Tea Crop - Spring 2020

Tea (camellia sinensis) grows in my garden.

There are about 7 plants, but I pick from the more mature plants.

The small 3 are waiting until they grow up to be big plants and then there will be a full hedge for picking.

About mid-March I plucked my first flush, picking the top 3 leaves that were freshly grown.

I let them sit for a few hours then wrapped them in a cloth napkin and twisted and twisted more

to get a tight ball. Letting them sit tied in the cloth, then twisted some more.

Probably I got about 2 small teapots of tea from that plucking.

I thought that was going to be the only plucking this year until about 2 weeks ago I noticed

there was a lot of fresh growth.

I plucked again and got the largest amount ever, I was amazed.

This time I decided to let the leaves sit over night and then stir fry them in my iron skillet.

Here they are still fresh in the skillet ready to stir fry.

Stir fry is done now.

It took about 10 minutes on a medium heat.

Isn't it pretty, I think so!

Now time to taste.

The stir fried tea was like a white smokey tea.

Then I compared it to the earlier batch.

It had more sweetness and was like a white tea.

Comparing the two side by side really helped me know which I liked best.

I liked the first batch best.

The second batch I may add some herbs to make it a blend,

maybe lemon verbena.

It's fun playing around with my own tea crop.

No harm done if I don't like it as it is just for me.

If I was not social distancing, I would make a pot to share with friends.

Hope you are finding something fun to do just for you while quarantined at home.

Aurora Colony Quilt Show

 Every once in the while the Aurora Colony Museum here in Oregon

calls to me to come and visit;

so when I saw they were having their annual quilt show I had to go.

I always love imagining living in Emma's house on the grounds.

Wouldn't it be fun to sit there with a cup of tea and a friend to watch the world go by?

 The theme this year was Stars!

 What I loved seeing was all the variations on the theme.

But even more than that, I loved feeling wrapped in the love of these beautiful quilts.

 It isn't a large museum, just the size I can really savor for awhile.

 I  kind of like them all close together.

It just fills my senses and my heart.

 Though I loved them all this one was my favorite.

Wondering if it was the inclusion of the flowers with the giant star.

 The blue squares were the submissions from local quilters.

Each year after the theme is chosen quilters can submit a square

and the top 24 are selected by a panel to be made into a quilt.

One year I submit a Sunbonnet Sue for that year's theme

and even though I am not a regular quilter my square got selected for the quilt.

It was fun to see it in the final quilt.

 After viewing the quilts I took a stroll through the grounds.

There is alot of Oregon Trail history in this museum

and for awhile I love imagining a different time.

The local herb society cares for the herb garden

and it was fun to chat with one of the women involved.

I came home with a natural herbal salve, which

helped to heal the remainder of some sun damage I had from the summer sun.

Do you search out small museums and quilt shows?

If you ever come to Oregon I would love taking you here.

Aurora Colony was originally settled by a religious sect.

Jane Kirkpatrick has written some wonderful historic fiction

on people that settled this community.

Hope you are having a good week, dear friends!

Turmeric Tea, Feeling Groooovy!

 This comic just made me smile, especially since I was sharing 

turmeric tea with you today.  I hope it makes you smile.

When I recently attended the NW Tea Festival I noticed that several

vendors were selling turmeric tea.  Now I had never had any, but

had heard that it was good for so many things like:

Anti-inflammatory, Anti-depressant, Anti-coagulant,

Reduces arthritis pain, Helps gastrointestinal problems,

Inflammatory bowel disease, and lowers cholesterol.

With all those good things I tasted several and most I didn't like.

Chado Tea company had one that I thought was worth

bringing home.   It is called Tumeric Zest and zesty it is.

It is a combination of hibiscus, rooibos, turmeric, orange flavoring

and quite delightful.

Do you like turmeric?

Take turmeric pills?

If so, I can recommend this tea for an added touch to your day.

Funny, but I don't usually recommend herbal teas (tisanes)

as I drink tea with caffeine.  

Just thought I would share something different.

It's pretty in the cup too.

Yerba Mate tasting

Yerba mate is a species of the Holly plant.

The largest production is in Brazil, then Argentina, followed by Paraguay.

It is often drank as a ritual "usually sucked out of a horn cup (or gourd) called guampa with a bombilla".

Though it would be considered a herbal drink it does have a stimulant to it, which is similar to caffeine.

Last week a tea friend invited me to sip yerba mate as a ritual from her country of Argentina.

She was born in Argentina, but grew up in Spain and her family drank yerba mate often.

I have never had the opportunity to sip and enjoy yerba mate, so was very much looking forward to it.

There were wonderful nibbles and lovely quince tart to go along with sipping.

The host fills the cup half full of the yerba mate, then adds hot water.

The host then sips from the bombilla until the cup is emptied as we visit.

The host then fills the same cup with hot water and passes it to a guest,

then they sip the full cup as we visited.  This is repeated until we go all around

the circle.  There were five of us on this particular afternoon of sipping.

Once it has gone around the circle this can be repeated for as long as desired.

It is definitely a communal experience.

For me the first tastes were so hot drinking through a metal "straw" I wasn't sure I would adjust.

Also I am not an herbal tea lover.  I do believe this is an acquired taste.

When the second round came by I did enjoy it quite alot.

Though I didn't drink more than two rounds it was very good and I would for sure drink it again.

My concern was staying awake that night with the stimulant involved;  however with

the two cups of yerba mate I had no problem sleeping.

Have you tried yerba mate?

Did you like it?

Do you encourage yourself to try new things?

I hope so, as it expands our world.

Mrs. Haney's Home

The front entrance:

The back of the house:

The storm cellar entrance:

 

Oh I wish I could have stepped inside and remembered visits I had here
so many years ago.
The house has stood empty for a long time, but as part of the
Mitchell County Museum in Kansas now it soon will have a new purpose.
It stands near the county hospital and will be turned into a Ronald McDonald home.
I think Mrs. Haney would have liked that.

We lived in this town about 40 years ago and Mrs. Haney taught me
about the love of old homes, old time crafts, antiques, and herb gardens.
In fact, she told me about women at that time that were making a difference
in the world of herbs in America, such as Bertha Reppert and Adelma at Capriland Farms.
She also introduced me to the children's book illustrator, Tasha Tudor.

In an earlier life of this house, Mrs. Haney told me there were great parties
where carriages dropped dignitaries off at the front door.  There was a circle drive there then.
Generals in their uniforms and ladies in their full ballgowns would step up the steps
and into this lovely home.  This beautiful home had a past that shined and
soon very soon there will be new life shining there.

Tisane or Tea?

 

Not long ago my husband realized he could no longer drink caffeine.
He was not happy with this discovery.
He loves his tea each morning and afternoon; so the exploration into the world of tisane's has begun.
Tisane is the actual word for herbal beverages.
They really are not tea, as tea is from the camellia sinensis plant.
This beautiful pot of tisane was just fresh mint leaves steeped for awhile and quite a nice one.
In the summer I like to steep fresh lemon verbena for a cool refreshing tisane.
My husband has begun exploring and trying different tulsi's or holy basil
and quite enjoying them.

Have you explored the world of tisane's?
What have you found that you love?

Strong Women - Rosemary Gladstar

Since I have been sharing herbalist recently, there is one more strong woman I
wanted to introduce you to that is a herbalist.
Rosemary Gladstar has been sharing her knowledge, experience, and love of herbs since 1972.
She once had a herb shop in my hometown of Sebastopol, California.
She now is the director of Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center and Native Plant Preserve
in Vermont. This is where I had the opportunity to meet her in 2005.
I loved walking in her fairy garden with stone castles and tunnels built into the garden for the fairies that visited at night.  What a delight it was to imagine.  She said she sometimes heard them.
 She is also the founder of United Plant Savers and is the author of several books, including Herbal Healing for Women, Herbs for Natural Beauty, Herbs for the Home Medicine Chest, Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal and Planting the Future: Saving Our Medicinal Herbs.

When I was visiting the Retreat Center I bought the book, Herbs for Longevity and Well-Being.
In the book there is a recipe for Longevity Chai, which sounds like it would be worth trying.

6 slices fresh, grated gingerroot
4 whole cloves
2 teaspoons cardamom, crushed
3 tablespoons cinnamon chips (or one stick broken into small pieces)
6 black peppercorns
1 tablespoon sliced ginseng root
1 tablespoon sliced licorice root
1 tablespoon sliced fo-ti  (I am not sure what this is)
5 tablespoons black tea leaves
6 cups water
honey to taste
frothy milk (can be soy or rice milk)
nutmeg or cinnamon

Gently warm herbs and water in a covered saucepan for 10-15 minutes.
Do not boil.  Strain the mixture into a warmed teapot and add honey to taste.
Pour chai into a large cup, add a generous heap of frothed milk, and sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon.

For more information visit the Sage Mountain website.
Rosemary Gladstar is truly another fascinating, strong woman.

Strong Women - Bertha P. Reppert

 The third woman I heard about in the 1970's was Bertha Reppert.  Who could have guessed that later I would meet her daughters, Nancy and Susanna, and learn more about their very special mother.  I asked them to share a little about their strong woman, mom.  I included all their contact information at the end.  If you have a chance, they have great tours and their gardens are amazing.  I met Tasha Tudor by traveling on one of their tours.  Some year I still would like to visit when their Fairy Festival is taking place.

Bertha Reppert was into herbs long before they became fashionable!  She was all self-taught, reading and pursuing any information about herbs she could find, and then sharing this knowledge along the way.

Maureen Rogers, executive director of the Herb Growing and Marketing Network wrote about Bertha Reppert saying she "was one of the most creative, gifted, humorous and wise women to grace the herb industry.  Her books will stand as a legacy to anyone that believes in herbal living and loves good writing."

Joyce E. Brobst, past president of the Herb Society of America said "Bertha Reppert has been an inspiration to so many people wanting to learn about herbs.  On every occasion her wisdom would be shared through her visuals of dried herbs, concoctions and wisps of this and that to enhance one's memory of the presentation.  Every contact with her filled one's senses with herbal memories, and a recognition that here was a person who enjoyed and respected life and all of its mysteries."

 

Everything with a root was her passion!  She was an active member of Penn-Cumberland Garden Club when Mildred Dunlap presented a program on Herbs of the Bible.  This inspired her to read every book available on herbs and herb gardening.  She then began growing the herbs and using them in every conceivable way from pot pourri, to herbal sugars, to herb vinegar, to following her mothers recipes for goose grease salves and on and on.   A few years later, in 1968, she opened The Rosemary House in charming downtown Mechanicsburg, PA.   They say location, location, location is key to any business but as a mommy, Bertha Reppert chose her location because it was equal distance from all the schools in town.  The Rosemary House went on to grow and prosper and become a source for all things herbal whether it is culinary, fragrant or medicinal.  She went on to author many books on herbs including Herbs with Confidence and A Heritage of Herbs.  Bertha Reppert's herb shop inspired many others to begin herb shops, farms and businesses and so she authored another book called Growing your Herb Business  a practical book for any small business entrepreneur.   Three of her 4 daughters have gone on to own their own business,  Susanna Reppert Brill has continued The Rosemary House, Nancy Reppert owns Sweet Remembrances Tea Room, Marj Reppert owns an antiques and collectibles shop, Rosemary Remembrances II in Jim Thorpe PA.

Rosemerrily,
Rosemary

The Rosemary House
120 South Market Street
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Celebrating 40 years! 1968-2008!
(717) 697-5111 (Ask for Susanna)
(717) 697-3222, FAX
www.TheRosemaryHouse.com
TheRosemaryHouse@aol.com
"Rosemary's Sampler" our blog: www.TheRosemaryHouse.blogspot.com
www.SweetRemembrancesTeaRoom.com
We invite you to visit our Rosemary House Complex, which offers a Retail Store, Private Party Tea Room and Beautiful Display Gardens. We offer workshops, lectures, and herbal dinners. Mechanicsburg is 10 miles west of Harrisburg, PA.
Store Hours: Tuesday through Friday 10 AM - 6 PM and Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM.

Lavender Blue

When I see lavender I always think of this children's song.
At one time I wanted to open a tea shop and thought I would name it Lavender Blue.
Lavender just sings to my heart.
This is the visit to the lavender farm, where I see they also love chairs.
Today we go again to pick up 20 lavender plants for our garden.
I can't wait to see them growing there.
Best wishes for a delightful day.
May we all be King's and Queen's, dilly dilly.

Lyrics:

Lavender's blue dilly, dilly,
Lavender's green;
When I am king, dilly, dilly,
You shall be Queen.
Call up your men dilly, dilly,
Set them to work,
Some to the plough, dilly, dilly,
Some to the cart.
Some to make hay, dilly, dilly,
Some to thresh corn,
Whilst you and I, dilly, dilly,
Keep ourselves warm.

Alternate words:

Let the birds sing dilly dilly, and the lambs play,
We shall be safe dilly dilly, out of harm's way.

Abbey Notre-Dame de Senanque

The Abbey Notre-Dame de Senanque was tucked into the Luberon hills.
Driving around winding roads through the countryside we began to
wonder if we were going to ever arrive. Then around a curve we spotted the abbey surrounded by a field of lavender.

Quoting from Rick Steves travel book:
"This still-functioning and beautifully situated Cistercian abbey was built in 1148 as a back-to-basics reaction to the excesses of Benedictine abbeys. The Cistercians strove to be separate from the world, and to recapture the simplicity, solitude, and poverty of the early Church. To succeed required industrious self-sufficiency-a skill that these monks had. Their movement spread and colonized Europe with a new form of Christianity. By 1200, there were more than 500 such monasteries and abbeys in Europe."

The industrious monks today make lavender products from their surrounding fields. It was past the time of lavender production and the plants had been trimmed into round balls waiting to again produce beautiful lavender next year.
Walking around the grounds was very peaceful.
I did happen upon vespers being sung in the chapel and enjoyed some moments of quiet listening.

Lavender Days

Saturday we were off to the lavender fields of Sequim, Washington.
I met the owner of Port Williams Lavender Farm a few weeks ago
and thought it would be fun to stop by his farm.

It was a beautiful day full of the scent of lavender.
There were all different shades in the field.
Dark lavender

Lighter colored lavender

Fiona, the fairy, traveled along to visit the lavender.
She found the sign for Provence and had hoped that if she blinked
her eyes she would be transported to the lavender fields
in Provence.
****
For me it was a research trip to find lavender honey for my website.
Michael, the farmer, also had explained to me how to infuse
lavender to use in jelly. He suggested steeping it like tea, then just adding the tea into whatever jelly or other food preparation. He felt putting the actual blossom heads into
food was not pleasant for eating and that a tea was easier to control the flavor.
A new jelly recipe is brewing in my head and soon I will need to take
the recipe and see if it is as good as I imagine.

Lavender Touch

It must be summer, the lavender is beginning to bloom.

Brushing my hand along their blooms as I walk through the garden releases their fragrance and connects me to the essence.

When we walk by a friend, do we brush our hand along their arm and touch, releasing their fragrance? Do we feel more connected?

What do we touch as we move through life that releases a fragrance such as the touch of lavender or herb? Touching can bring such sensual feelings of happiness and joy. Touch something or someone today and release your inner feelings. Notice what you notice as you touch today.

Lavender Farms

Jardin du Soleil, Sequim, Washington

Cederbrook Lavender and Herb Farm, Sequim, Washington

Lavender Wind Farm on Whidbey Island, Washington

I have been away for a few days visiting lavender fields in Washington. What a beautiful sight to see each farm. There were special things about each farm. Hummm! I thought they would all look the same, but each had there own personality.

The Lavender Wind Farm had sunflowers and red poppies interspersed in the lavender, a lovely pond, and a labyrinth of lavender.

Cederbrook Lavender & Herb Farm had soft colors of Provence Lavender, herbs, and flowers. They also had a wonderful cafe where they served beautiful salads and lavender lemonade.

Jardin du Soleil was the most fragrant and vibrant of colors with the Grusso Lavender their main variety. Their gift shop was full of wonderful lavender soaps.

If you ever want a lavender experience that feels like a touch of the South of France, Provence, visit Sequim, Washington in the summer.

Lemon Verbena

Lemon Verbena is a herb I must have in the herb garden each year. Just to touch it smells divine. Instead of adding a slice of lemon to your iced tea, add a small twig of lemon verbena. You can add a twig to lemonade or cocktails also. Lemon Verbena can also flavor pound cakes, custards, shortbreads, and creams, plus add a citrusy-sweet note to a vinaigrette.

Organic Gardening recommends using it as follows:

Cut 10 6-inch-long stems from your lemon verbena plant. Strip the leaves from the steams and crush them in your hands until they release their scent. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add the leaves and 1 cup of sugar. Stir the mixture constantly until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside for 24 hours. Then pour the syrup through a strainer to remove the leaves. Drizzle the syrup over fresh fruit or use it to sweeten iced tea.

Personally I wouldn't want all that sugar; so I might follow the instructions but just leave out most or all of the sugar, then use it to make iced tea or to add to other recipes for flavoring. I have made and served Lemon Verbena iced tea for parties in past summers.