Pretty in Purple!

  Today, storms shook the Little Bayou House as they roared through the area.  High winds blasted from the southeast, changed to coming from the southwest, turned to being a north wind and are now back from the south. We caught it from all angles.  With the winds, came torrential rains complete with waterspouts dancing about the Bay.  All in all, it was a rough day weather wise but satisfying in a weird sort of way.  The weather did keep me indoors, though.

  Yesterday, however, was a different story.  Knowing that a storm was brewing to our west, I was busy trying to prepare.  The plants in the greenhouse needed watering, the fishing gear needed storing and the last of the squash seeds needed to be put into the ground.  So much to do...so little time!  After gathering the fishing gear from the pier, I noticed a rather interesting plant in the board path.  How could I not notice it?  It was a gorgeous purple and hairy!  Aha!  Lyreleaf Sage! I love this plant. It is one of those neat little herbs that grows wild yet should be in every garden.  There are just so many uses for it in herbal medicines and even on the supper table. (It can be used just as any other garden green.)  Lyreleaf Sage has milder flavor than other sages but still has all of the good properties of the others.  Sage is in the mint family and there are over 900 different types of sage!

  Sage leaves can be brewed to make a tisane that relieves sore throats and mouth ulcers.  Lyreleaf Sage works as well as the others.  This is one of those herbal home remedies that actually works.  Granted, you have to drink several cups of the tisane or gargle with it numerous times but it does relieve the pain and has no side effects.   This is my "go to" remedy for sore throats and I, personally, never have one longer than a few hours.  Warm sage tisane soothes the body as it treats the throat.   Sage, in general, is being studied as a possibly treatment for Alzheimer's Disease, as an aid in restoring memory, as a treatment for high cholesterol and controlling blood sugar.  Hopefully, these studies will find that the plant does indeed help in these areas.  

  As I was hustling back up the hillside and spotted the Lyreleaf Sage, I made a mental note to transplant this one into the herb garden as soon as the storm passes.  Besides being a helpful plant, the thing is just too pretty to be cut down by my lawnmower!