Plants – Herbal Teas

On May 11, 2017May 10, 2017 By TimelessladyIn Plants19 Comments

I’ve lost count of how many years I’ve grown the herb lemon balm. I use it mainly for tea. The butterflies and bees love it for the delicious nectar in its tiny white flowers. I have near two dozen plants growing in several gardens surrounding my home. Why do I grow so many? Well they self-seed, make excellent tea, are linked to longevity, will grow where other plants would succumb to bad conditions, new sprouts are easily transplanted to a new location, and most important, I find the plants pretty.

The batch above is growing strong around my Square Foot Garden boundaries. In some areas it has inter-mingled with spearmint that has also run rampant and multiplied from one plant.

These two herbs, steeped in just-boiled water make a lovely, invigorating, yet calming tea. If you find these plants in a garden nursery and have room to grow them, give them a try.

Plants – Spearmint

On July 3, 2015July 10, 2015 By TimelessladyIn Plants19 Comments

Spearmint Mentha spicata

My spearmint patch has spread around the borders of my Square Foot Gardens. I love the fragrance the plants release as I work in the raised beds. It’s impossible to dislike weeding when a cloud of spearmint-scented air wells up around me as I pull out crabgrass and other persistent weeds.

I’ve posted in the past on making delicious teas with fresh spearmint leaves. Place a few sprigs in a teacup, add boiling water and a bit of honey, and you have an invigorating cup of tea. Seriously though, I have to be aware of the time of day when I drink Spearmint tea. The herb is a stimulant and can keep me awake if I drink it too late in the day.

My spearmint reached the flowering stage this week. To enable the plants to branch out I harvested the tops of the tallest stems. I decided it was the perfect time to try a new idea I recently stumbled across: making my own herbal extracts.

The first step is to buy a good vodka. I was thrilled to find an organic variety.

After a gentle rinse and drying time, chop the spearmint leaves (or whatever herb you are using) into small pieces, place in a glass jar, and cover with the vodka. I found a great tip that advised on putting a plastic bag between the lid and jar. If rust forms on the lid it can contaminate the extract. The plastic keeps this from happening. Let the jar sit in a dark place, shake it every now and then, for four to six weeks. Strain off the herbs and place the finished spearmint extract into dark bottles. The extract will keep for three to five years.

Terrific directions and information can be found at this site: Mountain Rose Herbs: How to make your own liquid herbal extract.

I had quite a few sprigs of the spearmint left over. I removed the leaves from the stems and placed them on a parchment-covered drying rack in my turkey roaster. I set the temperature on the warm and let the herbs sit for twenty-four hours. This is a quick way to start the drying process. You can read about other techniques for drying fresh herbs at: Mother Earth News – Six Ways to Dry Fresh Herbs.

The leaves dried nicely, most retaining an appealing green color.

I put the leaves in a brown paper bag. A good place to continue the drying process is in a dark closet. When completely dry, I can store the spearmint in glass jars until I am ready to use it.

Pleasures – Spearmint Tea

On December 15, 2013December 15, 2013 By TimelessladyIn Pleasures1 Comment

I love Spearmint…the fragrance, the taste of the tea. What seems a bane to some gardeners: the invasive spreading of the plant, is to me a blessing. Here is a repeat of some of the reasons why I feel this way.

It’s true, if you don’t contain spearmint in some way it will spread everywhere. The fact is though, I am very happy mine has taken over portions of my yard andgarden. I love spearmint tea. Pick off a bit of the stem with a few leaves intact, cover with boiling water, add a dab of honey, and you have a soothing, fragrant, delightful and vitamin packed cup of tea. I’m a cheerleader for spearmint in the garden: “Go, spearmint, go. Rah! Rah! Rah!”

Pleasure and Product – Pap-Pap’s Sugar

On August 28, 2012May 30, 2014 By TimelessladyIn Pleasures, Product2 Comments

My sister Susan’s honeybees often visit my yard. Bees can fly up to four miles from their hives to collect pollen, and I live only a mile away from my sister’s home and hives.

The honeybees love my spearmint, which happily is grown organically, as are all of my sister’s vegetables and flowers.

Here’s a jar of Susan’s honey. She calls it “Pap-pap’s Sugar” in honor of our grandfather who also loved bees and had many hives during his lifetime. The honey is so beautiful. I love the way the sunshine illuminates it’s golden and pure goodness. My favorite way to use it is in tea…a bit of heaven in a cup.

Pleasures – Spearmint Tea

On May 30, 2012May 30, 2014 By TimelessladyIn PleasuresLeave a comment

It’s true, if you don’t contain spearmint in some way it will spread everywhere. The fact is though, I am very happy mine has taken over portions of my yard and garden. I love spearmint tea. Pick off a few inches of stem with a few leaves intact, cover with boiling water, add a dab of honey, and you have a soothing, fragrant, delightful and vitamin packed cup of tea. I’m a cheerleader for spearmint in the garden: “Go, spearmint, go. Rah! Rah! Rah!”