The Little Aster Holds a Secret...or Super-Powers of a Flower!

  Back in the day when my kids were small, my youngest always enjoyed playing video games and watching cartoons.  Most kids do and I, like most moms, occasionally needed to have a "babysitter".  When I was canning beans or making jelly, the kitchen needed to be free from little feet but those little feet needed to be in close range so I could still know their whereabouts.  The games were a sensible solution.  Still, I became aware of the effects of his game playing by a simple question he used to ask me all of the time.  "Mom, what is your super-power?"  I suppose characters on games have "super-powers" and he thought I should have the same.  I always responded that all my powers were "super" since I was a MOM!

  Anyway, now I find that plants can have super-powers as well. Without them, we would not even be able to breathe...sounds amazing but is true! Plants provide us with food and herbs can help heal.  Both of which, to my way of thinking, are pretty super!  Now I find that one one of my flowers has another super-power. The Stokes' Asters found in the creekbed are pretty, little plants but they hold a secret!  Not only do they have a lovely bloom that can knock the socks of those who happen upon them during a hike, the seeds of these plants are full of vernolic oil.  Wow!! Whoopee! Gee whiz!!  Yeah, right.  Just what in the world is vernolic oil and why is it so super?  Well, perhaps it is not so super but rather more interesting. This stuff is used in making epoxy which, in turn, can be used in making adhesives, paints, varnishes and some plastics. (No, I did not know it either!) Not that I promote the overuse of the production of a lot of these but, still, I find it interesting that a plant found in my creek has the ability to produce something this useful. Everyone needs a good glue now and again!

  Personally, I think the Stokes' Aster sole super power lies in its beauty. Think about it, most flowers can claim that super-power. Take a hike and find what other secrets the Stokes' Asters, roses, zinnias, petunias, marigolds (and any other flowers!) hold!  Oh, and while you are in the midst of all that beauty..relax!  It is a proven fact that taking a stroll through a lovely garden can lower blood pressure!!  Super-power! Flowers..the fighters of hypertension!