St. Nicholas and Secret Santa at the MG Holiday Gala!

St. Nicholas was a rich and famous Bishop in the early days of the Christian church and became one of the most beloved saints ever. He is the patron saint of children, especially school boys, of poor maidens, of sailors, of travelers and merchants, as a protector against thieves and robbers, his name was constantly used in prayers of Christian people. Nicholas was born in Asia Minor. He was dedicated at an early age to the church. After his ordination as a priest, his parents died of the plague leaving him with a vast fortune which he used for charitable works. He was remembered as a giver of gifts at Christmas time.

He is especially revered in Holland. On December 5th, St. Nicholas Eve or December 6th, St. Nicholas Day, children placed wooden shoes on the doorsteps in the hope that the good Bishop would reward them with the traditional gifts of chocolate, other sweets or even a gold piece. Even though we have turned this dignified Bishop into a fat and jolly good Saint Nick, his memory is still preserved. The giving of gifts and the love of children are the importance of the season. This information is from Christmas at Caprilands: Legends and Recipes by Adelma Simmons.

My Secret Santa at the Master Gardener Holiday Gala did a really good job. He or She knew that I like tea/cocoa pots and mugs and hot chocolate on a cold winter's day. When I showed the herbal husband last night, he looked at the Candy Cane Cocoa container and said "It's like Rubik's Cube!" My eyes glazed over! Why does everything have to be about math? That's is one of the key reasons why I married him though! When I learned he taught Statistics in college that closed the deal! See all three parts spin to create new Santas! It is very clever. I'll let you know how the cocoa is later! Stay warm! P.S. The hot chocolate is yummy!

The Best Combination-Herbs and Counted Cross-Stitch!

A little diversion from the Christmas posts. I do love to do counted cross-stitch and herbs and counted cross-stitch are the best. My neighbor and herbal travel companion when the herbal husband wants to stay home gave this to me. There is one at her house for me to teach her how to cross-stitch. Hopefully some day soon that will happen. Time just seems to fly by these days! I'm off to the Master Gardener Holiday Gala this evening! Stay warm!

'Tis the Herbal Season

This is one of my favorite herbal books for Christmas. Adelma Grenier Simmons was the owner of Caprilands Institute in Connecticut, a Mecca for herb lovers for many years. Check out the Facebook page because her third husband, Edward Cook is working on restoring Caprilands gardens to its former glory. She died on December 3, 1997 at the age of 93. She wrote 35 books and many pamphlets on the subject so near and dear to her, herbs. Her book, Herb Gardening in Five Seasons, talks about Christmas as the fifth season.

Today is Saint Barbara's Day and was the first festival celebrated at Caprilands during the Christmas season. Back to Saint Barbara better known in the Near East and Asia Minor. She is the patron saint of Ferrara and Mantua in Italy. Barbara supposedly lived in the third century. She was kept in a tower by her father. For refusing to practice pagan rites, she was tortured and put to death by her father who was destroyed by lightning. Saint Barbara is a protector against lightning, fire, storm and sudden death. Her customary emblem is a tower. Saint Barbara was also associated with the harvest and wheat is often her symbol.

Little Herbal Classics!

These have become my favorite herb magazines. Yes, I have all of The Herb Companions and The Herb Quarterlys and they are treasured also. The Herb Grower magazine was started by Phil and Gertrude (Bunny) Foster as The American Herb Grower, but I think even before that they were called The Herb Journals. Then in August-September, 1948, it was called The Herb Grower. Writers such as Rosetta Clarkson and Helen Noyes Webster wrote in the early issues. I have some magazines from each of the four decades it was written. I will spend the winter with a cup of tea and these treasures. Hopefully, I will continue to find more in the coming months. Looking forward to the herbal education.

Still Harvesting Figs!

Unlike the figs at Rosemary House, ours are in pots and have come in for the season, but we are still harvesting brown figs. The herbal husband nipped a cutting from Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown many years ago! My face is red right now! The fig we have in the ground has never given fruit because we do not bury it as you have to do in this part of the country. We tried to cover it and bury it with leaves, etc. It did not work. If you have never had a fresh fig, you haven't lived. I really didn't think I liked them, but the herbal husband has a hard time getting them for himself! Don't think of Fig Newtons. Fresh figs are 1000 times better!

A Happy Indoor Lavender!

Just wanted to show one of several lavender that came in for the winter. This is 'Goodwin Creek' lavender or Lavandula x ginginsii. It has a beautiful gray color and it does very well in this west facing window. It is even blooming at the moment. All the snow that was outside that day is gone, but there is more on the horizon. So I'm going to enjoy the herbs growing indoors.

The Language of Flowers-Texas Style

My passion is herbs and my second passion is collecting books on herbs and the language of flowers. I found this little gem in Texas and the seller said that he would send a picture of the owner with it. The information I got is that the Caston family lived in Corsicana, Texas. The oldest daughter was named Texana. In the 1880's she and her sisters all attended college. A big deal for that time. It is unclear who is the girl in the picture, but this little book got a lot of use. I will say more about the language of flowers in another post.

Not Your Typical Oregano!

Actually Cuban Oregano (not a true oregano) Plectranthus amboinicus (what a mouthful) is known by a lot of other names: Spanish or French thyme; Mexican or Indian mint and country borage. It is native to the tropics and best grown as a pot plant. The Victorians used it as a bedding plant. If it is grown outside, it requires warm weather. It stops growing when temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. If lightly frosted, it goes to mush. This plant above is a second year plant! They are fast growers. Don't dry the leaves. They are a favorite in Jamaican and other tropical cuisines. In India, where the herb is known as Suganda, the leaves are dipped in batter and fried. My information comes from one of my favorite herb books. It is The American Garden Guides Herb Gardening by Patricia Hopkinson, Diane Miske, Jerry Parsons and Holly Simizu. I like it because it forces you to think in botanical names. Sometimes hard to do. Here is a Cuban oregano that has been in the pot just one year! These plants both need some more pinching to keep them more balanced.

Confused Xmas Cacti!

Just because we were in Arizona recently I thought I would talk about our indoor cacti. Lots of Christmas cacti are confused and bloom for Thanksgiving. This one is called 'Christmas Fantasy' and obviously it is blooming early. There are two very happy in an east facing window in our kitchen. Here they are as of this morning. Enjoy!