Gender: Masculine
Planet: Sun
​Element: Fire

Sunflowers are associated with wishes, manifesting, spiritual enlightenment, optimism, and peace! What more could you ask for? The sunflower is one of the most powerful plants on the planet and simply looking at it can warm the heart and bring joy!

Golden sunflowers are associated with Lion’s Gate and serve as a catalyst for magnetizing dreams and wishes. On August 8 (8-8) every year, the Lion’s Gate Portal opens. It officially starts on July 26 until August 12, with August 8 being the most powerful time period. During this time, Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, aligns with Mars in Leo. The number 8 is associated with abundance and infinity, and during this brief opening, there are powerful opportunities for personal growth, transformation, wishes, and manifesting. You are encouraged to dream of your ideal life, and to have faith that through your unique talents and gifts they will unfold. 

Cutting a sunflower at dawn and making wishes on it at any time will result in your wishes coming true. Place the blossom under your bed and any secrets that have been kept from you will be revealed in your dreams. 

Sunflower seeds have been used for protection during times of illness and plague, and were carried in cloth bags, or strung like beads and worn as necklaces to prevent illness. The seeds are associated with fertility, and women who want to become pregnant have eaten the seeds to increase fertility. 

As the sunflower grows, it turns its head to follow the sun and look for the light. Its focus encourages optimism and growth. Wishing you a joyful Lion’s Gate Portal and an end of summer filled with belief in your talents and gifts, personal growth and transformation, and dream come true! 

Plan to make several wreaths to share with friends!

Wrap the ribbon diagonally down the stem, secure at the base of the stem with a couple of knots, then cut the ribbon. ​

Podophyllum peltatum
Poison
Gender - Masculine
Planet - Mercury
Element​ - Fire

Even though they aren’t related, the mayapple and the true mandrake have similarities in addition to being poisonous. Their vibrations are fire, they are considered masculine, though I must admit they appear more feminine to me, and their planet association is Mercury, Both are attributed with powers of attracting wealth and abundance, 

You’ll find the mayapple flowers in the woods, often barely visible under the large leaves. Sometimes we need to kneel down to see them. When we are able to catch a glimpse of them peaking out from under their protective shields, we will be delighted!

This is true with us as well. If others allow us to feel safe and comfortable, they will be enchanted by the talents, gifts and wisdom we have to share. 

Do you find yourself hiding, and uncomfortable sharing your gifts?
Do you need to come out from under your leaves so others can see your talents?
Do you associate with people who encourage you to feel safe and comfortable, avoiding if possible those that don’t recognize your value?
Do you encourage others to feel safe and confident being their truest selves? 
Are there people you might view differently if you’d look at them from another angle and shift your perspective? 

My grandmother grew tulips in many colors of the rainbow next to her wrap around porch on her farm in Greencastle, Indiana. She passed years ago, but this poem by Lisa Schroeder reminds me of her.

As a child, tulips reminded me of my grandmother and the promise of spring! The varieties are delightful from the huge Emperor tulips, classic Dutch, double tulips, fringed, flared, parrot and more. All colors from pristine white to deep black, and every color in between are available, with some having two or more colors!  Tulips planted around a home were thought to provide protection from curses and evil spirits, and bring prosperity and luck.

They originated in Central Asia and Turkey and were associated turbans and protection. I always thought they came from the Netherlands, but they didn’t arrive there until the 17th century, and were a symbol of wealth and status. There was a period during 1636 and 1637, called the Dutch Golden Age, when the prices for exotic and rare tulip varieties skyrocketed.  One of the most expensive bulbs was compared to the price of a brownstone home in New York City. The ‘mania’ was short lived and the collapse of the bubble  had economic repercussions for long after the brief period of madness.  

Many of you know I research topics for my workshops and topics using the alphabet. When I got to H as I was researching tulips, I was surprised to learn of the Hunger Winter. Tulips were used as food in attempts to stay alive, but tens of thousands died, and many suffered long term health issues for the rest of their lives. Actress Audrey Hepburn was a teenager living in the Netherlands during the winder of 1944  - 1945. She suffered from malnutrition and hardships as a result of the famine. 

The deaths during the hunger winter resulted from a variety of factors. It was a harsh and brutal winter, and the Germans requisitioned food from the Netherlands to support their war efforts, depleting the food supply for the Dutch population. Allied forces implemented a blockade to German occupied territories, and bombings and military action in the area greatly impacted transporting food. ​

Ginger Orange Spice Tea

• I cup ginger root, chopped or sliced
• 4 cups water

Put ginger in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 minutes

Gather additional ingredients

• I orange, juice and zest
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise 
• nutmeg, grate a pinch on top
• 1/4 cup honey (local is best, especially if you get spring fever)

Remove ginger from heat. Cool slightly. Strain liquid into a quart jar. Add orange juice and zest, honey and spices. 
Pour into mugs. Add more honey if desired and use a cinnamon stick to stir, or as a garnish. 

 Why drink ginger tea?

In addition to tasting delightful,  there are so many benefits! Here are a few!

• Heart Health - ​Ginger lowers cholesterol levels and improves circulation. 
• Anti-inflammatory - ​It has bioactive compounds that reduce inflammation and can provide relief to those suffering from arthritis.
• ​Rich in Antioxidants -​ Combats oxidative stress and protects from damage caused by free radicals.
• Aids in Digestions - Relieves indigestion, bloating and nausea associated with motions sickens, morning sickness and chemotherapy.
• Boosts Immunity - Ginger has antiviral and antibacterial properties that can strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of infections. 

Peter Barr, a Victorian era nurseryman, read Parkinson’s Paradisus in Sole, describing the varieties of daffodils and narcissus that grew in the British Isles in the 1600s. He was frustrated that they no longer existed locally and became obsessed with finding them and giving them a renaissance. 

Barr, a Scotsman, traveled through Europe in the mid 1800s, often on horseback, in search of these wildflowers.. At age seventy-two, Barr expanded his search worldwide, planning a five year trip which actually lasted for seven. He traveled to Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, islands in the  Pacific and the United States to locate and collect the daffodil bulbs. He only spoke Scottish English, so he used pictures to show the locals what he was hoping to find. He told of finding six thousand to seven thousand bulbs in certain areas, and one particularly successful quest resulted in nearly twelve thousand bulbs. All were collected, bagged and returned to  England. 

In 1890, he demonstrated the success of his travels with a four day daffodil festival, and in the years that followed, he put on annual displays of up to two million plants at his nurseries. As a result, the Gardener’s Chronicle, a British Horticulture periodical, gave him the distinguished and well deserved title of the Daffodil  King!

Barr, a modest man, credited Oscar Wilde’s love of yellow. Barr stated, “Wilde used to lecture on aesthetic colors, and to him we owe more than to anyone else the taste for yellow, to my mind the most beautiful color in nature. He took the sunflower, but that is too ‘lumpy,’ and the people soon got tired of sunflowers. Then my daffodils came, and they came to stay.” [Bendico Advertiser 1900]

I found this particularly amusing since Oscar Wilde was once arrested, and charged with gross indecency, for carrying a Yellow Book!  At the time, there were books with yellow covers that were considered scandalous and no decent person would openly carry a Yellow Book in public. But that’s a story for another time! 

It’s impossible to know if daffodils would have been completely obliterated if not for The Daffodil King’s efforts, but it is  likely they would not be as well known, revered and cherished as they are today. There is a wealth of information on Peter Barr, and if you are at all  intrigued, I highly recommend you check  out the links below. . His travel journals were my favorite, describing harrowing, and at times hilarious, adventures!  His writing style is delightful! Here’s an example! 

Once upon a time in the mystical lands of Persia, there lived a cheeky little flower known as Crocus sativus, or as its friend liked to call it, "Sassy Saffron." This feisty little blossom wasn't your average garden variety; oh no, Sassy Saffron had a secret power that would make even the most enchanted fairies jealous – the ability to weave golden threads of magic and mischief!

Legend has it that Sassy Saffron was the result of a love affair between a mischievous elf and a dashing garden gnome who just couldn't resist the allure of each other's charm. One fateful night, under the enchanting glow of a full moon, they shared a forbidden dance among the petals of the Crocus sativus, and voila! Sassy Saffron was born, with golden threads in its delicate blooms that held the power to make even the grumpiest trolls crack a smile.
​
Now, Sassy Saffron wasn't content with just being a pretty face in the garden. It had dreams of making its mark on the world, and so it decided to embark on a quest to become the most sought-after spice in the culinary realm – saffron! Little did it know that its golden threads would become the stuff of legends and culinary dreams.
​
As Sassy Saffron traveled through the ages, it encountered a plethora of characters who were desperate to get their hands on its magical threads. Cleopatra, the legendary queen of Egypt, was said to have used saffron in her infamous milk baths, believing that the golden essence would grant her eternal beauty. Rumor has it that her court jesters would dance around her with bouquets of Crocus sativus, creating a scene that even Shakespeare would have envied.

​In medieval times, Sassy Saffron became the secret weapon of love-struck troubadours who believed that a sprinkle of saffron in their serenades would make even the most stone-hearted princesses swoon. Tales of knights on noble steeds wielding saffron-infused dishes as their secret weapons spread far and wide, proving that love could indeed be spiced up with a dash of Sassy Saffron's golden magic.
​
As the years went by, Sassy Saffron continued to weave its way into the tapestry of folklore, enchanting chefs, poets, and lovers alike. Its golden threads were believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and an undeniable zest for life. Even today, the mystical aura of Crocus sativus lives on, as chefs sprinkle its golden dust into their culinary creations, hoping to capture a bit of that otherworldly magic on their plates.

So the next time you find yourself in the presence of a dish adorned with the golden threads of Sassy Saffron, take a moment to appreciate the enchanting journey that this mischievous little flower has had. After all, behind every aromatic saffron-infused creation lies a tale of love, laughter, and a touch of whimsical magic from the legendary Crocus sativus – the one and only Sassy Saffron!​

Read more about Crocus in last year’s herbal blog, 3-15-23!