January Rose Stroll

Rouge Ardeur (Red Passion)
Heirloom…French ?

This rose is so deep, almost black, the scent is light, yet almost spicy?

The red rose represents the passionate love that one brings to the loved one. There is romance in the bouquet of red roses but also the fervor and a strong ardor: it is the crazy love, which will not be stung by the thorns, a love that just is…

Gallicas are the oldest of the old garden roses, having been grown by the Greeks and Romans and later bred by the Dutch and French as many of the names indicate. Gallicas have been involved in the development of all four other classes of old garden roses and have influenced, at least to some small degree, nearly all garden roses to the present. Their great colors range from shades of pink, reds, and purples to crimson red with stripes. The single, double, or semi-double blooms are held either singly or in groups of three. The bushes are easily recognized as low suckering shrubs with foliage that is oval, pointed and has a rough texture that is typically dark green…can be kept as a low shrub or allowed it will grow as tall as 5 to 7 feet…..supposedly…I keep it low and shrub form.

Mine was a gift cutting from an herbalist friend, who dates hers to the great-great grandfather’s era (brought from France to Virginia to Tennessee..I doubt it can be found in the open market place…

January Rose Stroll

Julia Child…..Just before our wonderful American icon left us, she selected this exceptional rose to bear her name. Julia loved the even butter gold color & the licorice candy fragrance. Yet it wasn’t just the old-fashioned blooms that inspired the recipe. The perfectly rounded habit, super glossy leaves & great disease resistance finish off the dish. An awesome AARS award winner—a right & proper honor for a dear friend. Consistent, hardy & floriferous in all climates. Very disease resistant.

This has been in my Rose Garden for about 10 years…no issues!

Tree’s of Sage Hill Farms/Gardens

Trees~A Passion.

I know you’ve heard the term “tree hugger” I could easily, and actually thought of by some to be one.

Trees are so precious, so very much a must in the makeup of a balanced eco-system.
Trees serve as buffers between earth and elements.

Each year I look forward to the type of trees we can add to Sage Hill’s collection.
Some are deep rooted and close to one hundred years old, some are half that age and some are of the younger generation…..some, actually most are weather-beaten, bent, and even broken with mended trunks and branches that refused to die and be no more.

So, come walk with me and meet the Sentinels of the homestead called Sage Hill. *These have been taken by Mother Nature to grace the glorious grounds of Tree heaven!

So far we have the Southern Magnolia, *Norway Spruce, Tulip Magnolia, Golden Maple, *Bradford Pear, *Plum, Japanese Maple, White Pine, Bodock, Spring Apple, Apricot, Pear, Peach, Crape Myrtle, Holly, and Cedars.
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1…The Black Thorn or Black Locust tree is at least 100 years old, as you can see many years ago it split and managed to survive. The broken section on the ground is another split that took root and survived…..
Agent from the TN Forestry Dept. identified it as a Black Thorn or Black Locust…..the thorns are mighty and will hurt you if care isn’t taken!!

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2..The Eastern Red Cedar…was adopted by Legislation as the official Evergreen tree of Tennessee.(2012)

Cedar trees are part of a unique habitat found in Tennessee. The eastern red cedars live on the periphery of cedar glades where soil is very shallow and the limestone bedrock is found near or breaking through the surface.

The tree is sacred to the Cherokee people providing sanctuary for the spirits of their ancestors. Known as the “Tree of Life” the eastern red cedar is often burned in purification rituals. One story associated with the tree is The Legend of the Cedar Tree. It teaches us to accept our blessings and bestow them with gratitude.

The eastern red cedar was one of the earliest landscape plantings used by settlers to the area and can be found on the grounds of Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville.

The trees also supported one of the earliest Tennessee forest industries, cedar pencils! ( an old pencil factory not too far from Sage Hill.)

The state capitol in Nashville was built on Cedar Knob and the original name of the street at the foot of Cedar Knob at that time was named Cedar Street (now Charlotte Avenue).

Image may contain: tree, plant, sky, outdoor and nature

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The beautiful and ever giving American Holly…about 30 years old…parts of it has been cut away to keep it off the house….( a good point to remember) and should be stressed by landscapers….(Don’t plant trees to close to foundations.)

he American holly is extremely variable, both in the wild and in culture. More than 1,000 varieties have been named. It is generally a slow-growing tree, reaching up to 50 feet in height . Densely pyramidal in youth, it becomes more open with age. The leaves are typical of our image of a Christmas holly — thick and dark green, with spiny edges.

This tree is a female…producing green berries in the spring, which turns orange in the fall and red in the winter….the birds set up housekeeping and has a steady diet of yummy fruit all year!

Image may contain: plant, tree, outdoor and nature

~~4…Maple trees are plentiful in Tennessee also..Sage Hill has a beautiful Sugar Maple and a Large Leaf Maple…Sugar being in the front yard by the driveway and the Big leaf is in the Bog!

Sugar Maple

tree
5..Big Leaf

trees
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6..White Pines…a favorite

An herb tree…pine oil is used extensively in homeopathy medicine.

pines
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7..Hackberry….

Hackberry trees are among the best food and shelter plants for wildlife. Fruits are very important food source for both migrating and overwintering birds as well as for mammals. Host to many butterfly species including Hackberry, Question Mark and Mourning Cloak butterflies. Also larval host for some moths.

tree
8..June Apple….Old/heirloom variety….looks like a small Granny Smith and very tart…the best for dried or making jelly, pies, etc., not a good snack apple.

tree
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9.. Dogwood’s…Not large and only about 14 years old…beautiful in the mix

trees
10..Crape Myrtles…some people grow these as trimmed shrub size…these are smaller tree forms about 25 to 30 years old
trees

11.. Cortland apples, Peach, Pear, Plum and Fig
trees
12..Granny Smith…

13..Fig
fig
14..Plum

Plum
15..The Stately Southern Magnolia

I hope you’ve enjoyed my tour of Sage Hill trees….

Please, if you have a space, plant a tree…if you don’t have space, donate a tree to someone or some place who does…..they are one of our most valuable resources for clean air, food and shelter for wildlife and us human caretakers.

Blessings…

Trees

Joyce Kilmer, 1886 – 1918

I think that I shall never see   
A poem lovely as a tree.   
   
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest   
Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;   
   
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;   
   
A tree that may in summer wear   
A nest of robins in her hair;   
   
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;   
Who intimately lives with rain. 
   
Poems are made by fools like me,   
But only God can make a tree.

January Rose Stroll

Roses are seldom thought of as a medicinal option.

There is a saying that roses are good for “the skin and the soul.” and they do have a long tradition in medicinal use.

In Roman times the wild rose was used to counter the bites of rabid dogs.
Roses continued as an official medicine well into the 1930’s.

It has been known for its ability to ease a sore throat in a hasty manner.

Today the oil of rose is highly prized, being the most expensive of all essential oils. It is one of the most important oils in aromatherapy. In Ayurvedic medicine, roses are considered cooling and a tonic for the mind.

Rose oil contains vitamins C, B, E, and K., and about 300 chemical constituents, of which about 100 have been identified so far.

Rose Hips are a major source of vitamin C and make the most fabulous tea.

The petals are edible and can be used in many food choices…tossed into a fruit salad, frozen in cube trays for drinks, and sugared for cake toppings.

A rose is a rose is a rose…except when it’s a cup of tea~

Wild roses grow abundantly along the roadside and in other untamed places around Sage Hill…..they are beautiful and serve as habitats for birds and other wildlife, also helps to control erosion …please don’t cut or mow them down.

Make it a Rosy week y’all!

January Rose Stroll

The Pavement rose is really a ‘Rugosa’…whether seedlings, named varieties, or hybrids, all have a strong but delicate fragrance.

Rugosa’s usually have the look of wild roses, with single petals that can be pinkish, purplish or white. They can be semi double or double in the bloom.

The flowers are followed by fruits, called hips, that can be an inch or more across. The hips make delicious jams, tangy tea, and are rich in vitamin C.

Rugosa’s are covered in small spines and the leaves are dark and leathery.

You can count on blooms all summer, in fact mine starts blooming in the spring and is the last of the roses to fade away in the fall.

They must be kept pruned if you don’t wish to allow it to fill out its full potential…keep it pruned to 3 feet or let it grow to 6. The spread can be 4 to 6 feet also. ( this you can also control with pruning )

These beautiful roses are also disease resistant-a good thing !
They will flourish in zones 2-8 with full sun and well drained soil.

When you buy a Rugosa in the pot…make sure it is no more than twice as high as the container. Examine it well for any negatives -dark spots, leaves with holes or brown tips…it will either look really healthy or it will look sick…no in-between.

Each year( late winter )after all danger of freezing is past- cut the oldest stems down to the ground to make room for the new ones. Shorten any very long stems also.

In the spring, once established, it is wise to add some granular rose fertilizer-just once. Never ever over feed them.

Late summer, if you plan to use the hips-harvest them just after the leaves lose their dark green color. Dry them well and process accordingly to the purpose . You can eat them fresh if you like…allow them to stay on the shrub until they turn bright orange…remember they are loaded in vitamin C.

If you only have space for one rose…I would make it a Pavement-Rugosa Rose.

Yes….Southern girls know…it’s OK to wear a rose in the hair!!
It’s akin to mistletoe at Christmas time. (wink)

Sage Hill Rose Stroll of January~

Bea’s Buzz…must be Monday

Day’s Of Rain And Roses~

Doesn’t quite bring the urge to dance as the old and lovely song of “Day’s Of Wine And Roses.” That’s for another day 🙂

Roses can be simple and uncomplicated or, they can be a royal pain in the gardeners upkeep log.

I have learned a few tricks ( facts ) that will lessen the risk of unwanted issues.

If you mulch around your roses during the winter months, and you get a lot of rain…it is a good idea from time to time to pull back the mulch and allow the soil to breathe and dry out a bit.

Mulch can and does invite insects and critters to set up a warm and cozy retreat during the colder time of year.

Too much wet mulch can cause mildew and rot…so keep a close watch on your rose gardens during the winter, and especially during rainy months.

This is the time to bone up on rose gardening do’s and donts …we often forget that each species may and often times do, require different types of care.

Know your roses and your success will flourish.

And yes, roses are in the herb family. Nothing as good as a cup of Rose Hip Tea.

Stay tuned…I’ll be doing a series of “Rose Articles” through the remaining month of January. We have plenty of time to study, share, and learn…**do nothing for, or to, your roses until April….**

Hope to see you right here for the “Rose Stroll”…I’ll be posting Monday’s and Thursday’s-chime in anytime, ask questions, offer your ideas and practices…it’s free, educational and fun~

The Year of Change….2019

Can We Get There From Here?

I sometimes enjoy sharing “cool stuff” I find in my reading or traveling. I found this in the news magazine “Mother Jones”… (I first shared it in 2008)

I think it points out the fact that we need to take more control over our health decisions. Change some habits, take a hard look at our diets, our food sources, and make radical changes.

This is the text of the article from Mother Jones…

Do You Care About Your Health?

According to a report from the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, avoidable medical mistakes are the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, ahead of car accidents, breast cancer, and AIDS.
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There is no legal limit on the number of hours a physician can work in a 24-hour period. 70% of surgeons do not believe that fatigue affects their performance in the operating room.
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In a recent year, there were an estimated 44,000 to 98,000 avoidable patient deaths in American health care.
There are no federal laws requiring hospitals to report deaths and injuries to patients caused by error.
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**Some of these stats may have changed since published date**

Sure makes me look closer at other options!

To Your Good Health!~~

2019 can be YOUR year to take control and be all you are meant to be.

Just Do It!

https://sagehillgardens.com/healthy-after

Do.or Do Not.

The beginning of the new year and the time to make New Year resolutions.
If you do-I don’t. As Master Koda say’s- “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

January was established as the first month of the year by the Roman Calendar. It was named after the god Janus (Latin word for door). Janus has two faces which allowed him to look both backwards into the old year and forwards into the new one at the same time. He was the ‘spirit of the opening’.

In the very earliest Roman calendars there were no months of January or February at all. The ancient Roman calendar had only ten months and the new year started the year on 1 March. To the Romans, ten was a very important number. Even when January (or Januarius as the Romans called it) was added, the New Year continued to start in March. It remained so in England and her colonies until about 200 years ago.

The Anglo-Saxons called the first month Wolf monath because wolves came into the villages in winter in search of food.

ST. Hilary’s (one L) Feast Day has gained the reputation of being the coldest day of the year due to past cold events starting on or around this date.
One of the most severe winters in history began around 13 January in 1205, when the Thames in London froze over and ale and wine turned to solid ice and were sold by weight.
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History is the key to the future….we each can learn from visiting ancient to last year’s timelines.

My wish for the masses and the younger generations…Embrace and learn constantly from the past….”When you do not know where you’ve been, you cannot know where you’re going.”

Home And Hearth-Sage Hills Patriotic Kitchen

Herbs, Home and History~

Nothing more patriotic than home embraced….

Those who know me well know I’m an avid history buff…the more ancient the times, the more intense the interest.

I found this to be a very calming bit to know.

In Victorian times the seeds of Fennel came to symbolize the virtue of strength.
(a patriotic truth.)

At one time , fennel seeds were combined with those of Dill and Caraway in little sacks or purses, to be chewed at prayer meetings to quell hunger pangs; they were
known as “meeting seeds.”

Fennel is a self sowing herb valued for it’s distinctive aroma.
The leaves have an aniseed aroma.

I make this wonderful cleanser for my skin a couple of times a week during the winter.

1 tablespoon fennel seed
8 ounces of boiling water
1 teaspoon local honey
2 tablespoons buttermilk

Lightly crush the fennel seeds,
place in the boiling water and allow to infuse for 30 minutes.

Strain the cool liquid into a small bowl, add honey and buttermilk.
Put into a clean bottle and keep in the frig.

Used once or twice a day this will last about a week.

Rub over face and neck or the whole body…leave on for a few minutes and gently rinse away with a soft cloth and warm water.

Leaves the skin silky, clean, and delicious smelling.
(our body is a temple, on loan…treat it with love and respect.)

This makes a lovely wash for children and small babies.
(parents, treat your children like precious jewels…for they surely are)

Little girls adore it and it’s just bold enough that little boys don’t think it’s to girlie.

Enjoy-pamper yourself and your children~

Eat together, sit by the fire, read good books (including the Bible)
Sing, tell stories, laugh and fly the flag high and proud.

A great new year is waiting in the wings….make it a full fledged Patriotic one!!

Winter And A New Year=A Blessing Of Bliss

January 1-2018…it can happen!!

January is a lovely month in my eyes, I love the cold and the snow. I love the trees with no leaves. I love the promise you can find if you look under the dead and dying
plants, little lives in the making just waiting to be warmed and nourished and given permission to grow.

Most of the year in middle Tennessee I see green rolling hills when I look out my windows, and that’s a lovely picture always, but to see those rolling hills covered in snow and grey low-hanging sky–it sends a message to slow down and re-group for the coming months. I like that reminder!

About the herb garden in January-Where you are located has a major impact on what you can do now. Here in the middle south, we just kinda relax, read good books (mostly about growing things, enjoy the things we stored from last years harvest and wait for spring.)

If you were going to plant garlic for a crop this coming summer, it should already be in the ground. However, if you missed that window, plant in the early spring and harvest in the late fall.

Remember also if your growing herbs inside, they need to be in a location that gives them at least a half-day of sun and or light. I’m not a real supporter of growing inside, just too many problems, requires a lot of tending in order to have good strong healthy plants. But if you’re willing to put in the time, and the interest is strong enough to push you to gain the knowledge, it can be rewarding.

I love doing things as natural and with the least amount of resistant’s as possible.
So, I’ll stick to the outside growing.

For those of you who have ask, No, I will not be growing any items for sale in the coming year….it is time to close the garden gate to retail…and so it is done.
Please feel free to visit (check first to confirm I’m in!!) the website is still stocked with awesome information and classes can be scheduled by appointment.

Have a request? Send it along. I will respond in a timely fashion.

Remember your feathered friends during these cold months. Keep plenty of fresh water and bird seed and suet out and you’ll be blessed with beautiful birds all winter.

Sending each and all the most prosperous wishes for the coming year.

Eat Well-Be Well in 2019.