Floriography and Butterfly Pea Tea

   As a birthday gift, my daughter and son-in-law gave me some herbal teas and a lovely book on flowers.  They know me well.  I love to learn about plants and also love trying new teas.  So far, I have tried one.  It seems that I cannot get enough of this stuff!  She and I had discussed butterfly pea tea in the past but have never had any to try.  So...now I do!  The good thing about this tea is that it blends well with so many other things.  The pretty thing about this tea is the color....it is blue!  (Well, sort of teal blue.)  The interesting thing about butterfly pea tea is it changes color with the addition of lemon juice!  (Yes, they bought me two fresh lemons to go with my teas!)  While most articles on the tea say it changes from blue to pink with the addition of the lemon juice, mine changed from teal to violet...which I liked better since those are two favorite colors.  The deep jewel-tone colors are striking! 

  The book is on "floriography" which is considered to be the language of flowers. It delves into the symbolism of different blooms and even their colors.  The book tells how to communicate certain emotions through gifting flowers.  You can tell others how you adore them or even how you are not fond of them simply through the type and color of blooms you send.  Interesting!  I will have to keep track of any flowers I receive so I will be fully aware of the intentions behind the bouquet!

  For the past few days since my birthday, I have spent the evenings with the book and tea.  There is something comforting about this routine and I feel quite Victorian sitting on my antique settee, sipping a cup of violet-colored tea while reading my book on "Floriography".  I still say I was born in the wrong era and it appears that my daughter and son-in-law understand this.  Not everyone does.

Stop and smell the roses...rose geraniums!

   In early March, my sweet daughter and son-in-law were thoughtful enough to remember my birthday with a gift of plants.  They and Son were about the only ones to remember the day and both gifts were gardening essentials...plants and a new rose arbor.  What wonderful gifts!  The arbor was something that was sorely needed since termites and hurricanes ruined the existing ones and, well, the plants are ones that I have been longing to have...rose geraniums. 

  I now have two large pots filled with the rose geraniums on either side of the front steps.  This is where I often drink my first mug of coffee so I am able to enjoy the beauty (and delightful scent) before I start my day's chores.  Speaking of the scent, it is said that the heavily scented leaves of the rose geranium have many healthy attributes.  One of those interested me extensively.  Supposedly, just smelling the leaves promotes cognition.  For those not growing the plants, the use of rose geranium oil provides the same.  I figure at my age, I can use all the help I can get!  So, each morning, I sit sipping coffee and sniffing the geraniums!  Oh, what the neighbors must think!  Even if this is not helping the brain, the scent is invigorating enough to get me up and busy! 

  

The Forgotten Day

   Once again, Son came through for me.  With the scourge (of termites) that has taken over the entire Gulf Coast, wooden things do not stand a chance...even "treated" wooden things.  My rose arbors fell to the mighty bugs.  I, along with the rose bushes, was devastated!  My beautiful rose garden had fallen to shambles.  Then one thing or another got in the way of repairs.  You know...things like hurricanes, health and life in general.  Each time I walked through that section of the Small Gardens, I was saddened.  I tried to support the rose canes with hogwire cages but it was not the same as the beautiful arbors.

  Early in March, my birthday came and went. Other than my sister, my brother and his girlfriend and one cousin, nary a birthday wish came my way.  Most everyone simply forgot or simply do not care.  Most everyone except my daughter and son-in-law who thought to get flowers...not the florist type that die quickly but geranium plants.  I am elated! They know I love my gardens.  I am excited to have a new challenge as I have never grown rose geraniums before. Then, Son, too, did a gardening thing.  He built a new arbor!  He asked what type I would like and I told him that I would leave the design up to him.  I am now a happy camper with my new arbor for the rose bushes and some rose geraniums for the herb shelf.  

  With kiddos like this, I have no reason to be sad about growing older.  They do indeed try to keep things cheerful and I so appreciate them.  I can reclaim my title of Queen of the Small Gardens and amble through the Rose Garden and Herb Garden with pure glee.  Now, you will have to pardon me while I go train the roses to cover the arbor and tend to my geraniums.  

Yellow or White?

  By this time, most folks are familiar with the pungent yellow spice, turmeric.  Not only is it the main spice used in curry, it has been touted as having a great many health benefits. Personally, it has been one of my all time favorites for the past twenty or so years. I have used it to treat everything from colds to venomous spider bites.  It is good stuff.  Folks, if by now, you do not have this in your spice rack, you are behind the times.

  While the yellow type turmeric (photo above) is well known and widely used, its relative, the white turmeric or white haldi is not nearly so popular.  In fact, not many folks have any idea there is such a thing.  There is.  It is good. Perhaps you should try it as well.  White haldi is said to have the aroma sort of like the blend of mango, ginger and turmeric.  It, too, has many beneficial traits.  White haldi can be used exactly as the yellow spice which may lead you to wonder why in the world I am giving all of this information about it.  Well, it is simple.  White haldi is super easy to grow!  The yellow is, too.  

  Darling Daughter has a plethora of the white haldi plants in her yard.  When she and my handsome son-in-law bought their place, the previous owners had a few leafy plants in a garden.  The next spring, dozens of the plants sprouted and flourished.  Ok, so now the garden was full of these fine broad-leafed plants.  Then, they bloomed.  Oh, what gorgeous blooms those were!  That led to her researching the plants and she found that they were white haldi.  The blooms are unmistakable!  Now, several years down the line, they are having to dig out plants each spring as the rhizomes keep multiplying.  So...what do they do?  They bring a bunch here.  I am elated to have yet another fine herb to add to my garden of healing wonders.  

  This afternoon, I made my way to the edge of the greenhouse which is the outer boundaries of my realm these days.  There, the Queen of the Small Gardens found that the white haldi is blooming!  I almost missed these lovely, pinkish blossoms as they were hidden among the broad leaves!  Well, having the white turmeric bloom must mean that the yellow should be doing the same or so I thought.  Nope.  The yellow is growing well but has nary a bud to show yet.  I shall have to keep watch but for now, I shall enjoy the blooms (and the benefits) of the white haldi!  Folks, see if you can find a start of these plants.  Both are gorgeous, have lovely blooms and can be added to the kitchen spice racks!