"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."
-- Aristotle
-- Aristotle
NC Unit, Herb Society of America, Inc.
2024 - 2025 Program Schedule
PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR 2025-2026 WILL BE POSTED IN AUGUST 2025
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Moving Into Summer.....
Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa. c.ElaineC.
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Beautiful Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa, with a visit from two equally beautiful Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies. Though a gorgeous native herb, used by more than a dozen Native Tribes for medicinal purposes, there are toxic qualities involved, including cardiac glycosides. It is better, even if using only topically, to test a patch on your skin before trying it. Uses included for breast, stomach, and intestinal pain; as an expectant for lung infections; for rheumatism; as an orthopedic aid; fresh and dried root on wounds and sores; and bruised leaves used in a poultice for snakebites. There have been a few recorded uses for human consumption, primarily for medicinal purposes. The toxic qualities make it unsafe for humans and many animals, including cows. The brilliant flower color can be spotted from distances away, and it provides a safe resting place for the Great Spangled butterflies, which can almost disappear in the flower. Monarchs, too, are attracted to the plants. It is often seen in meadows, along roadsides, and in power line rights-of-way. NC Unit member Elaine C. has it growing happily in her garden. You can find plants in some local nurseries, and seeds are available at various online sources. |
I MEANT to do my work to-day -
But a brown bird sang in the apple-tree
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.
And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand -
So what could I do but laugh and go?
Richard le Gallienn (1866 - 1947)
Seeing SPRING in our Native Herbs.....
Viola sororia,
c. K.Schlosser
Viola pubescens var. scabriusculas,
smooth-leaved yellow violets
There are a number of reports that the yellow flowers, when consumed, can cause digestive upset. Just to be safe, use the blue, purple, and striped violets for recipes.
Only V. odorata, non-native but naturalized in some areas, have the elusive sweet fragrance. The odor continues to exist, but ionones in the flower tend to shut down our olfactory system. |
Viola soraria, common blue violet
Often considered a weed that must be pulled up from lawns and gardens, this sweet little plant offers much to our lives. Every time I walk out the door in March and April, I smile and say hello to these happy little plants. They ask nothing of us, and offer much. They were used in traditional medicine for their purported ability to treat colds and coughs, headaches, sinus infections, skin problems, and many diseases. Extracts of the plants have been used in flavoring foods, the leaves and flowers make a lovely tea, and the flowers frozen in ice cubes brighten up any beverage. Some gardeners suggest that violets keep aphids and Japanese beeltes away. There are 500-600 species worldwide, about 120 species native to the U.S. and likely another hundred naturalized species, including V. odorata, the one with a sweet fragrance. New in my garden this year is a smooth (as opposed to downy) yellow violet. It must have been brought by birds, as there is one in the back yard and one in the front yard. We will see what they bring next spring! Old Fashioned Violet Syrup 1 ½ cups water 1 ½ cups pure cane sugar ½ cup tightly packed fresh violets (pick out the green parts and rinse) Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly. When sugar has completely dissolved, remove pan from heat and toss it the prepared violets. Lightly bruise the flowers against the side of the pan with back of spoon. Cover pan with a tea towel and let stand on the couinter overnight. Strain out the flowers into a cotton cloth and squeeze them to extract their essence into the syrup. Discard the flowers and pour the syrup into clean, sterilized glass jar. You can keep this in the refrigerator 2 or 3 weeks or frozen for up to 1 year. Use it in tea, lemonade (will make a pinkish lemonade), or as part of a marinade for grilled salmon. |
Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis. One of the earliest to bloom in Spring.
Yellow trout lily, Erythronium americanum
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Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis
One of the earliest of native herbs here in the southern edge of the MidAtlantic states is Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis. Pure white petals on a flower cradled in the arms of fuzzy green leaves begin to open even in the snow. Admittedly, the sun could be a little warmer, but these plants brave the cold with joy. Once used widely in dental care products--does anyone remember Viadent-- it has lost favor since 2000. It has a history of many medicinal uses, and the rhizomes were used as a ceremonial red/orange dye. Trout lilies, Erythronium americanum Named for the "fish like" appearance of the mottled leaves, and a similar appearance of the flowers to the much larger Turk's Cap lilies, these sweet little plants emerge here shortly after the Bloodroots make their appearance. They are another plant that makes you happy to walk outside and greet them. There has been some who have used the leaves to make tea, but many who drink that tea, or consume the leaves or flowers experience almost immediate vomiting. It's best to simply enjoy them as a part of your Spring garden array. There have also been a few medicinal uses, but I wouldn't try it without having a doctor who knows plants nearby. There is plenty of information on Google and such, but just enjoy the flowers and let them stay in your garden if you are lucky enough to find one. They will spread slowly given a little time. |
My Garden of Dreams, Abram Linwood Urban, 1913
He [gardener] must be able to
discern the spirit of beauty in nature, revealed
only to the poet's finer sight, and give it form
in the life of the garden. He must enable the
imagination to discern something of the ideal
beauty.
A poetical garden is not, we must be sure, a
mere show-garden, but a garden poetical in
spirit and effect . It is much a matter of " atmosphere."
He who would make such a garden
must have his vision of things spiritual and
lovely. With that and skill to give it form he
will make it a place where one can sit and
dream, for "The poetry of earth is never dead." [Keats]
He [gardener] must be able to
discern the spirit of beauty in nature, revealed
only to the poet's finer sight, and give it form
in the life of the garden. He must enable the
imagination to discern something of the ideal
beauty.
A poetical garden is not, we must be sure, a
mere show-garden, but a garden poetical in
spirit and effect . It is much a matter of " atmosphere."
He who would make such a garden
must have his vision of things spiritual and
lovely. With that and skill to give it form he
will make it a place where one can sit and
dream, for "The poetry of earth is never dead." [Keats]
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