originally posted: June 24, 2002 | by chelsie

In Medieval times, June 24th was considered Midsummer, celebrated with somergames--sports, folk plays, drinking, and dancing. The origins were agrarian; spring plowing and planting were over, harvest was months away. The celebration is probably as old as agriculture. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: June 17, 2002 | by chelsie

Today, licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linnaeus) [gly cer ri' za gla' bra] is generally considered a candy, but from the time of Theophrastus (third century BCE) until the early 1900s, licorice was a medicinal. The botanical name derives from the Greek name, glykyrrhiza, sweet root; the source of the licorice extract. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: June 10, 2002 | by chelsie

Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pavon) [tro pe o' lum tu ber' o sum] is a little known relative of the garden nasturtium. Native to the high Andes, the plants grow well on rocky, windswept terrain. The yellowish tubers have been a source of food for at least 6,000 years. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: June 3, 2002 | by chelsie

In ancient Rome, June third was the Feast of Bellona. The goddess of war, Bellona was a battle companion to Mars. She is thought a deity of the older Sabine culture. Bellona was first invoked in a war against the Samnites. Should the battle go well, Appius Claudius the Blind vowed to build her a temple. In 296 BCE, her temple was dedicated and decorated with images of Appius Caludius' ancestors. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: May 27, 2002 | by chelsie

John Gerard (The Herbal, 1633 ed.), "Of Corne-rose or wild Poppy...They grow in arable grounds, among wheat, spelt, rye, barley, oats, and other grains, and in the borders of fields...The fields are garnished and overspread with these wild poppies in June and August." [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: May 20, 2002 | by chelsie

The clove gilloflower or carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus Linnaeus) [di an' thus care ee off' e lus] is thought native to the Mediterranean area. It is unknown when these plants were first cultivated. The origins were debated among herbalists 400 years ago. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: May 13, 2002 | by chelsie

Possibly the first written reference to sweet flag (Acorus calamus Linnaeus) is found in the book of Exodus. It was a directive to Moses to create anointing oil for the priests of the Ark of the Covenant. "Take thou also unto thee...pure myrrh...sweet cinnamon...sweet calamus...of cassia...and of oil olive: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment...." (Exodus 30: 23-25). [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: May 6, 2002 | by chelsie

The black pepper vine (Piper nigrum Linnaeus) [pi' per ni' grum] is native to the Malabar coast of India. The small white flowers are borne on drooping racemes. The fruit, peppercorns, are drupes, single-seeded like an olive or cherry. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: April 29, 2002 | by chelsie

Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea Linnaeus) are marvelous plants for childhood--making ladies and gentlemen with the flowers, buds, and toothpicks. Hollyhock dolls belong to the shady patches of lawns during the hot days of summer. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: April 22, 2002 | by chelsie

Gerard's Herbal (1633 ed.) dedicated four chapters to plants he variously called Iacinth, Jacinth, or Hyacinth, but labeling all under a generic name of Hyacinthus. These plants now are known under three genera--Hyacinthella, Hyacinthoides, and Hyacinthus. Gerard's Hyacinthus orientalis kept its botanical name and is the cloyingly fragrant garden hyacinth. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: April 15, 2002 | by chelsie

The pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill) [a nay' nas co mo' sus] is the first bromeliad to interest early explorers. The plant is thought to have originated in Brazil, but this is uncertain since no wild type exists. When Columbus and his crew encountered the pineapple on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493, it was fully domesticated and had been in cultivation for at least 500 years. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: April 8, 2002 | by chelsie

The ancient Greeks named the plants, Orchis, knowing only the terrestrial species native to Europe and the Middle East. The plants were named for the twin tubers, or orchises (testicles) most of the plants possessed. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: April Fool's Day, April 1, 2002 | by chelsie

In 332 BCE, Alexander the Grape wrested Egypt from the ruling Persians and made it part of the Greek Empire. Crowned the new Pharaoh, he sailed from the capitol, Memphis (Mit Rahina) down the Nile. Alexander dreamed of a new capitol sitting on the shores of the Mediterranean near the western edge of the Nile delta. [Click here to read more...]