Supernatural Botanicals

How To Compost

Ways To Go Green

Gardening Reminder

Reminder:  Fall is the time to plant Limelight Hydrangea bushes in your yard for next year’s growing season.

Goodbye Summer

It’s late September and summer is feeling like it’s over.  I had such a great spring/summer growing season (see picture) with flowers, herbs, vegetables, peppers, etc.  May is such a perfect time to find the greenest of greens in nature.  But fall definitely has its perks, too…especially for colors.  Fall definitely has its advantages in the style department…think hats, boots, beautiful soft sweaters and scarves.  Yum!

Goodbye to summer.

Uses For Fresh Herbs

Rosemary is traditionally known as the herb associated with hair.  It has been said that it strengthens the hair and stimulates the scalp, and Rosemary essential oil is also thought to stimulate the mind and lift fatigue. And it makes your hair smell good, too!

Put a few sprigs of fresh rosemary in a heatproof bowl and pour on boiling water.  Allow them to steep and, when cool, take out the Rosemary.  Use as a final rinse to keep hair glossy and sleek .  Rosemary also helps discourage dandruff.  You can put the rest of the infusion into a pretty glass bottle and keep in the fridge, or somewhere out of direct light, for later use. 

Rosemary is easy to grow, and spreads fairly quickly in either container gardening, or in-ground gardening. 

Eco Ideas

An eco-idea:  Planting mint near a downspout fills your garden with its fresh scent after every rain shower. 

HGTV Rate My Space

There’s no doubt that that many of us are channeling our “inner designer” , and at HGTV.com, these designers are showcasing their skills, some of which are simply brilliant.  My favorite backyard makeover of the day is submitted by Sir Chandelier on Rate My Space.  He created this absolutely stunning backyard makeover.  I see French outdoor bistro when I look at this.  The colors are perfection.  The stripped black and white awnings are gorgeous!  The furniture is elegant.  The double-ended fireplace takes the cake.  It makes my head spin with new, creative ideas.  Gorgeous! 

When checking out design ideas, don’t forget to look into the Rate My Space files over at www.HGTV.com.  You’ll be amazed at how creative everyday people can really be with their interiors. 

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Benefits Of Garlic

Beyond endless health benefits and countless delicious recipes, here are a few (more) things you should know about garlic:

*  In order to maximize the photochemical power of garlic, it should be allowed to sit for at least several minutes after being crush or chopped. 

*  The more finely garlic is chopped or crushed, the more healthful properties are activated…and the more that are retained in cooking.

*  The aromatic compounds in garlic undergo conversion and are released when the cell walls of a clove are breached by crushing or chopping and the contents oxidize.  This is why we cry when chopping onions, garlic’s first cousin. 

Living Vegetarian

Terminology:

Vegetarian:  A vegetarian is an individual who chooses, for health, environmental, ethical, or religious reasons to abstain from the consumption of animal flesh, including poultry and fish. 

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian:  A lacto-ovo vegetarian eats no flesh, but consumes dairy (lacto) and eggs (ovo). 

Vegan:  A vegan (pronounced VEE-gun) is an individual who chooses to abstain from the consumption of all animal products.  While vegetarians avoid flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs as well as fur, leather, and other goods that cause suffering to animals. 

Peppers On Your Hands

Allow me to save your hands from excruciating pain. Never, ever, ever chop hot peppers without rubber gloves on.  I made the most beautifully delicious fresh Pico de Gallo from my garden tonight.  It was only three peppers….I figured why not?  Pulling the seeds from my Garden Salsa Peppers with my fingers seemed fine…at first.  But as time went on, my hands started to burn from the caspian (the component that brings the heat) in the peppers. 

If you’ve already committed the crime, try hand sanitizer with a high alcohol content.  Dawn dishwashing liquid also helps.  Wash hands over and over.  Avoid contact with any other part of your body….or your husband’s body!