Friday, May 17, 2013

Plant Sale Prep on 5/17/13!

Do we Master Gardeners know how to have fun or what???

Thursday and Friday devoted to preparing for the plant sale - Mission Completed!









Everything is ready; all we need is customers!







Oh and did I mention we worked lunch into the process too?  Thanks Peg!



See you tomorrow: May 18th, 9AM to 1 PM!!!!


Herb Class - 5/14/13

Herb Class on Tuesday 5/14/13 - attended by about 20 interested herb-ers in the Barn.

Linda S starts out with an explanation of preparing an herb garden:
















Followed by Carol K on the history and use of herbs:


And then following a tour of the new revised updated and raised-bed herb garden... we all got some herb-ed snacks:


And then some practical hands-on herb use and smelling, harvesting, drying and preserving with Barb P and Maria G:


And then lots of questions and discussions...


Thanks for joining us!


Vegetable Plant Sale on 5/10!

Vegetable plant sale on Friday 5/10:
















Checking out the tomatoes...


















Mother's Day Gift Table...


















More tomatoes....






















And a couple ducks shopping for a bit...






















More happy growers and customers!





















And don't forget to pay before you leave!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Herbs in Religion and the Bible

On May 8, I gave a presentation at Roxbury United Methodist Church in response to a speaker's bureau request. The Salt & Pepper Club meets monthly. They did not have any specific topic in mind. With my audience in mind, I researched and prepared a presentation highlighting eight herbs associated with religion and the Bible. Here is information about these plants.


Costmary
COSTMARY (Tanacetum balsamita)
Costmary may refer to the Virgin Mary and it is often referred to as the bible herb.  Dried costmary leaves were used in medieval times as a place marker in bibles as they make a neat, fragrant bookmark. The scent may help with alertness as well as deter silverfish.

If you want to put a leaf in the family Bible, be sure to dry it first as it may stain the pages if fresh.
Other names are alecost (used to flavor wine and ale), allspice (scent like allspice) and sweet tongue (refers to sweet scent and leaf shape.)


Rosemary
ROSEMARY
(Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary, a symbol of fidelity and remembrance, was used in Christian wedding and funeral ceremonies.

For a time it was believed the rosemary plant would never grow higher than 6 feet in 33 years so as not to stand taller than Christ.
Another story tells that the flowers were originally white, but changed to blue when the Virgin Mary hung her cloak on the bush while fleeing from Herod’s soldiers with the Christ child.

Passion Flower

PASSIONFLOWER (Passiflora incarnate)

The name honors the Passion of Christ and the flower is seen to symbolize implements of the crucifixion. The three spreading styles on the stigma represent the 3 nails of the cross while the five anthers recall the Christ’s five wounds. The fringe-like corona may symbolize a halo or crown of thorns.

Other names are maypop, purple passionflower, wild apricot, and wild passion vine, and Holy-Trinity flower.
 
Wormwood
WORMWOOD
(Artemisia absinthium)

Wormwood is mentioned in the Bible, always for bitterness. According to legend, wormwood grew up in the trail left by the serpent’s tail as it slithered out of the Garden of Eden.

Wormwood is the active ingredient in the alcoholic drink absinthe. It is  illegal in many countries today as a drink but is still used as flavoring in vermouth.

Rue

RUE (Ruta graveolens)

Rue's scientific name comes from the Greek "reuo," to set free. It has long been the symbol of repentance and sorrow. It may have earned the nickname "herb of grace" for God's grace given after repenting one's sins.
 
Brushes made from rue were once used to sprinkle holy water at the ceremony preceding High Mass in Catholic Churches.
 
Hyssop
HYSSOP (Sorghum vulgare)
Hyssop was used to cleanse the temples and other sacred places. In Psalms 51:7 David says, " Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
It is thought that when Jesus hung on the cross the soldiers stuck a sponge soaked in wine on some hyssop and raised it to his lips.
 
Coriander Seed & Cilantro Leaf
 
CORIANDER
(Coriandrum sativum)
Coriander is the seeds from the cilantro plant - cilantro is the Spanish word for coriander.
This herb was introduced to the Israelites in Egypt. Mentioned in Exodus 16:31, it is believed that when they saw manna in the wilderness, it reminded them of the white seeds of the coriander plant. Seeds have been found in ruins dating back to 5000 B.C.
Fennel Seed
 
FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare)
Fennel seeds were often carried to church in small pouches and eaten to ward of hunger during long sermons and thus gained the nickname meeting seeds.
Fennel seeds and syrup are often used to calm the stomach, perhaps making meeting a little quieter.
Dill Seeds
DILL (AntheAnethum graveolens
Seeds of this plant are also meeting seeds

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Buds and Blooms - Part 4


Jerry - apparently that obsession you have is shared by others. 

Crabapple Blossoms in MG Cindy Stead's Garden
And what a magnificant obsession it is!

Clematis Guernsey Cream in MG Cindy Stead's Garden

2013 Herb Gardening Workshop

 





Are you thinking of starting your own herb garden, but don’t know how to proceed?


Join Master Gardeners Carol Kagan, Barbara Petrucci, and the rest of the Herb Team for this basic how-to workshop on planning, planting & using herbs.
 
  • Areas covered will include:
  • Preparing the soil
  • Choosing a variety
  • Growing healthy plants
  • Harvesting & Storage
  • Ways to use your herbs


Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at the Master Gardener Clubhouse on the north side of the barn from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  Cost is $10.00 per person.
 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Variegated Solomon's Seal - Part 3 - May 2-6, 2013



Closeup - Taken May 6, 2013
MG Cindy Stead's Garden

Some more pictures from MG Cindy Stead's garden on the 2013 Perennial of the Year, Variegated Solomon's Seal.

Variegated Solomon Seal along with 2012 Perennial of the year - Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' in MG Cindy Stead's Garden

May 6, 2012


Their arching stems and dangling, bell shaped flowers, make them an excellent back drop to your shade garden.

May 2, 2013



May 6, 2013


See how they looked just emerging on April 23 here.

Master Gardeners expect to have several specimens at our annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 18th.

Here's a plant sale plant preview.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Harvest 4-Health 2013 Spring Prep


MG Bill Dorman Plants Potatoes with MG Mike Kusko




The 2013 Harvest 4-Health season got underway Tuesday, April 30th, and Thursday, May 2, with some cleanup/prep work, and some planting.







Potatoes are in.  Some cabbages, Swiss Chard and Arugula were also planted.



MG's Bill Dorman and Mike Kusko with Thinned Strawberry Plants


The strawberry plants had taken over two beds, so they were thinned and crowns given to grateful volunteer teachers and maintenance folks from the school.


MG Judy Scriptunas
MG's Judy Scriptunas, and Ruth Coe (taking the pictures) were also there, as part of the team.