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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.
 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!   Magnolia grandifolia
Gender: Feminine Element: Earth Planet: Venus  Salvia officinalis Gender: Masculine Element: Air Planet: Jupiter The sage is ready to harvest so I've been making Sage Bundles. Sage and other herbs, such as red cedar, have been burned by cultures and tribes through out the world for thousands of years. Sage is most often associated with Native American Indians, yet not all tribes participate and the uses may vary, or even be taboo, depending on the time of the year and the tribe's beliefs. |
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Once the herbs are harvested, spread them out on cloth or paper to dry for 24 hours to begin the drying process. I use burlap but newspaper, brown paper or muslin will work. Turn them over several times to begin the drying process
Divide herbs into bundles. Measure pieces of natural colored twine or string 5 or 6 times the length of your bundles. Place the stem end of the sage over the center of the twine and tie a knot, wrapping several times. Cross the string in x patterns as you work up the bundle toward the top of the leaves. Tie securely. Trim the stem ends. Hang the bundles in a dark, dry area and allow to dry thoroughly, about 4 to 6 weeks. When mine are dry, I'll post on additional benefits and how to use them.
Primula veris
Gender: Feminine
Element: Water
Planet: Venus
Gender: Feminine
Element: Water
Planet: Venus
The cowslip, herb of Venus, always reminds me of my Dad. He taught me many valuable lessons over the years - this one was humility and a new respect for his wide range of knowledge.
In fifth grade we were formally introduced to poetry writing! I was thrilled, and shared one of my poems with my Dad. He praised the originality, but then noted my “iambic pentameter was off”. I was insulted, and not entirely convinced that he would recognize great poetry if he saw it!
After an extensive search I found an obscure (I thought!) poem by the master, William Shakespeare. I copied it – omitting Bill’s name – and handed it to him. He adjusted his glasses, began to read out loud – "Where the bee sucks, there suck I” . . . A smile crept across his face and he handed the paper back to me, removed his glasses and without pause continued - “ in a cowslip’s bell I lie . . .” and finished reciting the entire sonnet by memory.
Busted! Maybe in addition to being a calculus professor, he had learned a little about poetry. When I see cowslips, I'm reminded to be humble and not to underestimate the talents of others.
In fifth grade we were formally introduced to poetry writing! I was thrilled, and shared one of my poems with my Dad. He praised the originality, but then noted my “iambic pentameter was off”. I was insulted, and not entirely convinced that he would recognize great poetry if he saw it!
After an extensive search I found an obscure (I thought!) poem by the master, William Shakespeare. I copied it – omitting Bill’s name – and handed it to him. He adjusted his glasses, began to read out loud – "Where the bee sucks, there suck I” . . . A smile crept across his face and he handed the paper back to me, removed his glasses and without pause continued - “ in a cowslip’s bell I lie . . .” and finished reciting the entire sonnet by memory.
Busted! Maybe in addition to being a calculus professor, he had learned a little about poetry. When I see cowslips, I'm reminded to be humble and not to underestimate the talents of others.
Memorial Day 2012 was the most meaningful and memorable Memorial Day I've ever spent.
We joined hundreds of volunteers to carry an enormous flag out onto the beach at Ocean City, Maryland. Those of us on the outside are visible but many more are underneath, ensuring that the flag would not touch the sand.
The flag measured 45,000 square feet and weighed 850 pounds: the seamstress in me kept wondering where and how such an enormous flag could have been pieced. Betsy Ross would have been stunned! You can get a sense of the size of the stars from the picture on the bottom right.
There was a reverence and strong sense of pride and gratitude as we carried the flag onto the beach. I thought of my grandfather who fought in World War I, and my dad who fought in the Korean War and World War II. There was a mix of civilians, and veterans from every branch of the service, some distinguishable by their t-shirts, and a few by their tattoos.
Kudos to Ocean City, Maryland for hosting such a dramatic and heart felt tribute in memory of those who fought to ensure that we can live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. God bless America!
We joined hundreds of volunteers to carry an enormous flag out onto the beach at Ocean City, Maryland. Those of us on the outside are visible but many more are underneath, ensuring that the flag would not touch the sand.
The flag measured 45,000 square feet and weighed 850 pounds: the seamstress in me kept wondering where and how such an enormous flag could have been pieced. Betsy Ross would have been stunned! You can get a sense of the size of the stars from the picture on the bottom right.
There was a reverence and strong sense of pride and gratitude as we carried the flag onto the beach. I thought of my grandfather who fought in World War I, and my dad who fought in the Korean War and World War II. There was a mix of civilians, and veterans from every branch of the service, some distinguishable by their t-shirts, and a few by their tattoos.
Kudos to Ocean City, Maryland for hosting such a dramatic and heart felt tribute in memory of those who fought to ensure that we can live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. God bless America!
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Chive blossom vinegar is a favorite and so easy to make!
You’ll need:
You’ll need:
- Chive blossoms
- A good quality white wine vinegar
- Collect chive blossoms, place in a colander. Wash gently, drain and dry the blossoms on a linen or paper towel.
- Put blossoms in a glass or ceramic bowl or jar. I have a large glass measuring cup with a spout that is ideal.
- Heat vinegar until warm but don’t allow it to boil. Pour over the blossoms.
- Let the blossoms marinate in a dark place for 24 to 48 hours.
- Sterilize the wine bottle.
- Strain the vinegar from the blossoms and pour the vinegar into the sterilized wine bottle.
- Store in a dark cabinet.
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Podophyllum peltatum
Nopodophyllum canadense morini
genus meaning ‘duck’s foot leaf'
Poison
Gender: Masculine
Element: Fire
Planet: Mercury
Nopodophyllum canadense morini
genus meaning ‘duck’s foot leaf'
Poison
Gender: Masculine
Element: Fire
Planet: Mercury
Folk Names: American mandrake, Duck’s Foot, Hog Apple, Raccoon Berry, Ground Lemon, Wild Lemon
Cypripedium acaule
acaule - Latin meaning, stemless
Gender: Feminine
Element: Water[
Planet: Venus
acaule - Latin meaning, stemless
Gender: Feminine
Element: Water[
Planet: Venus
"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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