Little Miss

From cute to coy.... in a few simple moves.

Coy by definition: marked by cute,

coquettish, or artful playfulness

MOLE PLANT

Euphorbia lathyrus, commonly know as the Mole Plant is a biennial (two year plant). This picture shows a small forest of the mole plant in its first year of growth.
The following photos show the second year growth of this milkweed cousin. Allegedly, the roots give off an enzyme that repels moles within a large diameter. We don't have moles so perhaps it is working. It has a spiky look to it, almost prehistoric. The round balls on the plant are the seed pods
beginning to ripen and drop to seed for next year.

Through the door...

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead

where there is no path and leave a trail."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Step Back in Time

We bid thee kindly welcome!
We celebrated the Medieval era last night as we hosted a 14th century multi-course feast in the tea room. The menu, served on trenchers (hollowed out thick slices of bread utilized as plates), consisted of Dilled Veal Balls, Cabbage Chowder, Golden Leeks and Onions, Puree of Peas, Baked Herbed Eggs, Mixed Pickles, Chicken and Rice with Almonds, Boiled Garlic, Mushrooms and Leeks, Pumpkin Bread with Lemon Curd, Hermits, Circlets, and Mulled Cider.
The Lords and Ladies in attendance received a brief touch on the etiquette of the era before the meal (share the 'messe' courteously, don't drink from a shared cup with your mouth full, don't pick your teeth with your knife, nor wipe your mouth on the tablecloth, do not gnaw bones, or tear meat to bits with your teeth or fingers, no belching or spitting please). In addition, the King's wash basin water was sampled to confirm that no one had attempted to poisoned him, the meal served, and a sampling of fresh figs from our fig tree preceded the presentation on the fascinating lore and history of herbs utilized in foods, medicines, as poisons or amulets.
Fare thee well.

Chicle/Chewing Gum

One of our recent after school activities was to be "Chicleros". Using the sap of the Sapodilla tree we made our own chewing gum. The sap is called Chicle. The Sapodilla trees grow in the rain forest and the sap is tapped out of the tree annually for 4 or 5 years.

To make our sticky mess we melted chicle and added corn syrup, confectioners sugar and tutti frutti flavoring.

We continued to work in the confectioners sugar and flavoring until we could roll it out and then cut it into chicklet size gum squares to be enjoyed by all. Most gum today is made by synthetic gum bases and other chemicals so this chewing gum kit was a clever glimpse into the past and fun way to help the rainforest.

A Sense of Fall

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Talk Like A Pirate Day

Aaaargh maties..... be it known that yer 19th day of Septemberr marketh International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Aye, 'tis true! Shiver me timbers, 'tis a day to celebrate! Peg Leg, Old Salt, Hook, Crow's Nest, and Captain Jack took sail this August past whilst a few lily-livered landlubbers stayed ashore.

The scurrrvy lot later celebrated with a bountiful feast where yer manners be cast aside. Yo, ho, ho - that be their favorite dinner! AAARGH!

In Bloom in the Garden - Passion Flower

Whoo Hoo! We are so excited to finally have a happy and perennial passion flower in our garden. It has taken us several tries in several different locations but our efforts have been rewarded.

It is native to the Americas and the early Spanish explorers were overcome by its glory. Our native American Indians used the passion flower as a nerve tonic and sedative, one that is remarkably effective. For centuries it has been used for insomnia, neuralgia and epilepsy.

The fruit of the passion flower, passion fruit, is being used in more and more beverages. While our passion flower has several large fruit on it, I am not sure they will ripen in time for us to try and use them.

This exotic native is also a world wide symbol of Christ's Passion. Emblematic of faith and piety, the mystical Passion Flower repeats the drama of Easter in its stunning waxen blossom. for example: the five petals and five sepals are said to represent the ten apostles (excluding Judas and Peter, the doubtful one), the three parted leaves symbolize the Holy Trinity, the three stigmas are said to look like the three nails and on and on the symbolism continues. The double corona of 72 purple filaments which form an exquisite fringe within the flower are representative of the crown of thorns. Of course the lavender and purple colors of the passion flowers are the colors traditionally associated with Lent and Easter.
Gorgeous, Medicinal, Edible, and Symbolic - what a joy it is to have this herb in our garden!

In Bloom in the Garden - Garlic Chives

Allium tuberosum or Garlic Chives are providing a wonderful place for the bees to feast right now. These lovely white flowers are delicately garlic flavored and are delicious used in salads. We also use the flat leaves all year round in salads and vegetable dishes. A hearty perennial we will be sure to cut back these flowers before they can set seed. Neither a garlic nor chives this plant is indeed an allium with a garlic flavor and it looks like chives so it is well named. We love to add garlic chives to our herbal vinegar. Simply stuff a mayonnaise jar full of garlic chives leaves and flowers too. It doesn't have to be packed tight but it must be kind of full. Then pour vinegar on top of it, you can use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar. Label. Let it sit for 2 weeks and then strain. Use to flavor pickled beans or with a bit of oil as a salad dressing. It has a terrific flavor.

Gardening

Gardening requires lots of water -

most of it in the form of perspiration.~Lou Erickson

Sneak Peak!

Here's a peak at some of our Mother's original watercolors that will be available at our upcoming Art Auction Benefit the end of this week. There will be many local featured artists (oil stretched canvases, ready to mat or framed original drawing, watercolors and more) in addition to Mom's work. For those of you unable to attend our benefit, to be held in Sweet Remembrances Tea Room on Friday Sept. 19th and Saturday Sept. 20th, we have posted some of Bertha Reppert's watercolors that you may bid on during this week! All the proceeds from this sale will be placed into The Bertha and Byron L. Reppert Scholarship Fund which annually benefits two local high school students that demonstrate an interest in political science, horticulture, business, or journalism.

Tea Cups

"There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea."
~Bernard-Paul Heroux