Some of you may have wondered what happened here its been so long since I've posted. I've had a fabulous spring sales season here in Oklahoma. People were anxious to get plants in their gardens, in their patio pots and flower boxes. The winter was brutal in this mid section of America. The spring was wet and cold. Summer has just arrived here. So now, in July, I am just getting caught up with my own gardens and taking inventory in the greenhouse, tweaking plants up, scrubbing them down. I won't be shipping till the weather cools off some. I'll be doing more cuttings and starting new seeds. I'll actually be ordering replacement varieties from other sources.
The mullein bloomed. I harvested a lot of the little yellow flowers for comfrey salve. Mullein flowers are quite anti-inflammatory. Comfrey salve is healing. There are properties in the leaf that promote cell growth. The salve is made by placing chopped leaves in a Mason jar of extra virgin olive oil with the mullein flowers and steeping it in a sunny window, garden or even overnight on low setting in a crockpot on a dry tea towel. I had an 80% tear in my rotator cuff and was scheduled for surgery. I don't sit down for long and dreaded the thought of a year of recovery from surgery. I could not use my arm, couldn't lay down to sleep at night. I learned of this oil/salve and in in 3 weeks was on the mend without pain and with full rotation. Simple effective age old remedy. Not for open wounds or bone on bone knee problems. So I always harvest the mullein flowers, dry them in a small paper sack and save them in a labeled jar. Comfrey is always growing in my greenhouse but it is at this time blooming in my garden.
The elderberries bloomed and are now ready for harvest. Norms Farm has a great blog on harvesting and preserving elderberries. normsfarms.com
Elderberries are toxic if they are not completely ripe and then should be processed into syrup or wine or jelly. Mine went to the freezer in Ziploc bags. They should come right off the stems when they come out.
Cook elderberries to make them safe to eat. Like other berries, elderberries are rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant health properties and have been traditionally used for food and medicine. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, you should cook elderberries before eating or juicing them.
The newest addition to the Herb Garden is Beau. He's 10 weeks old. He's a Great Collie. Great Pyrenees and Border Collie mix. A great farm dog for Skyridge Farm. Right now he is a
digger and a chewer but by far the smartest sweetest dog we've ever seen.
More to come on scented geraniums and herbs. . . . .
Glad you're taking some time to play in your own garden. I for one am appreciating all those plants I've acquired from you all these years. All the thymes I planted in all my big pots are spilling over beautifully right now!
Great to see an update and hear you are doing well. I can't wait until you ship again as I am so longing for myrtle and rosemary and salves. Will keep checking. Hope you enjoyed your company in July. Sharon