Tea Time - Herbals

Herbal tea is not only delicious, it's can also be extremely healthy.

To prepare, just put one or two teaspoons of dried herbs into a teapot or mug (preheated with warm water), then pour in boiling water and allow it to steep for three to five minutes.

Herbs have been used as natural remedies for thousands of years. (Remember, before taking any herbal remedy, consult your doctor!)

Here are some great herbal teas and how they can help you.

• Basil
• Fights colds and the flu; eases migraines; and relieves stress

from rozannegold.wordpress.com

• Dill
• Soothes upset stomachs; eases muscle spasms; and freshens breath

from howstuffworks.com

• Garlic
• Kills bacteria; clears lung congestion (phlegm); lowers blood sugar and cholesterol; and boosts circulation

from garliclover.com

• Ginger
• Fights nausea; helps with motion sickness; eases pain from diarrhea and gas; eases migraines; kills germs

from reedsinc.com

• Rosemary
• Boosts energy

from appetizinglyyours.wordpress.com

• Sage
• Fights fevers; and helps mouth ulcers, sore gums and throats

from hort.purdue.edu

• Tarragon
• Helps rheumatism; may lower blood pressure

from simplysuzannes.blogpsot.com

• Thyme
• Fights germs that cause sore throats, colds, and congestion

from azdiranbitkiler.gen.tr

'Pillars Part 2!

Last week, I gave you some good advice on natural caterpillar control. Well, I'm back with more help to keep your 'maters and other plants safe.

from wikimedia.org

Lemons!

• Take a few lemon peels (hopefully after you've juiced them for some lemoneade!), cut them into chunks and process them in a food processor or blender.
• Pour boiling water over the minced lemons and process until liquefied. 
• Let the mixture sit overnight.
• Strain the liquid to remove any solid pieces.
• Using a handheld sprayer (filled with the mixture and some added water), spray your plants from top to bottom.

Caterpillars hate citrus just as much as dogs and cats. You can also do this with oranges, limes, and grapefruits!

from mhmcintyre.us

Garlic!

• Mix 1/2 cup of peeled and finely chopped garlic with 2 cups of water in a bowl. 
• Let it sit for at least an hour.
• Strain out the solids and pour into a handheld sprayer.
• Apply to plants from top to bottom.

This mixture is extra gentle and can be used on even seedlings. However, because it's gentle, it needs to be applied weekly and especially after any rain.

from photo-dictionary.com

Horseradish!

• 2 cups of finely chopped dried cayenne peppers (or 1.5 cups fresh)
• 2 tablespoons of pure horseradish (This means it doesn't have mustard, mayonnaise, or anything else! All you want is horseradish)
• 3 quarts (12 cups) of water

• Boil the water
• Add the ingredients  and let it simmer for about 1 hour
• Cool to room temperature
• Strain out the solids
• Apply with a handheld sprayer from top to bottom.

This concoction is strong and should not be used near seedlings. It is death to not only caterpillars but also beetles, aphids, and whiteflies.

That's it for today! Keep checking in for more gardening tips, tricks, and advice!