Lyre-leaf Sage....Bane or Blessing?

  Today being St. Patrick's Day, I decided to "go green".  No, I did not don the green shirt nor cutesy up myself with shamrocks.  Instead, I went outside to work in the garden.  That was green enough for me.   I am not being stuffy here about those who do participate in the traditions.  It was just the fact that there was not much reason to do anything since I was the only one to appreciate it.  I did, however, have a grand time working the plot of ground set aside as my vegetable garden.  The tomato plants are doing fine so there was little tending to do to them but the potatoes were in dire need of fertilizer and hilling.  Once that was done, I started hunting for any volunteer herbs that may be sprouting through the ground.  The oregano was already spilling out of the container and the purple basil had hundreds of tiny plants where seeds had fallen.  I was not lucky enough to find any sweet basil, fennel nor mint up yet.  Wait and see.  Wait and see. I will follow the advice of Son.

  I did find an entire patch of lyre-leaf sage in bloom and that made me happy.  Most folks will recognize this herb as the "weed growing on the side of the road".  It is not a weed, folks!  It is a medicinal herb!  The whole plant can be used.  The leaves have a slightly minty taste (sage is in the mint family, by the way) and can be added to salads and soups.  It is the root that is important to me, though.  That root has pulled me through one cold after another in the past.  The cleaned root made into a tisane is supremely helpful in calming a sore throat.  The tisane can be used as a tea or as a warm gargle.  A wee touch of honey makes the tisane even more delectable.

  I find it humorous that recently, the lyre leaf-sage (Salvia lyrata) can be found at plant nurseries.  For years, it was deemed to be a nuisance plant or weed.  People who desired the well manicured yard (which is actually a waste of land, in my humble opinion), dumped gallons of weed killer to eradicate the plant.  The lyre-leaf sage was adamant about staying and that created headaches for those who are compulsive about such things.  Everything in the book was thrown at the hardy little plant but it was all to no avail.  The plant survived, regardless.  I guess some folks now see this as a plant "they cannot kill" so there is a demand for it.
  
  On the Bayou, the lyre-leaf sage can grow where it wishes.  When it blooms, the place is dotted with blue.  Then, when the blooms fade, I simply mow over the plants.  The base leaves are a great ground cover that can take a beating and still look great.  It is also mighty handy to have that sore throat cure just outside the door.  Lyre-leaf sage...the plant that creates headaches for some but cures sore throats for others.  

Garden in the Wild

  Down behind the shed in the far corner of the property...right near the marsh edge, there is one spot that I leave growing to wild abandon.  It is here that there are a number of wildflowers that seem to spring up with each season.  Some, like the violets, bloom in early spring and are close to the ground.  Others like daisies and wild phlox tower on lanky stems and blow around with the Bay breezes.  Then, there are the skullcaps. This plant has a great tendency to lean to one side and wind up mostly on the ground.  Perhaps if I fertilized it, the plant would grow a sturdier stem and stand erect but, since this "garden" is one of wildflowers that seed themselves, I do little other than enjoy it.  

  The skullcaps are blooming now and have been for the past two months.  Their purple blossoms do not stand up well to the noonday heat.  It causes them to drop before their maturity.  Hopefully, enough blooms matured to seed stage early in spring so that the plant can reseed for next year.  Each bloom is a velvety soft purple cap that contrasts nicely with the green stalks and leaves.  It blends well with the Stokes' Asters that can often be found blooming next to it along the creek beds.  It seems that both plants love having soggy roots!

  Although skullcap is used as a medicinal herb, I have yet to try any. Supposedly, it can be used as a pain reliever, nervine and sleeping aid.  I am not sure just which of the many types of Scutellaria this is.  Some day, I might just get the urge to try a bit as a tisane....maybe.  When I am not positive of an identification, I am a bit leery.  Sipping a cup of tea made from just any plant is not the brightest idea.  I shall wait until a sure identity is made before drinking a cup but is sure is fun to know that there are so many different plants out that that offer possibilities!

Who would have thought???

Clover! White Clover, actually. The stuff that comes up in the lawn and is doused with weedkiller by so many. The stuff that is planted in fields for cattle to munch. The stuff that, as kids, we made into necklaces by looping the stems together. Yes, that white clover. I never have been one to worry that there might be weeds in my lawn, they are there for sure and for that matter they are in the gardens. White Clover seems to be everywhere! BUT..did you know that White Clover is actually another one of those often overlooked plants in our yards that is edible? The flowers and the leaves of this much maligned plant could very well wind up in dishes on my dinner table! The leaves are tastiest before the clover blooms and can be used in salads or soups and can even be cooked like spinach! The flowers and seed pods can be used in salads or dried to be used in rice dishes. They can also be infused in herbal teas and will give a "vanilla" taste to the tea. To make the tea, simply bring a cup of water to a boil and pour over about 1/4 cup of fresh White Clover leaves and flowers. You can include the seeds! If you use the dried plant to make the tea, use only about 2 teaspoons of the plant. After letting it steep for about five minutes, strain it and sweeten with honey! I am wondering if it would give the same "vanilla" taste in baked goods. I will have to try that!

This same clover is used often in herbal cures as it helps to cleanse the blood. It also is used as in tea form in the herbal treatment of bronchitis, arthritis, sinus problems and fever. A tincture can be made to be used topically in treating gout, boils and psoriasis. I cannot vouch for the healing abilities of White Clover in each of these cases, but it intrigues me to the point that I will try it if the need ever arises. I have masses of it! Now, I have a reason not to cut grass! Hmmm? Could work!

We had a wonderful breeze on the Bayou compliments of a wanna-be Tropical Depression. Again the day started with rain and progressed into scattered showers. In between these showers, I decided to do a little trimming with the weedeater. Yes..mine is electric so this was probably not the wisest of moves. The extension cord I was using had been repaired several times but seemed to be usable even though it kept falling out of the back of my weedwhacker! It would come unplugged..I would replug..it would come unplugged..I would replug. This went on for about an hour..then I was ELECTROCUTED! When I felt the cord fall, I automatically reached down with my left hand and grabbed it. BIG MISTAKE! Yep..the end of the cord was still in the weedeater Unbeknownst to me, it had not just come unplugged it had broken! My hand closed right on the two bare wires exposed on the end of the cord! OWWW! I let out a yell and tried to throw down the biting wire..I couldn't let go of it. My hand would not open! OWWW! Knowing I had to get it out of my hand, I stomped on it with my right foot..BIG MISTAKE!! True..the cord went flying but so did I. I lost my balance and fell backward. OWWW! I felt a sharp stab in the back of my left leg just below my knee. When I had tried to catch my balance, I had fallen right into the Kumquat tree. Now this is a seedling Kumquat not the cultivar from the plant nursery. Seedling Kumquats (those grown from seeds at home) are usually covered with wonderfully sharp thorns that are almost three inches long. Yep..you guessed it..I had literally "nailed" my jeans to the back of my leg. Not a happy thing at all. So ended my trimming for the day. I had been electrocuted and stabbed and I think that is enough for one day. Tonight, my leg has a nice knot on the back of it where the thorn pierced in about an inch deep and my left arm is sore all the way to the shoulder. I also have a lovely tingling feeling pulsating through my fingers of my left hand but things could have been worse, I suppose. I think tomorrow if I do any yardwork, it will not involve broken extension cords and tonight..I think I will have a cup of White Clover tea to see if it might help!