It's the Year of the Marigold!

The National Garden Bureau (NGB) has announced that 2010 is the Year of the Marigold. Yay for the marigold. Marigolds are one of the most popular plants grown and sold, but they are also one of the least respected. They rank right down there with petunias and red geraniums, in the hierarchy of garden snobs. Isn't that always the way? The plants that deliver season after season are the ones we take for granted.


So kudos to the NGB for singling out marigolds. This isn't the first time marigolds have been honored. According to the NGB, "... the Aztec people ... attributed magical, religious and medicinal properties to marigolds."


Marigolds are native to the western Americas, from Argentina to Arizona. Seeds traveled to Spain and from there to Northern Africa, where they became naturalized, giving us the popular Tagetes erecta, the tall African marigold.
Their Latin name, Tagetes, goes back to the Italian god, Tages. "A grandson of Jupiter, Tages came forth from a clod of earth as a wise and handsome boy." So let's all show marigolds the respect they deserve. Use them along borders, in containers and even hanging baskets. I still love marigolds in my vegetable garden, where they seem to deter the rabbits.
You won't have to look far to find marigold plants. Every garden center sells a couple of varieties as seedlings. But for the best selection, grown your own. The large seeds are quick and easy to grow. And if you want to make them a little more impressive, call them by their proper name, Tagetes, (tah-JEE-deez). It's one of those names we've all seen written, but only 1 in 100 knows how to pronounce.

• Marigold Growing Tips
• The Different Types of Marigolds
• Companion Planting

It's the Year of the Marigold!

The National Garden Bureau (NGB) has announced that 2010 is the Year of the Marigold. Yay for the marigold. Marigolds are one of the most popular plants grown and sold, but they are also one of the least respected. They rank right down there with petunias and red geraniums, in the hierarchy of garden snobs. Isn't that always the way? The plants that deliver season after season are the ones we take for granted.

Nourishing Herbal Teas & Infusions

The Basis of Vibrant Health
Nourishing herbal teas and infusions are an inexpensive and good-tasting way to provide a solid basis for your nutritional and health program. They provide a wealth of vitamins and minerals that your body can easily absorb and provide food for the cells of your body. One mug of an overnight infusion provides approximately 300 mg of calcium plus large amounts of numerous other nutrients.


Nourishing herbal teas also detoxify and alkalinize the body. A body which is too acid is a perfect breeding ground for diseases to take hold including heart disease and cancer. Drinking 1-3 cups of nourishing herbal tea/infusion a day goes a long way to building a healthy body. Drink a different one each day for full nutritional and health benefits.
The nourishing herbs which are the most valuable for daily use as a food and supplement are: Red Clover Blossoms, Nettle Leaf, Raspberry Leaf, Comfrey Leaf and Oatstraw. They are safe and valuable for every member of your family: adults, children, elders and pets.
When you drink these teas on a regular basis, you also benefit from the medicinal properties that each herb provides. Here are just a few of the benefits of these wonderful nourishing herbs:
Oatstraw (Avena sativa)

• everyone’s favourite herb
• very nutritive and an excellent source of calcium
• strengthens bones, hair, nails, teeth
• nourishes the nerves to relieve stress, emotional uproar, depression
• provides a deep delicious sleep
• reduces night sweats, hot flashes
• nourishes the liver
• strengthens the adrenals
• provides energy
• stabilizes blood sugar levels
• reduces cholesterol and risk of heart disease
• nourishes the musculo-skeletal system and makes treatments easier
• and more
  

Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica)

• valuable nourishing and tonic herb
• lung ally for respiratory conditions: hay fever, asthma, allergies
• nourishes and energizes endocrine glands
• nourishes and strengthen nervous system
• relieves stress
• reduces fatigue
• excellent kidney ally, eases cystitis, bloat, incontinence
• eases and prevents sore joints: arthritis, rheumatism
• rejuvenates cardio-vascular system: high blood pressure, hardened arteries, weakened veins
• digestive restorative
• stabilizes blood sugar
• creates strong flexible bones
• reduces hot flashes and night sweats
• reduces flooding
• provides iron to reduce anemia
• re-hydrates dry vaginal tissues
• and more

Red Clover Blossoms (Trifolium pratense)

• very nourishing, alkalizing
• blood purifier
• eases inflammatory conditions: sore joints, arthritis, gout
• reduces lymph congestion
• excellent for lumps and bumps of all kinds
• anti-cancer, powerful cancer remedy
• protects liver
• reduces hot flashes and night sweats
• eases chronic skin conditions: eczema, psoriasis, etc
• provides energy
• lung ally: coughs, bronchitis, whooping cough
• soothing to nerves, eases anxiety
• and more

Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus)

• very nourishing and tonic herb
• calcium rich, builds strong bones and teeth
• lowers blood sugar levels
• strengthens and tones female and male reproductive system
• important hormonal ally during menopausal and childbearing years as well as puberty
• hot flashes
• prevents flooding and spotting
• pregnancy: helps prevent miscarriage; eases morning sickness, assists contractions, checks hemmorhaging, reduces pain during labour and after birth
• and more

Comfrey Leaf (Symphytum officinale)

• nourishing tonic to all parts of body
• builds strong bones, healthy skin, nails and hair
• eases sore joints: gout, arthritis
• quickly heals broken bones, sprains, wounds, bruises, burns, eczema, boils, slow healing sores
• helps regulate blood sugar
• excellent for the respiratory system: asthma, allergies, hay fever, pleurisy, pneumonia, sinusitis, asthma, emphysema, particularly diseases of long duration like pneumonia; powerful remedy for coughs, colds, catarrh, ulcerated bowels & stomach
• reduces anemia
• general aid to digestion
• ulcers
• and more