog post, 5-27-2013, is a lovely compliment.
There are over 550 species of violets, found in temperate climates around the world. They have many folk names and most of them are reminiscent of sex or love. In addition, their leaves are heart shaped, giving them a place of honor with the romancing herbs!
Like the rose, the color of the violet has great significance in sending messages. Blue violets promise "My love will always be true", purple send the message, "I return your love." White signifies "I'm willing to take a chance on happiness". They also represents modesty and humility as they often hide their spectacular beauty under heart shaped leaves. In William Cullen Bryant’s poem The Yellow Violet, it symbolizes a lost love. In the language of flowers, yellow symbolizes friendship, happiness, joy and success.
They are highlighted in many myths and legends. One story comes from the goddess Venus asking her son Cupid if he thought she was more attractive than a group of maidens playing along the edge of the woods. He said he found the maidens to be more beautiful, so she beat them until they were blue. Since then, because of their association with Venus, they have been associated with love and romance. Huh?
Another legend suggests at one time violets were white, but Mary's grief at seeing the suffering of Jesus on the cross turned them all blue. They have been associated with the modesty of the Virgin Mary, the Angel Gabriel, the Holy Trinity, and Greek and Roman legends and lore. Athens has been referred to as the "Violet Crowned City”. Napoleon returned from exile in the spring and used the violet in a secret code to determine loyalty. This tiny, delicate little flower has had a powerful impact.
In addition, there are recipes for aphrodisiacs, love portions, and beauty products.
My favorite use for violets is sprinkled on a tossed green salad when she first appears in the spring. She is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants. Add strawberries, orange sections, and avocado. My raspberry poppy seed dressing from an earlier blog post, 5-27-2013, is a lovely compliment.
Galanthus nivalis
Poisonous
Named “milk flower of the snow” by Swedish botanist
Carl Linnaeus in 1753.
Gender: Feminine
Element: Water
Planet: Saturn
Poisonous
Named “milk flower of the snow” by Swedish botanist
Carl Linnaeus in 1753.
Gender: Feminine
Element: Water
Planet: Saturn
The snowdrop is a segue between winter and spring, symbolizing hope, even in the most challenging situations. This precious herb is associated with magic and miracles, divine love, purity and innocence. You’ll often find it at weddings, encouraging a future filled with the promise of everlasting love.
The snow drop is also associated with death, as it was often found in graveyards. The ancient Greeks noted Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, carried snowdrops when she returned from Hades each spring. Its association with death is the reason it is often found at funerals and featured on sympathy cards.
Folk names echo the flower’s contradictory symbolism. It has been called the the Flower of Hope, Mary’s Taper, Candlemas Bells and Eve’s Tears. On a more somber note, it is called Death Flower.. In Victorian England, seeing a single snowdrop indicated there would be a death. It was bad luck to pick a snowdrop, and bringing it into the house would have dire consequences. Regardless of its names, it is always a harbinger of spring, bringing hope for the end of winter and warmer days ahead.
The snow drop is also associated with death, as it was often found in graveyards. The ancient Greeks noted Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, carried snowdrops when she returned from Hades each spring. Its association with death is the reason it is often found at funerals and featured on sympathy cards.
Folk names echo the flower’s contradictory symbolism. It has been called the the Flower of Hope, Mary’s Taper, Candlemas Bells and Eve’s Tears. On a more somber note, it is called Death Flower.. In Victorian England, seeing a single snowdrop indicated there would be a death. It was bad luck to pick a snowdrop, and bringing it into the house would have dire consequences. Regardless of its names, it is always a harbinger of spring, bringing hope for the end of winter and warmer days ahead.
This post is from January 2021. I’m reposting and hoping to find someone who can provide directions to the Losh Run Box Huckleberry. I’ve visited the Hoverter & Sholl BoxHuckleberry but have never found the Losh Run. Please send me a message if you know how to find it. Thank you!
The Hoverter & Sholl Box Huckleberry
(Gaylussacia brachycera)
(Gaylussacia brachycera)
Can you name a plant that covers 8 acres of land, is 1300 years old,
will protect you and bring you luck as you enter the new year?
will protect you and bring you luck as you enter the new year?
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Gender: Feminine
Element: Water
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Planet: Venus
My quest to find an herb worthy of being featured as the first in a series for 2021 unfolded magically! My daughter Mycenea self quarantined for 14 days, as did I, so we could be together for Christmas. We spent a lot of time outdoors, and one of our favorite jaunts was to visit the Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry in Perry County, Pennsylvania.
The box huckleberry is a member of the acidic soil loving Ericaceae family, which include azaleas, rhododendron, trailing arbutus, cranberries and blueberries, among others. Unlike the giant Sequoias and the Bristlecone pines, also known for their their age, the box huckleberry is only about a half a foot tall. It covers the forest floor and can easily be overlooked.
The box huckleberry and blueberry are often confused, but there are differences. The blueberry grows in clusters, and the box huckleberry, as well as the huckleberry, has more singular berries, with occasional small clusters. Though the skin of all of the berries are blue, the blueberry is white or light green inside, and the huckleberry and box huckleberries have a deep red violet or purple inner flesh with a tendency to stain.
There are several folk names for the Huckleberries, including Blaeberry, Whortleberry, Bilberry and Hurtleberry. Bilberry is a folk name for the Blueberry. It gets confusing. Fortunately, scientists use Latin names to provide clarification. We are referring to the box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera) in this case.
There were two box huckleberry plants in the area we visited. One, at Losh Run, is thought to be over 13,000 years old! Bristlecone pines, at 5,000 years old, were considered to be the oldest living organisms on earth, yet the box huckleberry is significantly older. The age is determined by the rate of growth, approximately 6 inches a year, and was calculated by the size of the plants.
The Losh Run Box Huckleberry, which at one time covered an area of about 100 acres, nearly 10 times larger than the Hoveter Sholl, was damaged by a forest fire in 1963, then partially destroyed during the 1970s due to road construction of U.S. 22/322. The remainder is in an area difficult to access.
The younger plant is estimated to be 1,200 to 1,300 years old, and fortunately has been in a protected area as a National Natural Landmark since 1929. The 8 plus acre box huckleberry, named because its leaves resemble boxwood, is situated within a 10 acres area in Tuscarora State Forest with a quarter mile path around the plant. Twenty-seven stations along the loop give an educational overview.
The Hoveter Sholl plant was discovered in 1845 by Spencer Fullerton Baird, a professor at Dickinson College in Carlisle. He was a naturalist and later became the first curator of the Smithsonian Institution, advancing to become the second Secretary of the institution.
The box huckleberries were almost forgotten until 1948 when Dr. Fredrick Coville, a graduate of Cornell University working for the Department of Agriculture, determined the plants, one covering over 8 acres, and the other nearly 100 acres, were each individual massive plants! The relict species, miraculously surviving the ice age, is considered self-sterile, and reproduces through a system of root stalks.
This remarkable plant has not always been well revered. Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is probably the most well know of the huckleberries, and in an interview in an interview in 1895, Twain said he used the name to indicate Finn was a boy “of lower distraction” than Mark Twain.
A more positive huckleberry reference was featured in the song Moon River in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It is beautifully explained by Jessica Dang, Single Girl Dinner. “For years I had no idea what it meant: "My huckleberry friend." It hung in my mind. I searched Paul Varjak's relationship with Holly Golightly for the answer. Theirs was a mutual adoration laced with innocent flirtation; there was a certain playfulness that freed them from being neither friends nor lovers."
On New Year’s Eve, the residents of New Bloomfield, PA traditionally assemble to pay homage to their oldest resident. They lower a huge huckleberry from the courthouse clock tower at midnight to pay tribute to this humble herb. This year’s pandemic will prevent the assemblage, but they will hopefully meet on New Year’s Eve next year to honor this enormous, ancient plant.
The box huckleberry is a member of the acidic soil loving Ericaceae family, which include azaleas, rhododendron, trailing arbutus, cranberries and blueberries, among others. Unlike the giant Sequoias and the Bristlecone pines, also known for their their age, the box huckleberry is only about a half a foot tall. It covers the forest floor and can easily be overlooked.
The box huckleberry and blueberry are often confused, but there are differences. The blueberry grows in clusters, and the box huckleberry, as well as the huckleberry, has more singular berries, with occasional small clusters. Though the skin of all of the berries are blue, the blueberry is white or light green inside, and the huckleberry and box huckleberries have a deep red violet or purple inner flesh with a tendency to stain.
There are several folk names for the Huckleberries, including Blaeberry, Whortleberry, Bilberry and Hurtleberry. Bilberry is a folk name for the Blueberry. It gets confusing. Fortunately, scientists use Latin names to provide clarification. We are referring to the box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera) in this case.
There were two box huckleberry plants in the area we visited. One, at Losh Run, is thought to be over 13,000 years old! Bristlecone pines, at 5,000 years old, were considered to be the oldest living organisms on earth, yet the box huckleberry is significantly older. The age is determined by the rate of growth, approximately 6 inches a year, and was calculated by the size of the plants.
The Losh Run Box Huckleberry, which at one time covered an area of about 100 acres, nearly 10 times larger than the Hoveter Sholl, was damaged by a forest fire in 1963, then partially destroyed during the 1970s due to road construction of U.S. 22/322. The remainder is in an area difficult to access.
The younger plant is estimated to be 1,200 to 1,300 years old, and fortunately has been in a protected area as a National Natural Landmark since 1929. The 8 plus acre box huckleberry, named because its leaves resemble boxwood, is situated within a 10 acres area in Tuscarora State Forest with a quarter mile path around the plant. Twenty-seven stations along the loop give an educational overview.
The Hoveter Sholl plant was discovered in 1845 by Spencer Fullerton Baird, a professor at Dickinson College in Carlisle. He was a naturalist and later became the first curator of the Smithsonian Institution, advancing to become the second Secretary of the institution.
The box huckleberries were almost forgotten until 1948 when Dr. Fredrick Coville, a graduate of Cornell University working for the Department of Agriculture, determined the plants, one covering over 8 acres, and the other nearly 100 acres, were each individual massive plants! The relict species, miraculously surviving the ice age, is considered self-sterile, and reproduces through a system of root stalks.
This remarkable plant has not always been well revered. Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is probably the most well know of the huckleberries, and in an interview in an interview in 1895, Twain said he used the name to indicate Finn was a boy “of lower distraction” than Mark Twain.
A more positive huckleberry reference was featured in the song Moon River in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It is beautifully explained by Jessica Dang, Single Girl Dinner. “For years I had no idea what it meant: "My huckleberry friend." It hung in my mind. I searched Paul Varjak's relationship with Holly Golightly for the answer. Theirs was a mutual adoration laced with innocent flirtation; there was a certain playfulness that freed them from being neither friends nor lovers."
On New Year’s Eve, the residents of New Bloomfield, PA traditionally assemble to pay homage to their oldest resident. They lower a huge huckleberry from the courthouse clock tower at midnight to pay tribute to this humble herb. This year’s pandemic will prevent the assemblage, but they will hopefully meet on New Year’s Eve next year to honor this enormous, ancient plant.
As you enter 2021, I wish you the blessings of huckleberry! May you gather magic and find luck and protection in “berried treasures”, I’m hoping there will be unexpected blessings and virtues all around you. And may each of you find a ‘Huckleberry friend”!
“Everyone should have a huckleberry friend at one point or another.
It is an experience that showers your life with magic for as long as it lasts,
whether it be for a couple of weeks or a couple of years.”
~ Jessica Dang, Single Girl Dinner, #SingleGirlDinner
It is an experience that showers your life with magic for as long as it lasts,
whether it be for a couple of weeks or a couple of years.”
~ Jessica Dang, Single Girl Dinner, #SingleGirlDinner
The legend states, "those who kiss under the mistletoe
will fall in love and stay in love."
Memories of mistletoe may be pleasant for some, but my most frequent experiences were sheer panic, as I realized, often too late, there was a cluster over head and the wrong guy standing next to me.
Romantic novels, and some friend’s stories, give a different perspective. They describe an opportunity to finally have an innocent kiss with your heart's desire and find out if there is a special spark. If the legend holds true, this is followed by a guaranteed happily ever after.
MISTLETOE Caution - POISON
Gender: Masculine
Element: Air
Planet: Sun
Element: Air
Planet: Sun
But this year, the coronavirus, masks, and distancing will eliminate what we have probably all thought of as mistletoe’s one and only role in holiday celebrations. We think of it as the ‘kissing herb” and further examination probably ends. When we apply labels, positive or negative, we tend to stop looking for other characteristics. 2020 has given us the opportunity to view almost everything from a different perspectives, and taking a closer look at mistletoe may be surprising and beneficial!
Mistletoe, like most herbs, has a variety of folk names. One is All Heal, referring to its long, historic role in providing protection and healing. It has been carried to prevent, or cure, plague. It also ensures safety from fires and lightning, and will bring about good luck and fortune. Some sources go so far as to suggest there are spells using mistletoe to help you obtain immortality!
If you see mistletoe this year, I suggest you abstain from kissing, but give some thought to attributes you might not have considered. We could all use a bit of protection and healing from the plague, and mistletoe, all heal, will serve us well.
You might want to use the same approach with friends and family. What gifts and talents have been hidden in others because they are over shadowed by a more dominant label? Holidays will be less hectic this year and we’ll have more time to hunt for previously unnoticed treasures. Are there people in your life who have gifts and talents you hadn’t noticed? Look beyond their most obvious talents and discover what you’ve been missing!
Have you discovered aspects in yourself that you have kept hidden? Do you have interests you’ve wanted to explore but haven’t taken the time to research or practice? You may have an affinity for music, but focused only on team sports. You might want to learn a language and study another culture so you’ll be ready to visit exotic lands when its safe to travel again. You might have considered writing a novel but never made the commitment to follow through. These long dark days of isolation can give us an opportunity to explore and develop new, or dormant, talents and skills.
Nature is filled with lessons. Being more aware of mistletoe’s role in lesser known virtues may guide us to insights about ourselves and others we might not have considered.
Mistletoe, like most herbs, has a variety of folk names. One is All Heal, referring to its long, historic role in providing protection and healing. It has been carried to prevent, or cure, plague. It also ensures safety from fires and lightning, and will bring about good luck and fortune. Some sources go so far as to suggest there are spells using mistletoe to help you obtain immortality!
If you see mistletoe this year, I suggest you abstain from kissing, but give some thought to attributes you might not have considered. We could all use a bit of protection and healing from the plague, and mistletoe, all heal, will serve us well.
You might want to use the same approach with friends and family. What gifts and talents have been hidden in others because they are over shadowed by a more dominant label? Holidays will be less hectic this year and we’ll have more time to hunt for previously unnoticed treasures. Are there people in your life who have gifts and talents you hadn’t noticed? Look beyond their most obvious talents and discover what you’ve been missing!
Have you discovered aspects in yourself that you have kept hidden? Do you have interests you’ve wanted to explore but haven’t taken the time to research or practice? You may have an affinity for music, but focused only on team sports. You might want to learn a language and study another culture so you’ll be ready to visit exotic lands when its safe to travel again. You might have considered writing a novel but never made the commitment to follow through. These long dark days of isolation can give us an opportunity to explore and develop new, or dormant, talents and skills.
Nature is filled with lessons. Being more aware of mistletoe’s role in lesser known virtues may guide us to insights about ourselves and others we might not have considered.
"My mission is
to help others see and cherish the beauty,
romance and treasures within and around them
that are often dismissed or completely overlooked."
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Mikell
Mikell is a writer, artist and professional treasure hunter, finding the greatest treasures in the wonderful people who enter her life!
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