An ABC of herbs from the Klehm Arboretum

In June on one of the fine days we had before the rains started, my husband and I decided to visit the Klehm Arboretum in Rockford, IL.

There were several things there I just loved.  Beyond the experimental garden where they had different plantings and garden ornament which I always love to tour, there was a maze garden and children's garden of ABCs.

I loved this garden because it was a mix of common names and scientific names and they did not even stretch too far to find something for each letter.

For E they used Echinacea, it was too soon to tell it if was the purple variety or not, but that was my guess.  For F they chose Floss Flower Ageratum houstonianum.  I guess I never knew this name for this plant wish is a "Miller," like Dusty Miller, but then I saw it at the Rotary International Garden in Janesville, identified with this same name, so now I think this may be a Midwestern name for it and I still harken back to my Ohio roots when iidentifying plants by common names.

H was a lovely planting of  Hen & Chicks in a ceramic pot with the checks spreading down to the ground.

J was a plant I had never heard of called Jewels of Opar.  What I discovered was it is Talinum paniculatum,  a succulent subshrub in the purslane family. Or in the vernacular, a species of Portulaca or Moss Roses.

Lamb's Ear stood up for L, with Marigolds for M.  Nepeta (catnip) was used for N and  with O being Oenothera or Sundrops.

Windflower represented W, but I was too early to see it flowering.It has a small white pointed five petal flower  Anemone nemorosa is thought to be the flower the Adonis turns into after having been torn to pieces by a boar in Ovid's 'Venus and Adonis.'

R was a stand by perennial Rudbeckia, I suspect the usual Black Eyed Susans will be blooming here soon.

X was Xanthoriza simplicissima, Yellow Root, a shrubbery that you cannot even see in this photo because it is is so small.

But I found it in another image....

for Y they used the herb Yarrow and Z was for Zinna, one of my favorite flowers.....



The Klehm Arboretum is 155 acres of trees, plants, shrubs and flowers nestled into the south side of Rockford Illinois, at 2715 S. Main Street.  During the Summer they are open 9 am to 8 pm and the admission is very reasonable.  I took more than 100 photos during our trip, so I guarantee there is more to see that what I have shared here.



Echinacea - Herb of the Week

I was over at the garden and realized that my Echinacea (Purple Cone Flower) escaped!  I had the plants in nice bunches at the end of a couple of rows near the back of the garden - somewhat close the the fence.  When I was out viewing the garden last week I found the plants had moved to the other side of the fence.  I am assuming they had help masterminding this escape in the form of birds or squirrels, but whoever helped the entire hillside is now dotted with Echinacea and wild bergamot (Bee Balm) which I have not even planted here in this garden, but did have in my former garden.

Here is the hillside:

Echinacea is a lovely plant which I grow for the root as it is the most potent part of the plant medicinally speaking.  I am kinda excited that I have a few extra.  It is a native prairie plant in Illinois, so it is not impossible for it to easily reseed here.

Therefore I thought I would focus on this wonderful plant as Herb of the week -- Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

The variety that I grow is Echinacea purpurea although the more popular version is Rudbeckia purpurea.  There are several other versions as well all of which have the same medicinal properties in the roots, leave and flowers.  Echinacea requires well-drained soil and a sunny location, which is why it is doing so well on the hillside.  the plants are deep rooted, so if your soil is shallow place them in a raised bed.  They are great in erosion prone areas as once established they are even draught resistant.

Echinaceas are a perennial and can be divided in both fall and spring.  You can propagate them from root cuttings as well.  They grow easily from seed (as evidence by my hill).  They germinate easier however if the seeds are stratified.

Stratification

Stratification is using cold to crack or break the seed surface to ease germination.  If you scatter seed outside and it winters over, as mine did you get natural stratification.  However if you buy seeds you may need to stratify them.  This is simple to do.  Mix the seed with some sterile sand and place in a zip lock bag.  Place the bag int he crisper drawer of the refrigerator for 4 weeks.  then you can plant the seed outside or in pots depending on the season.  If you plant them in pots, do not transplant until the roots have filled the pots.

Medicinal uses

Echinacea is a popular medicinal plant.  traditionally it has been used an an herbal remedy for the treatment of contagious illnesses and skin infections.  It has a significant immune-stimulating effect, enhancing the boy's ability to fight off bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms.  It is used commonly (as a tea) int hr treatment of common cold, flu and upper respiratory infections.  Recent clinical studies seem to uphold that it will reduce the symptoms and duration of these illnesses.

Recipes

I love Echinacea in tea.  the flavor is savory and earthy and not at all medicinal.  here is a blend I use in winter whenever the cold symptoms arise.

Lemon Ginger Echinacea Tea

2 cups boiling water

1 teaspoon dried echinacea flowers (or roots)

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger

juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon honey (or more to taste)

Add herbs to a mug or pot and pour boiling water over them.  Allow to steep 10 to 15 minutes.  Strain and add lemon juice and honey to taste.  (I have also been known to add whiskey!)

Echinacea Tincture

A tincture is a concentrated alcohol extraction of the herbal essence that can be take kinda like a cough syrup for its medicinal properties.

Here are the simple steps for making a tincture using echinacea.  All you need are glass jars, some 80 proof alcohol (vodka, everclear, Brandy or rum will all work) and fresh or dried echinacea, roots, flowers, stems and leaves are all appropriate.  (Since I save the roots for tea I use the leaves and stems for this!)

1. Fill a quart jar 2/3 full of echinacea flowers.
2. Pour 80 proof alcohol over flowers, filling jar.
3. Cover jar tightly and label.
4. Steep herb for at least 2 weeks, shaking jar every day.
5. After 2 weeks, tincture can be strained if desired. The finished tincture will keep indefinitely.
6. Repeat process using Echinacea roots. Combine these two finished tinctures to create a more powerful synergistic blend.

Tips:

1. Store tincture in a darkened area.Store in colored glass if possible.
2. Strain tincture through fine cheesecloth, if desired.
3. Do not use anything but glass to make your tinctures.

Making a "Garden Tincture"

Here's an idea we ran in the spring of 2003 on making a "Garden Tincture"

In my garden, I grow an assortment of plants from which I harvest parts all season long for their medicinal virtues. (When I say that I pick the flowers, what I really mean is the flower along with stem and leaves attached.) When the Echinacea purpurea is blooming, I pick flowers and put them a jar filled with 70% ethanol (usually diluted Everclear). When the yarrow blooms, some of those are added. Of course, the Beebalm flowers are desired, and they add a pretty color, as well as antiviral properties. Anise hyssop flowers go in when they arrive and lemon balm leaves are gathered as I pass them on the way to the elderberry “tree”. This plant would normally grow as a shrub, but I’ve pruned it to grow as a tree and it has a beautiful canopy that shades the horse’s water trough now. When the berries are plump and juicy, I gather a handful and add them to the jar. Then I put the jar on the shelf to steep for a few months, and by the time winter and the accompanying sniffles arrive, I’m ready! We use it at the first sign of an illness, no matter what type, and the symptoms are gone in short order. If we didn’t respond soon enough and a full-blown illness erupts, I’ll add some Usnea tincture to the flower tincture to ramp up the power.
This was submitted by:
Roxann Phillips, www.AncientEarthWisdom.com, offers herbwalks, expeditions and workshops from her property located in the Arkansas Boston Mountains.