Before we start cooking, I would like to point out that this is one of those cases where parts of a plant are edible and parts are toxic. It is not uncommon. Just please be aware that the leaves of Dianthus are mildly toxic. Eat only the flowers. You might want to try only a small amount of those to test… Continue Reading…
The Dianthus genus is made up of over three hundred species. The wild form of the species can be found in the Mediterranean and Middle East. Most sources say it was first documented by Theophrastus around 300 BCE but at least one source reports that this statement has been proven false. The first documentable instance of cultivation occurs around 1450 CE.
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This plant is one of my personal favorites. The scent of the heirloom varieties is delicious and they are visually pleasing. The family is a large one and includes the familiar carnation. I must confess that the reputation of some of the members of this family amuses me. It’s always nice to meet another rebel.
While I was unable to find any tales of Min, I did find the following stories. In each of them, the lettuce is not the hero but the tool which enables the hero to gain what he desires. A magical plant indeed! First is Grimm’s tale The Salad. Here is the written version for your reading pleasure, or you may enjoy… Continue Reading…
The lettuce that our Leech wants in her leech’s bag is Lactuca virosa, the wild lettuce. Lactuca sativa has had most of the active principles bred out of it although Aelfrida would not have hesitated to use the sativa in a pinch, especially for lesser complaints. It has been commonly used as a sedative and a sleep inducer. The plant gives… Continue Reading…
Lettuce was very popular in Ancient Rome. It is said that it was often served twice in a meal although I was unable to find a lettuce dessert from any time period. Have you got anything for me there? Post it in the comments below so I can give it a try. Other than dessert though, there are plenty of good… Continue Reading…
The wild ancestors of lettuce were originally found in Asia Minor. We don’t know exactly when it was domesticated but the first recorded cultivation of it was in Egypt around 2500 BCE. It traveled to Rome around 50 CE. It was brought to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in the 15th century. There are three main types of lettuce: leaf, cos,… Continue Reading…
When my grandfather and I sat down with the seed catalogues in the winter to plan our spring garden we always gave a good look at the lettuce varieties that we wanted to plant. Lettuce is easy to grow only if you give it what it demands and some varieties are more demanding than others.We always had to balance what the… Continue Reading…
The story of Philemon and Baucis comes from Greek mythology and is a lesson on the duty and rewards of hospitality. It’s also a poignant reminder of what’s truly important in a loving relationship. Add to your library
Since ancient times, the Linden has been known as a tree of truth and peace.Herodotus tells us that “The Scythian diviners take also the leaf of the lime-tree (linden), which, dividing into three parts, they twine round their fingers; they then unbind it and exercise the art to which they pretend.” The Germanic peoples associated the tree with the Goddess Freya, and… Continue Reading…
Linden has long been honored as a gentle and relaxing herb.Gerard in his Herball tells us that:The floures are commended by divers against paine of the head proceeding of a cold cause, against dissinesse (dizziness?),the Apoplexie, and also the falling sicknesse, and not onely the floures,but the disstilled water thereof. Even today, a cup of linden flower tea is recommended for… Continue Reading…
Linden cannot be bought for the kitchen but must be foraged for. So the first step you must take in order to sample the delights offered here is to find your linden tree. First things first, here’s a really excellent video on identifying the linden. It was done in the winter which is the hardest time of the year to… Continue Reading…
The Linden tree makes a beautiful addition to the garden if you have enough room for it. It can achieve heights of 50′ to 80′ with a horizontal spread of 35′ to 50′, although it frequently stays smaller. It generally grows between 13” and 24” inches a year, depending on conditions. This beautiful specimen is 700 years old and is the… Continue Reading…
This tree is something of a holy grail for me. As a nature center educator and a beekeeper, I’ve heard legendary stories about this tree. You can smell it for miles. You can hear it from farther away. It’s beautiful! It’s useful! It’s everywhere! I’ve never found one. Ah, well. I’ll learn a bit more this week and maybe I’ll be… Continue Reading…
