Relaxing Herbs

I went to the garden, early in the morning, even though I got an accident on my foot the night before and my little toe is swollen, I used sandals with heels # 5, I never worked in the garden on that way, but those sandals were at least confortable to deal with the painful foot.

Plants for Relaxing Herbs planted today

* Lobelia - Lobelia inflata

It is called also Indian tobaco. This herb can be used to treat ashma, bronchitis. Its active ingredient 'lobeline' has similar action to nicotine, so it was used to many anti-smoking products. In 1993 the US Food and Drug Adminitration (FDA) prohibited the sale of anti-smoking products that contained lobeline. In homeopathy, lobelia is used alone or with other products for smoking cessation, muscle relaxation, nausea, vomiting, and various respiratory illnesses.

Parts used for medicinal purposes: leaves and seeds. (wrong choice, see next post!)

* Sweet Basil Ocimum basilicum -- grown by seed at home.

Restorative, warming, aromatic, mildly sedative herb that lowers fever, relaxes spasms, improves digestion and is effective against internal parasites and bacteria. It is also used in skin ointments for stress-induced skin complaints.

* Camomile - Matricaria recutita - Above seeds.

It is a well known herb as a sleep aid. The best part to aproach are the flowers. Also it can help relieve menstrual cramps and cold.

* Cayenne Pepper - Capisicum fructescens

One of the main uses is to treat high blood pressure is certainly one of its core uses,
Also, it promotes digestion; relieves pains of the womb; removes obstructed menstruation; for quinsy; for all diseases of the throat; use as a plaster with honey for rheumatic pains, pains of the joints, gout, swellings, etc. (wrong choice, see next post!)

* Lemon Verbena - Aloysia citrodora.

In Peru this herb is know as "Sedrón". My mother use to prepare as a drink after lunch.

Benefits: Lemon verbena has been used to treat fever, congestion, asthma, insomnia, intestinal problems, stress, and even depression. It is used to treat Candida (yeast overgrowth) as it has properties that help eliminate the fungus.

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More plants are coming ahead;

- Lavender

- Valerian

- And others that I need to coordinate with Sylvia.

The Plan for Relaxing Herbs

Vermont Master Gardeners Project in Ascutney Hospital in Windsor Vermont

Vermont Master Gardener Project in Ascutney Hospital in Windsor Vermont

TASKS FOR TODAY

* Choosing the spot for Relaxing Herbs. It looked like the above picture.

* Weeding and cleaning up the space

* I couldn't find the faucett to water that space. So I am planning to come back.

Secret Garden Tour, Corinth VT

On June 19 there was a tour to five private gardens to benefit Blake Memorial library in Corinth, VT. A 1:30 hr driving for home I met very cheerful ladies who helped me with the transportation to visit these five secret gardens.

Most of them are quite far away from the library and I am not familiar with these roads. The cost that I paid for it was $20. All these five families showed up their skills, their secrets. Every stop that we made with Judy, who was the driver, it was like you want to discover something no reveled were amazing, with lots of color, rhythm and structure.

I deeply felt in love with Wendy's garden (in this photo waving her hand). She doesn't only have such a gorgeous field surrounded by flowers, vegetables; she has horses, hens and geese plus she is an artist, working with glass.

Thanks to Wendy for the private tour to me to meet the inside of her house… you feel peace!

This solar clock was beside flowers of a Japaneese lady, what a great idea to check the time while gardening. It will be great for me, since I don't have control of the time. One weekend I spent seven hours, weeding, feeding, mulching, prunning, ahhh I didn't realize how long I spent my time there!

Starting a Project

My first day working in the project for Ascutney Hospital in Windsor VT as part of the Master Gardening 2010 internship. The Healing Garden project is based in medicinal herbs. The tasks for today was pruning, putting down some walkway cover, weeding. The day was rainy and we needed to move into a room where Sylvia Newberry gave a talk about Weeds vs Medicinal Plants. She talked about the ginger root and that reminds me about maca Lepidium meyenii. I have some maca roots with me and I've promised to make a refreshment for next meeting.