What plant is called Snow-in-the-mountain?

This post Snow-in- the-mountain was originally uploaded by Tyra Hallsénius Lindhe in the blog Tyra's Garden

First I would like to ask you for some help with two things.

1. Vasi from Romania has a problem to enter The greenhouse...I cannot find any problem from here, I can see it perfectly. Could you please check that from me. I can you get in?

2. The other thing is just a question. Do you know that a potager is? You do not have to explain it, just a simple yes/no is OK.

Update 2010-11- 28 I guess the greenhouse works just fine after all, but if you have a certain virus software (Avast) you get a alert note.

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 Snow-in-the-mountain.

I think it is rarely used but...what a lovely and poetic name for this beautiful plant.


This plant has many other names:

Aegopodium podagraria, Bishop's weed, Ground elder, Herb gerard, Goutweed and it is commonly called Kirskål in my native tongue.


Love or Hate, what do you feel about it?


The Snow-in-the-mountain is one of the most loathed weed we have in our gardens. In some places regarded as an ecological threat.  Still I think it is very beautiful and often use it in summer bouquets and remember it is edible. The Ground elder can be added to salads or cooked like spinach.

Phytomedicine

For medical use: The leaves and the stems are used.

 

- Ground elder is an anti-inflammatory herb with mildly sedative properties, it has a long tradition as a treatment for gout, sciatica and rheumatism. It can be taken internally as an infusion, and is applied externally for sting and burns. allaboutherbs

This week’s theme in Blooming Friday is - A touch of White. Go to Katarina’s place Roses and stuff and find out what more "A  touch of White" stuff that is are out there.

TODAY'S FLOWER

Don't be a stranger my friend - Do write something!

I myself have a love-hate relation to this plant. How about you?

References: Aegopodium podagraria at wikipedia and allaboutherbs

Potage from my Potager - Soupe Parmentier

This post about Soupe Parmentier - Potato and leek soup was originally uploaded by Tyra Hallsénius-Lindhe in the blog

Tyra's Garden.

Swedish? Vill du läsa på svenska finns ett liknande inlägg i KÖKSTRÄDGÅRDEN

A soup with a tale…

This Potato and leek soup is a is a hot variation of the famous Vichyssoise and then it is called
"Soupe Parmentier"

This delicious hot winter soup got its name from the Frenchman called Antoine Auguste Parmentier, who had been fed the so-called poisonous potato root in a German prison-of-war camp, returned to France to find his countrymen starving. He set up potato soup kitchens throughout Paris to help the poor. Finally, Louis XVI recognized his work by saying, "France will thank you some day for having found bread for the poor." Seven Year War (1756-1763) tale source

On this picture above, there is an other story, the tale of the soup Vichyssoise. A cold potato and leek soup just perfect on a hot summers day.

November harvest from the potager. Small but lovely.

Potage Parmentier

2-3 tablespoon of butter for sautéing the leeks in
3 cups leeks, white and tender green parts
4 cups potatoes, peeled and chopped
8 cups of a nice stock of choice
1 tablespoon salt
6 tablespoons of cream
Chopped parsley or chives to garnish with.

Simmer the potatoes, leeks, and salt in the stock until all are very tender, about 30 minutes. Puree the mixture until smooth add cream and seasoning.

Recette Française - Potage Parmentier

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HARVEST MONDAY

It is Harvest Monday at Daphne´s place

The harvest is getting smaller and smaller indeed but today I did harvest some chilies (3 sorts) some herbs and the leeks for the soup.

Let's go under-cover...

I just want to show you what's cookin' under the the fabric cover, I got a few cloches to protect my mixed lettuce leaves and under the cover I still have some Arugula , parsley, thyme, onions etc.

Don't be a stranger my friend.

Do write something, I would just love to hear from you./ Tyra

Physalis - locally grown

At last, now in early September my Physalis are ready to harvest, sweet, pretty and very healthy. Full of vitamin C it is a true power-fruit or shall I call it power-berry. Eat locally grow! - you cannot beat home grown.

 Don't forget to save one little Physalis and harvest your own seeds - free seeds for 2011 growing season. 

Vill du läsa på svenska? Välkommen till KÖKSTRÄDGÅRDEN

Umami Power Snack

Tomato - this powerful umami* fruit full of goodness.

旨味

They contain lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants.

A perfect savory snack, swap to a bowl of tomatoes instead and get a living power snack instead of the dead bowl of ' ¤)#&FAT/¤#&SUGAR%#¤what-ever' I mean the snack that we usually have beside us :-) I often do anyway.

Medium snack-sized tomatoes of the cultivars Borghese principe, Stupice and Promyk tomatoes

NUTRITION: This is what Wikipedia says about the subject. Tomatoes are now eaten freely throughout the world, and their consumption is believed to benefit the heart among other things. They contain lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. In some studies lycopene, especially in cooked tomatoes, has been found to help prevent prostate cancer but other research contradicts this claim. Lycopene has also been shown to improve the skin's ability to protect against harmful UV rays.Natural genetic variation in tomatoes and their wild relatives has given a genetic treasure trove of genes that produce lycopene, carotene, anthocyanin, and other antioxidants. Tomato varieties are available with double the normal vitamin C (Doublerich), 40 times normal vitamin A (97L97), high levels of anthocyanin (P20 Blue), and two to four times the normal amount of lycopene (numerous available cultivars with the high crimson gene). Tomato consumption has been associated with decreased risk of breast cancer,head and neck cancers and might be strongly protective against neurodegenerative diseases

More tomatoes?

Take a hop into The Greenhouse

PIE and SEEDS

* it is japanese and means good flavour

I Bought the Crown Jewels

Chia - Crown Jewels

What little did I know?…

and when I entered the world of Chia.

I have just received a few seed packets from Baker Creek Heirlooms Seeds for my potager. I always want to know a little about the plant I’m going to grow, consequently I looked up my Chia - Crown Jewels and entered a new world, most fascinating. I landed in American history, health, ancient food and future ‘super’ food. Amazing, do you know... I’ve bought a miracle! Perhaps that is why they are called just Crown Jewels or it could be because the flower in its simplicity yet beauty look like a small crown with precious blue-purple stones in it.

Wikipedia Salvia columbariae



Chia - Crown Jewels

(Salvia columbariae ) A different Salvia species with a long history, this heirloom Salvia was grown as a staple food crop by Native Americans years ago. It has a high nutrition value. In cultivation, it needs good drainage, sun and dry weather to grow to its fullest potential. Called Chia in Mexico and other Central American countries, it is also a special ornamental plant with decorative grey-green leaves and pretty colourful light purplish blue flowers.

Chia as Health Food

Chia seeds are now a popular natural health product. William Anderson writes about it

- The Ancient Food of the Future Chia Seed. Do read this most fascinating article.

“Another unique quality if the Chia seed is its high oil content, and the richest vegetables source for the essential omega-3 fatty acid. It has approximately three to ten times the oil concentrations of most grains and one and a half to two times the protein concentrations of other grains. Read more ”

This amazing picture is from EOL Encyclopedia of Life.

The beautiful seeds of Salvia columbariae.

Interesting? Want to try it out?

Chia Seeds - The RAW Food World
Chia Seeds - My SEEDS

Here you can buy Chia seeds and a lot of other interesting food.




Anthropology – about Chia Salvia columbariae


NCBI* Writes about the Chia seeds, how it has been used as food and continues to be used as such, how you can still buy the seeds in stores. Read the interesting story about the Chumash messenger who ran 30 km or perhaps more in a day to deliver messages between the villages. Consuming Chia seeds to maintain the energy right through the run. Read more about the Chumash and Chia “ How the plant was used to ‘wake the dead’ is unknown. However, it may have been the root that was used. Probably the people who were treated with this plant had suffered from strokes or heart attacks and appeared to be nearly dead.” NCBI

Books about Chia (Salvia columbariae)

- Rediscovering a Forgotten Crop of the Aztecs

- Revival of an Ancient Wonder Food

- Chia For Health

Another book that awoke my curiosity as I browsed the net was this +300 pages book

The New Book of SALVIAS, hm...I would love to read it.

Common Sage Salvia officinalis in my potager.

That's All Folks!

It is Blooming Friday at Katarinas place

I wish you all a great weekend/ Tyra

*NCBI - National Center for Biotechnology Information

Soothing remedy for coughs and colds

This post 'Once up on a Thyme' was originally uploaded by Tyra in the blog Tyra's Garden

Once up on a Thyme...

...I walked on a path lined with of thymes and sensed the marvellous amoratic leaves and I fell in love...
I just adore the fragrance and taste of this herb. It is a favourite both in the potager as well as in the kitchen. I even make a cough medicine with Thymus vulgaris in it, see recipe for Tyra's remedy intended for coughs and colds below but first some pictures.

Wooly Thyme Thymus pseudolanuginosus

Woolly thyme —the wooliest of all thymes, forms a thick ground-covering mat of tiny, densely hairy grayish green leaves. The foliage has subtle fragrance and is not the best thyme for culinary use nor for my remedy. In June-July the pretty tiny pink tubular flowers appears. Plants grow to only about 5 cm or so in height. Woolly thyme thrives in dry, well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Walks, rock gardens, stone walls, and pond borders (if dry) are all excellent habitats from the creeping of the lovely Thymus pseudolanuginosus. This thyme spills gracefully over stone walls and can be grown between stone pavers. To propagate, divide the plants in spring or autumn, or sow seed in early spring.

Thymus vulgaris Garden Thyme,

Thymus x citriodorus Lemon Thyme

and Orange fragrant Thyme Thymus fragantissiumus

are in my belief the best for culinary use. For medical use take the Thymus vulgaris.

Now for the recipe...

Tyra's soothing remedy for coughs and colds

Make a strong infusion of thyme, elderberry flowers and sage (let it cool) add lemon and a generous amount of honey and for adults 1/3 part of gin or congac. Drink small amount of this mixture several times per day, it is really soothing.

For a cold it is beneficent to add fresh ginger, chili and/or garlic as well.


~~~

Susie on Gotland says "Here on Gotland the wild thyme growns in the meadows by the sea and it's so nice to go there late in the summer evenings as the sun set - and so on top of that sense the smell of crushed thyme. Wonderful! Oh, how I long for next year!"

En fin kommentar från Susie på min svenska blogg, jag tyckte det lät så skönt.

"Här växer ju timjanen vild på strandängarna och det är så skönt att gå där sent på sensommarkvällarna i solnedgången - och så ovanpå det få känna doften av krossad timjan. Underbart! Oj, vad jag längtar till nästa år!! "

Take care - LOLove/ Tyra

Don't be a stranger do write something...

Boost up your Immune System - with a remedy from the garden.

This post 'Boost up your Immune System - with a remedy from the garden.' was originally uploaded by Tyra in the blog Tyra's Garden

The 2009 flu, the Swine Influenza. A virus subtype H1N1 is here but is it going to be pandemic? Well we don’t know this yet. But here are some tips and ideas what you can do to avoid getting the Swine flu.

They say to wash your hands thoroughly and often are the most important thing to do. You can also boost up your immune system with vitamins, minerals and herbs. Some of them are quite familiar; perhaps you already have them in your garden.

Boost up your immune system with a remedy from the garden.

1. Zinc you find among other things in seeds like; sunflower, poppy, sesame, mustard and linseed.

2. Vitamin C - Fruits and berries and do you remember the Sea-Buckthorn Hippophae L? It has 12 times more vitamin C than oranges!

3. Vitamin D – Gardening is excellent for the vitamin D uptake :-)

4. Vitamin E, omega 3 and 6 and Zinc as well from Flax. Linum usitatissimum Flaxseed or linseeds oil.

5. Herbs good for the immune system; Echinacea augustifoliae radix, Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea pallida. (radix)

6. Probiotics - like the Acidophilus (a beneficial bacteria)

This last one is not from our gardens but you can find it in a lot of products, I buy as Filmjölk and it is really good for the stomach.

And then again, wash your hands! It's easy and absolutely free.

Update

From our Doc. Green thumb.

'That post was so insightful dear Tyra! The only effective method to fight Swine Flu has to be through personal hygiene and immunity enhancement. While the health authorities keep harping about the masks and Tamiflu, they neglect the most important and basic things which you beautifully highlighted.'

Thank you!

Another huge thank you to my Blotanical friend that has nominated my blogs for best European blog! I'm amazed and very happy. Blooming Friday again, the weeks goes so very fast! This is the last Friday of this gorgeous month September. You find more participants here at Katarina.

Happy Gardening!

TYRA