Elise Creations & Passions

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Borage

Beautiful Borage

Borago officinalis, also known as a starflower, is an annual herb, native to the Mediterranean region. Traditionally, herbalists use borage tea as a tonic that can speed healing, reduce stress, relieve fevers, promote lactation, soothe digestive issues, and ease throat and chest infections. Today, fresh borage leaves and blossoms are found in topical herbal medicines, because of the presence of high levels of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is effective in treating common skin irritations, such as psoriasis, that result from a lack of essential fatty acids. The oil extracted from borage seeds is one of the richest natural sources of GLA, and ingesting it daily can significantly improve skin conditions. You can use chopped fresh leaves to make a poultice for skin irritations, or, for sore throats, create an infusion and gargle it. Borage attracts helpful pollinators, deter pests, and pulls nutrients into your top soil. The flowers are delicious eaten raw in salads, frozen into ice cubes, and candied as decorations for cakes. You can crush and steep the fresh leaves to make a refreshing summertime tea.
This photo makes me wish I was a fairy or a bee and I could get right in there.

Borage With A Bee

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.

My blog is meant to inform and I strive to be totally accurate. It is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects.

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Autumn In Vermont 2023-2024

A Touch Of Fall reflections at Indian Brook Reservoir

Fall Flowers And A Lovely Barn
So this year, the most colorful fall foliage around here is these flowers. Perhaps fall is later than some people and flowers think it is.

Color Amongst The Trees In Morrisville

Autumn River View

Autumn In Fletcher

You can see more of my creations at:

https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite

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

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Horses & Ponys

Horses Looking My Way

In Front Of One Of My Favorite Barns.

Haflinger Horses Amongst Wildflowers

Haflingers are known for their distinctive chestnut coloring and flaxen mane and tail, and originated in the Tyrolean Mountains, which run between Italy and what is Austria, today.

Horses Amongst Wildflowers

Horses Enjoying Autumn

Horses In Monkton

Horses Enjoying Autumn Light

Horses With A View Of Camels Hump

Horses With A View Of Camels Hump

White Horse Perfection

White Horse With A View Of Camels Hump

Life On The Sweet Farm.
Haflinger horses enjoying the view.

Horse Love

Baby Pony & Mom

A Sweet Adorable Pony In Front Of A Lovely Stone House

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.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Art Hop 2024

Fun With Bubbles At The South End Art Hop 2024, Burlington, Vt.

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.

My photographs are available for purchase through EliseCreations.net

Monday, September 9, 2024

Head In The Clouds

In Fairfax, Vermont

Clouds Over Lake Champlain

Clouds Over Indian Brook Reservoir

Clouds Over The Green Mountains

Mackerel Sky
is a term for clouds made up of rows of cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds displaying an undulating, rippling pattern similar in appearance to fish scales.

Clouds Over Charlotte

A Lovely Dramatic View in Fletcher

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.

Monday, August 26, 2024

Bird Houses

South Hero Bird House Forest

Champ Hanging Out With The Birds

Champ & T Rex In The South Hero Bird House Forest.

Located in the swamps just north of Whites Beach, near the roadside, are hundreds of brilliantly colored Bird Houses that hang from the many hardwood trees in the thick marshland. According to the owners of the birdhouses, "Well, as you can see, we’re surrounded by swamp” he said, gesturing to the swamps surrounding his house. “So there are a lot of mosquitoes here, Or at least there were before we put these up.” The bird houses are home to tree swallows, and tree swallows eat mosquitoes. “They make it so me and my wife can sit outside on the lawn in the evening and enjoy ourselves. We don’t get eaten alive.” He started this project 15 years ago, with only 20 bird houses. His wife was the one who convinced him to paint them the striking bold colors. After a year, he went to check on them and found that each one was occupied. So he built more. Now he has over 400 of them. Asked if he was planning on building more. “We’ll see” he said chuckling.

As of 2019 I hear there are now over 800 of them.