Blue Vervain

BLUE VERVAIN 

is a tall wild edible and medicinal plant. Other Names: American blue vervain, Blue Vervain, Herb of Grace, Herba veneris, Simpler’s Joy, Swamp Verbena, Vervain, Wild hyssop, Wild Vervain. Blue Vervain is a North American native perennial herb, found growing along roadsides, in open sunny fields, and waste places throughout the United States and southern Canada. Depending on the geographic location, the blooming period occurs anywhere from late spring to late summer and lasts between one to two months. 
Edible parts: Blue vervain had many uses in First Nation’s culture as food and medicine. The seed are edible when roasted and is ground into a powder (although they are somewhat bitter to taste). Leaves can be made into a tea or tossed into salads, soups, etc. The root can be collected all year round. The flowers can be tossed on top of a salad and eaten. (Dried, powdered flowers were once used as a snuff for nosebleeds).
 
Externally, this plant can be used as a poultice to help heal wounds and hemorrhoids. Internally the leaves and roots are a valuable alternative medicine. 

Used by herbalists the leaves and roots of Blue Vervain are an antidiarrheal, analgesic, anthelmintic, antiperiodic, astringent,  diaphoretic, emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, sedative, tonic, vermifuge, vulnerary. It is useful in intermittent fevers, ulcers, pleurisy, scrofula, gravel, easing pain in the bowels and expelling worms. A very strong infusion is emetic. As a medicinal poultice it is good in headache and rheumatism. An infusion of the plant is a good galactagogue (increases breast milk) and used for female obstructions, afterpains and taken as a female tonic. The infusion is used to help pass kidney stones and for infections of the bladder. Used as a sudorific and taken for colds and coughs. Also useful for insomnia and other nervous conditions.

MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH ELISECREATIONS.ARTFIRE.COM

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH!

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ELISE T. MARKS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IMAGE ON WEBSITES, BLOGS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Castor Bean Plant

My Castor Bean Plant flowering and fruiting.

Castor bean plants are stunning with their mammoth star-shaped leaves that can reach 2-3 feet in length. Castor Bean plants typically grow one or more, smooth, reddish colored central stalks with very large palmate shaped, glossy, deep green to dark purple leaves, white or pinkish flowers, and reddish, spined fruit.

Castor Bean Plants (Ricinus ommunis) are native to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India, but are widespread throughout tropical regions. Commonly found in the wild along stream banks, riverbeds on low lying areas. They have been naturalized in warm climates all over the world, and are widely grown elsewhere as an ornamental plant.

Despite its name, is not a true bean.  

Despite its poisonous reputation, the castor bean, also known as Palma Christi, has been grown for thousands of years and has been used for everything from lamp oil to medicine.

As far back as 4,000 B.C., castor beans have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. The valuable oil from this tropical beauty was used thousands of years ago to light lamp wicks.

The seeds are extremely poisonous, but the toxins do not pass into the oil.

These days, about a million tons of castor oil seeds are grown worldwide, for making everything from paint and varnish to lubricant for jet engines, nylon, transparent soap and contraceptives. The seeds have also been considered as an alternative energy source for motor and diesel fuel. And scientists involved in cancer and AIDS research are studying the seeds' compounds.

MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH ELISECREATIONS.ARTFIRE.COM

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH!

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ELISE T. MARKS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IMAGE ON WEBSITES, BLOGS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Flowers On The Farm

Flowers At Adams Farm
This photo was awarded Photo of the Day, on Capture My Vermont, for August 12, 2017.

Lisianthus In A Flower Garden

Lisianthus, also known as Texas bluebell, prairie gentian or prairie rose and botanically called Eustoma grandiflorum, is a small genus in the gentian family. They are native to warm regions of the southern United States, Mexico, Caribbean and northern South America. It is the birth flower of the Sagittarius astrological sign. The deep blue varieties evoke a sense of peace and openness.

Joe Pye Weed,

 (Eutrochium) is a North American genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the sunflower family. They are commonly referred to as Joe-Pye weeds. They are native to the United States and Canada. Joe Pye (Jopi in the Native tongue), an Indian healer from New England, used E. purpureum to treat a variety of ailments, which led to the name Joe-Pye weed. Folklore says that Joe Pye used this plant to cure fevers, that American colonists used this plant to treat typhus outbreaks, and that the Indians used Joe Pye Weed in the treatment of kidney stones and other urinary tract ailments.

MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH ELISECREATIONS.ARTFIRE.COM

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH!

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ELISE T. MARKS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IMAGE ON WEBSITES, BLOGS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION.

The Beauty Of Bee Balm

The Beauty Of Bee Balm
Bee Balm, Wild Bergamot , Scarlet Monarda, Oswego Tea, Bergamot, Horsebalm Botanical Name-Monarda didyma

In the language of flowers, Monarda symbolizes compassion and sympathy.

The M. didyma and Monarda fistulosa can be used interchangeably.

Monarda is in the Lamiaceae (mint) family and is a perennial from Zones 4 – 9. It has the mint family’s trademark – square stems and opposite leaves. It is pollinated by bees, so it is a good one to grow in your gardens to help our ailing bee population. Bee Balm herb is edible and medicinal. All above ground parts of the plant are edible and used as a pot herb, and also used as a flavoring in cooked foods. The flowers make an attractive edible garnish in salads.

Bee Balm herb is noted for its fragrance, and is a source of oil of thyme. The fresh or dried leaves are brewed into a refreshing aromatic and medicinal tea. An infusion of young Bee Balm leaves used to form a common beverage in many parts of the United States.

Bee Balm leaves and flowers and stems are used in alternative medicine as an antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and stimulant. An medicinal infusion is used internally in the treatment of colds, catarrh, headaches, and gastric disorders, to reduce low fevers and soothe sore throat, to relieve flatulence, nausea, for menstrual pain, and insomnia. Steam inhalation of the plant can be used for sore throats, and bronchial catarrh (inflammation of the mucus membrane, causing an increased flow of mucus). Externally, Bee Balm is a medicinal application for skin eruptions and infections. Bergamot’s distinctive aroma, found in both the leaf and flower is wonderful for use in potpourri. While a fragrant herb in its own right, Wild Bergamot is not the source of the commonly used Bergamot Essential oil. 

Due to the presence of a high thymol content which is a strong antiseptic (also in thyme), Monarda has been used in infusion form for a variety of ailments in its long past: colds, flu, upper respiratory problems, gas, diarrhea, nausea, fevers and whooping cough, and topically for skin problems and wounds.

The boiled leaves were historically wrapped in cloth for sore eyes, headaches, muscle spasms, fungal infections, and under bandages to slow bleeding. The leaves can be chewed and used for this purpose.

Used as a mouthwash, a strong infusion seems to give relief from sore throats, toothaches, and mouth sores. You can make monarda honey, elixirs, and oxymels, all of which are helpful and tasty. Monarda honey isn’t only great in teas, but also on burns and other wounds. The leaves are helpful in steams to clear the sinus and to make the whole house smell nice! They can also be added to a sock or muslin bag and thrown in your bath for the same effect, and additionally if have sore, tired or achy muscles. It's also good as a foot soak for tired sore feet.

Lemon Bee Balm

Monarda citriodora, Purple horsemint, Lemon mint, Plains horsemint, Lemon horsemint, Horsemint, Purple lemon mint

Horsemint has a distinctive citrus or lemony scent when the leaves are rubbed or crushed. It is very easy to grow and often forms large colonies. Bees and butterflies are attacted to this plant. Leaves used raw or cooked for flavoring in salads, cooked foods, and for tea.

MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH ELISECREATIONS.ARTFIRE.COM

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH!

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ELISE T. MARKS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IMAGE ON WEBSITES, BLOGS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Echinacea & Friends

Bumblebee on Echinacea or Purple Cone Flower

Painted Lady Butterfly on Echinacea flower.
(Vanessa cardui)

American Copper Butterfly On Echinacea
(L. p. eleus caeruleopunctata)

Red Admiral Butterfly On Echinacea
(Vanessa atalanta)
This photo has been awarded the Photo of the Day on Capture My Vermont, on August 26th, 2017.

With Bees  & Butterflys

Bumblebee on Echinacea or Purple Cone Flower

The entire plant can be used for its immune boosting properties. The purple ray flowers attach to a round, high and spiky cone – hence the common name “purple coneflower.” Technically speaking, this thick and spiky cone is actually hundreds of more flowers, all tightly packed together.

Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!

© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Rudebeckias & Black Eyed Susans

 American Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis), On Rudbeckia

Bee On Rudebeckia

Look at all that pollen on it's knees.

 Grasshopper On Rudebeckia

 Grasshopper On Rudebeckia

Bee & Shadow On Black Eyed Susan

 Black Eyed Susans

My photographs are available for purchase through EliseCreations.net

Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!

© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Very Cool Handmade Boat

This Very Cool Handmade Boat was made in Shelburne, Vermont and it only weighs 25 pounds. This is a skin-on-frame canoe. Using Geodesic Airolite Construction, It is a simple, inexpensive, low-tech, forgiving system utilizing some exotic materials. The sequence consists of building a simple rugged wood framework, braced with triangulated KEVLAR® roving strands. This tough basket-likeframe is then covered with Dacron. This is a first cousin to sail cloth; except it heat shrinks. It is a super-weight, airplane wing covering type of fabric, used on crop dusters. 
You can learn more about these boats at: http://www.gaboats.com/
or about the courses for building them at:  http://www.berkshireboatbuildingschool.org/home/page.aspx?p=4

MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH ELISECREATIONS.ARTFIRE.COM

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH!

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ELISE T. MARKS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IMAGE ON WEBSITES, BLOGS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION.