Making the world a little greener with our spare thyme.
The Sage Page
The Cumberland Herb Association
June 2013
Let us know if you’ll be there Wednesday so we’ll know how much lavender to bring.
NEW WEEKDAY!!! Wednesday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. will be our next meeting at the Miniature Cottage located at 410 E. Iris near 100 Oaks in Nashville. This month we will be making the much anticipated lavender wands! I have been waiting to make these since I joined the group in 2010. Yay!
Photo by: Sharon Eden
CHA Newsletter Editor -Michelle Murakami 445-8749 (kitvroom@yahoo.com) If you have any information to include in the newsletter, please contact the editor by the first week of the month
Dandelion - (Taraxacum)
l e s t o s g i t n s fragile c li t i How
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As a beneficial weed, Dandelion has a wide range of uses. It’s a good companion plant for gardening. Its taproot will bring up nutrients for more shallow-rooting plants, add minerals and nitrogen to soil & is known to attract pollinating insects & release ethylene gas which helps fruit to ripen. Taraxacum seeds are an important food source for certain birds, and the flowers are an important source of nectar for bees and butterflies. As a food source, the leaves and yellow flowerets can be used in salads or stir fried. The leaves can be blanched to remove bitterness. The flowers have been found to contain flavanoids which is the same antioxidant found in red wine and green tea. The leaves contain plenty of beta-carotene which is the most common source of vitamin A. They also contain vitamins C & E. (vitamin A is essential for healthy eyes - helps with low light vision and relief for dry eyes, but is also important for healthy teeth, skeletal tissue, soft tissue, the skin, and mucous membranes.) Dandelion leaves & roots cleanse the liver, treat problems such as diabetes, acne, cancer, anemia, high blood pressure, gall bladder issues & urinary disorders. It’s a natural diuretic removing excess toxins & water from your body, which purifies the
i-phone Photo by: Michelle
blood, helping to cleanse the entire urinary tract and naturally lowers blood pressure. Dandelion helps the body to produce insulin & control blood sugar.
Please be sure your dandelion source is free of herbicides and pesticides before consuming. http://blog.doctoroz.com/oz-experts/herb-of-the-month-dandelion http://www.medicalnewstoday.com http://www.wikipedia.com
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Protecting Your Plants Sans-Pesticides ( http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/organic-gardening-tips-460309?click=main_sr#slide-8 )
The first line of defense is making sure your soil and plants have plenty of nutrients and moisture. A diverse garden helps prevent pests, by limiting the amount of one type of plant offered up to enemies, and boosting biodiversity. Foster natural predators in your garden, such as frogs, toads, lizards, birds, & bats. Beneficial insects can be your best friends, especially lady bugs Leave a small source of water out to attract friendly predators. It’s also a good idea to grow plants
with small blossoms, such as sweet alyssum & dill, to attract predatory insects. It may sound surprising, but homeowners use more pesticides on their lawns and gardens than farmers do, acre for acre, according to EPA data. Organic weapons include Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacteria that disrupts the digestion of caterpillars and other leaf-eaters. You can also use horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps and garlic and/or hot pepper sprays.
Dandelion and Watercress Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette INGREDIENTS: 1 bunch of young dandelion leaves, thicker stems removed. 2 cups watercress, thicker stems removed. 3 red radishes sliced thinly 1/2 cup cubed cucumber 1/2 teas. orange zest 1 Tbs. orange juice 1 Tbs. lemon juice 1 Tbs. sherry vinegar Pinch of salt
Pinch of freshly ground pepper 1/3 cup olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 2 teaspoons chives finely chopped INSTRUCTIONS: Combine greens and vegetables in large bowl. Vinaigrette: combine citruses, vinegar, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Stir in garlic and chives. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad and toss to coat.
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May’s meeting with bouquet’s meaningful messages. This was Sharon’s bouquet with Sage, Lamb’s Ear, Rose (pink and yellow), Honeysuckle, Peony, Artemesia, Thyme, Fennel, Love in a Mist, Hosta and Rosemary. (I hope I named them all) and the message that this bouquet conveys is beautiful and poetic.
I blush from
bashfulness and can hardly find
the courage at your generous devoted
affection, usefulness, and domestic virtue.
Although I’m somewhat
perplexed by your distrust, my fascination for
you is worthy of all praise and yet; I do love you. I know that I am worthy of you and I will always remember you.
The miracles of nature do not seem miracles because they are so common. If no one had ever seen a flower, even a dandelion would be the most startling event in the world.~ unknown