#s dark yellow flowers. And this plant grows up to 15 feet tall.

[philodendronforming]

Allamanda plant

[kevinscottgardens]

11 through 22 February 2019

It’s been a relatively quiet two weeks. I have been working in our Australia and New Zealand collection, which started as being the area dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks. We’ve done a really nice tidy up of the area, pruning back the overgrown trees, removing the dead branches and discarding some out-of-control grass. I am also on the last push to install the new interpretation.

I hurt my left wrist a few weeks ago; it is feeling better, slowly. I am wearing a brace to remind myself not to over use it.

We went to Kew yesterday and visited Flow in the temperate nursery then walked through the refurbished Temperate House, then visited the Orchid Festival and finished off in the tropical nursery seeing Alice, Bala, Janaka, Marcelo, Paul, et al.

The garden is in that quiet stage, everything is being cut back, being prepared for the new growth of spring. February has been very mild, so things are already starting to emerge from their winter nap.

Last week’s medicinal plant was Galanthus woronowii.

Last week’s plant ident was by one of our volunteers:

Apocynaceae Orbea variegata hybrid

Cactaceae Echinocactus grusonii

Cactaceae Mammillaria magnimamma

Cactaceae Ferocactus hamatacanthus

Cactaceae Cleistocactus strausii

Cactaceae Echinopsis pachanoi

Cactaceae Mammillaria elongata var. tenuis

Cactaceae Opuntia articulata

Cactaceae Parodia leninghausii

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia meloformis

Plant of the week 15 February

Melianthaceae Melianthus major L.

common name(s) - honey flower, honey bush, great honey flower, touch-me-not (English); kruidjie-roer-my-nie, heuningblom, klappers, krikkiebos (Afrikaans); ubuhlungubemamba, ubutyayi (Xhosa), ibonya (Zulu) synonym(s) - none conservation rating - none native to - South Africa location - South Africa, accession _____ leaves - handsome glaucous, pinnate leaves to 450mm in length; any one touching those attractive leaves is in for a surprise; their strong unpleasant smell warns that it is highly toxic flowers - small, tubular dark rusty-red flowers in erect racemes to 300mm in length in spring and summer; followed by pale green, four-chambered, bladder-like pods, drying to pale brown, and containing the shiny black seeds habit - fast-growing, vigorous perennial; sparsely branched, medium-sized evergreen sub-shrub of sprawling habit to 3m tall habitat - sandstone slopes, often along streams pests - glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly under glass disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to -5ºC (H3) soil - moist and well-drained, moderately fertile sun - full sun, sheltered propagation - basal softwood cuttings in spring, division in early spring, seed sown in autumn pruning - can be stooled for regeneration nomenclature - Melianthaceae Melianthus - honey-flower (μελι-ανθος); major - larger, greater, bigger NB - the species was introduced to horticulture in Holland in 1673, and only named by Linnaeus in 1753; leaves are used to make poultices and decoctions to treat septic wounds, sores, ulcers, boils, abscesses, bruises, backache, painful feet and rheumatic joints. The roots and leaves are used to treat snakebite, or taken in very small doses as a tonic. It is also used to make a gargle for sore throats and mouth infections. Dried flowers and leaves can be used to keep insects out of cupboards.

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [23 Feb 19]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-20500014 [23 Feb 19]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/84304/Melianthus-major/Details [23 Feb 19]

SANBI [online] http://pza.sanbi.org/melianthus-major [23 Feb 19]

This week’s plant ident is all about weeds in the garden:

Asteraceae Conyza sumatrensis

Asteraceae Sonchus oleraceus

Brassicaceae Cardamine flexuosa

Brassicaceae Cardamine hirsuta

Caryophyllaceae Stellaria media

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia peplus

Geraniaceae Geranium robertianum

Plantaginaceae Veronica chamaedrys

Roseaceae Geum urbanum

Rubiaceae Galium aparine

Urticaceae Parietaria judaica

Plant of the week 22 February

Apiaceae Ferula communis L.

common name(s) - giant fennel, meeting seed synonym(s) - Bubon rigidior L.; Ferula abyssinica Hochst. ex A.Rich.; F. anatriches (Kotschy) Sint.; F. communis var. anatriches Kotschy; F. ferulago L.; F. lobeliana Vis.; F. montis-elgonis Bullock; F. nodiflora L.; F. sulcata Ledeb. Misapplied; Peucedanum ferula Baill.; Ferula communis 'Gigantea' conservation rating - Least Concern native to - Mediterranean location - dicotyledon order beds, accession _____ leaves - large, divided into many slender segments, branched stems flowers - many rounded umbels of small yellow flowers in early summer habit - robust evergreen perennial up to 2.50 metres tall habitat - dry hills, walls, waste ground and limestone, often in soils that are damp in the spring pests - aphids, slugs disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to -5ºC (H3) soil - well-drained, not clay sun - full sun propagation - in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe; prick out seedlings into deep pots to allow tap root to develop (plants dislike root disturbance) pruning - to enhance foliage, remove flowering stems as soon as they appear or after blooming if seed is not required nomenclature - Apiaceae - apium - a name used by Pliny for celery-like plants (απιον in Dioscorides), some relate it to the Celtic apon, water, as its preferred habitat (Apiaceae ≡ Umbelliferae); Ferula - staff, Pliny’s classical Latin name; communis - growing in clumps, gregarious, common NB - A resin obtained from the plant is used medicinally, but in larger doses can be harmful. It contains coumarin and other anti-nutritional factors and can cause internal and external haemorrhages, loss of vitamin K, anorexia, diarrhoea, weakness, hypothermia and hypoprothrombinuria.

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19349293/53798712 [23 Feb 19]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2808370 [23 Feb 19]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=791 [23 Feb 19]

Useful Temperate Plants [online] http://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Ferula+communis [23 Feb 19]

[dawnjeman]

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Santa Barbara

  The Beautiful Homes of Instagram series is open to any homeowner that I feel that can inspire others. It truly goes beyond the interiors of their home as it’s also about their story, their talent and the positive that their presence can bring to us. When I invited Elizabeth D Burns from @edbdesigns and EDB Designs, I knew she would inspire many of you, but I have to admit that I also feel moved by her approach to design because it’s not only about how the home looks but also how it makes you feel.

As you look at this Santa Barbara home, you can actually feel Elizabeth’s beautiful personality shine through the pictures and I think this is an example we should all pay close attention to. We should create a home that defines who we are. We should bring into our “world” what we truly love, what truly makes us happy – the colors we love, the materials, the textures. Lets make our home become an extension of our energy. We will live better this way. It’s not a trend, it’s not a style, it’s not a label – your home needs to be you and that’s all.

Here, the homeowner shares more about her home:

  “On a family vacation to California 14 years ago, I fell in love with the Golden State and the outdoor lifestyle it afforded. Four years later, I spent 9 months house hunting in Santa Barbara. My husband and I owned a 1920’s traditional stone and stucco cottage in Connecticut at the time. If anyone had told me that I would be living in a mid-century modern ranch home, I would have never believed them!

When I first stepped through the door, I knew I was home. Unassuming and hidden from the street, I was surprised by high ceilings and the abundance of natural light. It was a warm day in March and all of the French doors were open to the outdoors with the 12 foot curtains billowing in the breeze. At 1900 square feet with mountain and distant ocean views, I fell hard. The house had only been on the market for one day! I called my husband in CT and we put in a bid that day. Thank goodness he trusted my instincts! A few months later, the house was ours.

The previous owners, with the help of San Francisco architect Nick Noyes, had done a masterful job of converting a closed dark 50’s ranch house into a bright and airy jewel. However, there were definite changes my husband and I wanted to make. He wanted more usable outdoor space with all the California bells and whistles…redwood hot tub, gas fire pit, and outdoor shower. By pushing the yard out another 15 feet, we had room for all of that and a small kitchen garden. Jeffrey Gordon Smith, of JGS Landscape Design, helped to make it happen!

I turned my attention to the inside. I embraced the California life style and used organic touches to bring the outside in. I added to my collection of ocean themed art to create a gallery wall. Light engineered oak floors replaced the yellow toned older floors and wall to wall carpeting. We added a skylight in the kitchen and bathroom and another window in the office. While I loved the tiny green mosaic tiles in the bath, I wanted a brighter space and that became another project. And of course there was paint…a whole lot of white paint. Benjamin Moore White Dove has been my go to white for many years. I used it on walls, trim, and the wood plank ceiling. It became the perfect canvas for art.

With the large number of commercial aluminum windows and French doors, AND our ever- growing collection of sea glass, it seemed only natural to name our home The Little Glass House. I’ve completely succumbed to the California lifestyle and this house has launched my career as a stylist and also garnered a feature in Coastal Living magazine. It’s tag line when we bought it was “step into the light.” We certainly have!”

  Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Santa Barbara

A gate brings some privacy to the front courtyard.

Nature

The moment you step in you’re embraced by the calm feeling this home provides.

Privacy

The home is surrounded by trees and beautiful plants, which brings some extra sense of privacy and seclusion.

Front Door

An aluminum and glass front door opens to a long hall leading to the main rooms with direct view to the lush backyard.

Foyer

Bench in entry hall is from Terrain.

Similar Coat Rack: Here & Here.

Living Room

Elizabeth’s home feels open, airy and it’s filled with natural light.

Adding Love

I love creating vignettes indoors and outdoors. I am constantly rearranging things in our home and change pillows and throws with the seasons…. Winter and Christmas is all white, sea glass colors and green in spring and I’ve started using blues a bit in summer (I’ve never been a blue person but I won a beautiful blue pillow and it got me started!) Most of the pillows on the sofa are from Indiebungalow – similar here.

Sofa

Living room sofa is the Cloud from RH in sand Belgian Linen – similar here, here, here, here, here.

Small white stump table is from Farmhouse Pottery – similar here.

Coffee Table

The coffee table is from Kathy Kuo Home – similar here, here, here & here.

Leather Chair

 The Leather chair is from Wisteria.

The vintage stool next to leather chair is from Porch – Beautiful wood stool: here.

Accessories

Many of the accessories are from local shops Porch, Mate Gallery, Botanik, Scout, and the Blue Door.

Paint Color

Paint color is Benjamin Moore White Dove on walls, ceiling and trim.

Wool Wrap Natural Pouf: CB2.

Color Scheme

This color scheme feels beachy without being overly coastal. Some of the coastal painting are from One Kings Lane.

Rug

The round jute rug is from Ballard Designs – similar here, here, here & here (in white).

Barn Door

A white barn door conceals a practical built-in desk with built-in bookshelves that serves as the main home office.

Doors

Drapes in living room were here when we purchased the house. The French doors are almost 12′ high and the owner purchased simple white drapes and then sewed a piece of linen to the bottom to make them fit the tall ceilings. I was thrilled she left them. I’m usually not one for window treatments but on the occasional day that we get some hot weather, it’s nice to be able to close the drapes to keep it cooler. I will be forever grateful to my husband who insisted we put in central air. We don’t use it often but it’s nice when it’s needed!

Shop the Look:

(Always check dimensions before ordering 🙂 )

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Dining Room

Dining table and chairs are from RH, the patina of wine and water marks are all us! 🙂

Flooring

Floors throughout are 7.5″ wide engineered oak. The install was a bit of a nightmare in that so many of the pieces were defective with huge knots that we had to pick through every piece and order more. Needless to say, the local company we bought the flooring from is no longer using that vendor! But we are happy with the end result!

Beautiful 7.5″ Wide Engineered Oak Floors: here, here, here & here.

Kitchen

I’m not sure what kind of wood the cabinets are but they had turned a rather orangey color and so I had them painted white. The kitchen tile was existing and I love it! The counters are Caesarstone and the island is 3′ x 6′. The faucet is Grohe, the stove is Viking and the fridge is GE profile. The kitchen is about 18 years old, but with new paint, floors, and a large skylight, it has held up rather well. We used the existing hardware to cut costs.

Kettle: Smeg.

Bread Box: Here (in white).

Durable Cabinet Paint Color

I used Fine Paints of Europe mixed to match the Benjamin Moore White Dove. It is the most durable paint I’ve found but pricey.

Toaster: Smeg.

Counterstools

Counterstools are from Wisteria.

Connection

The kitchen is connected to a cozy and inviting family room with brick fireplace.

Chairs

The two chairs by the fireplace are from Porch – similar here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Similar Vintage Foot Stool: Here.

Cowhide rug is from World Market.

The black table is from ClubCu – similar here, here & here.

Pillows

The pillows on the fireplace chairs are from Beth Dana Design – similar here, here, here, here & here.

Lighting

The lighting was here when we bought the house. Small halogen fixtures on the ceiling in the main living and dining area and a very cool fixture over the kitchen island also halogen bulbs.

Brick Fireplace

The brick fireplace is painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17.

Elephant table is from Mate Gallery. Baskets are from Porch and Botanik – similar here, here, here & here.

Vintage Console Table

A vintage console table is beautifully decorated with fresh flowers, artwork, vintage finds and books.

Beautiful Console Tables: here, here & here.

Guest Bedroom

Metal bed is from RH with rug from Pottery Barn.

Similar Nightstand: here.

Bench is from Diani Living.

Master Bedroom

Master bedroom bed is from Crate and Barrel. Stools are from Urban Outfitters (similar here) and metal end tables are from Wisteria.

Bench

Bench is from Wisteria – similar here.

View

The master bedroom opens to patio.

Similar Black and White Chevron Bone Inlaid Dresser  – here, here, here, here & here.

Bathroom

For the bathroom reno we used RH vanity, lighting and medicine cabinet.

Bathroom Faucet: here.

Similar Sink: here.

Paint Color

Paint is Benjamin Moore White Dove in satin finish on the wood walls.

Shower Tile

The shower tiles are a marble mosaic tile.

Bathroom Garden Stool: here.

Textures

Similar  Stool: here, here & here (vintage).

Outdoors

Surfboard is from Mate Gallery and potting table is vintage.

Patio Furniture

Outdoor furniture around the fire pit is the Belvedere Collection from RH with Perennials fabric in Sand. Notice the firepit on the left.

Beautiful Colors

EDB Designs.

Doors & Windows

The windows and doors are commercial aluminum from LA Window Corp. They never need painting!

Cement Table

I love this outdoor vignette. Cement table is from Porch.

Exterior Paint Color

Exterior paint is Benjamin Moore Brilliant White.

 Lounge chairs on side patio are from Teak Warehouse.

Roses

EDB Designs.

Vegetable Garden

Imagine having a vegetable garden with a view like that!

Chairs

The small wicker chairs in the garden are from Serena and Lily.

Garden Sculptures and Fountain Inspiration

EDB Designs.

Rosé

Elizabeth, you can invite me over to enjoy a rosé with you anytime!!! 🙂

Zen-Like

An ofuro (Japanese-style hot tub) brings this deck to the next level.

Outdoor Pillows

Pillow: Serena & Lily.

Floor Plan

I am including a diagram of the footprint of the house as seen in the book The Barefoot Home. It was before we purchased the home but except for the yard, that is the floor plan. 🙂

    Make sure to follow Elizabeth on Instagram and visit her website for more inspiration.

    This Month Best Deals!

Wayfair: Up to 70% OFF – Huge Sales on Decor, Furniture & Rugs!!

Pottery Barn: Flash Sale: Up to 70% Off!

Serena & Lily: Enjoy 20% off. Use Code: SUMMERDAYS

West Elm: Mega Sale – BUY MORE SAVE MORE. Use Code: SAVEMORE

Anthropologie: Extra 40% Off Sale Plus 20% Off Furniture + Decor.

Horchow: Flash Sale: Up to 55% Off!!!

One Kings Lane: Save Up to 70% OFF! Free Standard Shipping on Orders over $99!

Williams & Sonoma: Spring Clearance: Up to 75% OFF!.

Nordstrom: Up to 40% OFF!

JCPenny: Final Hours of Huge Sale. Use Code: 16DEALS

Neiman Marcus: Designer Sale: Up to 40% OFF.

Pier 1: Biggest Memorial Day Sale: Up to 50% Off!

Joss & Main: Memorial Day Steals: Take an Extra 20% OFF with Code: STRIPES!

Posts of the Week:

Interior Design Ideas: Colorful Interiors.

Georgian-Style Manor with Traditional Interiors.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram.

Modern Farmhouse Renovation.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: California Beach House.

Corner Lot New-Construction Home Ideas.

Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina Home Design.

Grey Kitchen Paint Colors.

New-Construction Family Home Design.

Board & Batten Modern Farmhouse.

Small Modern Farmhouse with Front Porch.

Texas Acreage Modern Farmhouse.

Newest Interior Design Ideas.

Kitchen and Dining Room Renovation.

Interior Design Ideas.

  You can follow my pins here: Pinterest/HomeBunch

See more Inspiring Interior Design Ideas in my Archives.

Popular Paint Color Posts: The Best Benjamin Moore Paint Colors

2016 Paint Color Ideas for your Home

Interior Paint Color and Color Palette Pictures

Interior Paint Color and Color Palette Ideas

Inspiring Interior Paint Color Ideas

Interior Paint Color and Color Palette

New 2015 Paint Color Ideas

Interior Paint Color Ideas

Interior Design Ideas: Paint Color

Interior Ideas: Paint Color

More Paint Color Ideas

  “Dear God,

If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.

Lead me in Light and Love”.

Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

with Love,

Luciane from HomeBunch.com

Interior Design Services within Your Budget

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from Home http://www.homebunch.com/beautiful-homes-of-instagram-santa-barbara/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[athertonjc]

How Do You Cut Down a Family Tree?

Monet’s Giverny – our inspiration. Don’t laugh.

It’s been more than 30 years since we began converting our eight acres of cow pasture into a mini-arboretum and sculpture garden; the Hoosier Giverny. Our operating philosophy was we pretty much had no idea what the hell we were doing. Most of the stuff we planted lived anyway – even prospered. Now I have to cut some of it down.

The cutting-down is painful; well beyond the current tidying-up fad authored by Marie Kondo with her “decluttering” edict; an awkward, frittery word for a necessary task.

My decluttering goes well beyond ripping out an old iris bed or whacking back the amsonia. It’s not quite like picking a favorite child – but close. We have only two children; both perfect. My mother, with her wicked Irish wit, would often tell her five children she didn’t like any of us. Her actions ruined that argument.

Daily.

My spring 2019 decision in picking a “favorite arboretum child” is choosing between three stewartia or a towering chamaecyparis now blocking the sunshine to the stewartia, preventing it from reaching full flowering glory.

Chamaecyparis lawsonia

It’s a decision to be made beyond pure heartless logistics. Our chamaecyparis is family. It was one of our first conifers planted 30 years ago, forming a triangle with a hemlock and cedar. Each was then three feet tall, each a fairly rare cultivar; a mix of what little we knew with what little money we had.

The chamaecyparis – and I long ago lost its name tag – came with golden tips that over the years lost their lustre, fading to a dull yellow; itself perhaps victim of its two conifer neighbors blocking out the sun. Yet it was one of our first arboretum children, and, as such, had been good, caring and reliable; just what you might expect.

The stewartias I planted a year later. I had seen them is some magnificent American arboretum, or perhaps on an English estate at a vulnerable time when I was desperately seeking horticulture knowledge. I instantly fell in love with their upright elegance and flowing bark while being mostly ignorant of their flowers—a gift yet to come.

I chose three different cultivars of stewartia for that first planting. One was monadelpha, with its dark green leaves, occasional maroon fall color and cinnamon-brown bark. The white flowers would be about an inch wide and bloom for a month in a gorgeous parade.

My Japanese stewartia (S. pseudocamellia) was advertised as a magnificent tree up to 40 feet tall with sinuous, muscled flaking bark for winter color following its parade of cup-like, white flowers.

The stewartia rostrata, the least known, was to be an upright shrub to 15 or 20 feet with gray-brown, ridged to furrowed bark and early white flowers.

All that being said, stewartia can be tricky to grow. They need moist, well-drained, high-organic acid soil. They do not like too much heat or cold, can be difficult to transplant and need some shade in the hot afternoons.

My stewartia planting site was just a little east of my three conifers. My thinking was the former would receive just enough shade from the latter to keep everybody happy. Fast forward about 30 years. Some rookie horticulturist – unable to visualize the upcoming forest for the trees – had planted everything much too close together. Something had to go.

But what?

Japanese stewartia branch

The three stewartias had bloomed a bit in their adolescence before the chamaecyparis boomed upward. I had seen a bit of their glory. In recent years small stewartia buds would appear, but never open to full flower in our deep chamaecyparis shade.

 I am thus now 0 for 4 on this particular Horticultural Scale of Happiness. The ongrowing problem is the chamaecyparis is now almost 30 feet tall, about 20 inches thick at the base and will require an expensive tree removal in an area tight with other trees.

I accept full blame. Every year I would go out, look over the situation and delay making a decision. I was in full delay mode again this year when a very knowledgeable tree guy came out, looked me in the eye and asked me when I was going to do something about it.

 Right.

Stewartia pseudocamellia flower on Lenten rose in mid-June, by Allen Bush

 My options now include:

1 – Have the chamaecyparis cut down at considerable financial and emotional cost.

2 – Limb it way up from the bottom to allow enough sunlight into the site to grow happy stewartia while creating a very unhappy tree roughly the shape of 30-foot Lollipop.

3 – Start a GoFundMe campaign among stewartia lovers everywhere to fund Option 1.  

My mind says cut down the chamaecyparis and get it over with. My heart says leave all four of my children intact and just be happy with a towering icon, the stewartia bark and those few white buds.

I’m now thinking I’ll take another year to decide.

Chamaecyparis photo credit.  Stewartia branch credit.

How Do You Cut Down a Family Tree? originally appeared on GardenRant on January 28, 2019.

from GardenRant https://www.gardenrant.com/2019/01/how-do-you-cut-down-a-family-tree.html

[wendyimmiller]

How Do You Cut Down a Family Tree?

Monet’s Giverny – our inspiration. Don’t laugh.

It’s been more than 30 years since we began converting our eight acres of cow pasture into a mini-arboretum and sculpture garden; the Hoosier Giverny. Our operating philosophy was we pretty much had no idea what the hell we were doing. Most of the stuff we planted lived anyway – even prospered. Now I have to cut some of it down.

The cutting-down is painful; well beyond the current tidying-up fad authored by Marie Kondo with her “decluttering” edict; an awkward, frittery word for a necessary task.

My decluttering goes well beyond ripping out an old iris bed or whacking back the amsonia. It’s not quite like picking a favorite child – but close. We have only two children; both perfect. My mother, with her wicked Irish wit, would often tell her five children she didn’t like any of us. Her actions ruined that argument.

Daily.

My spring 2019 decision in picking a “favorite arboretum child” is choosing between three stewartia or a towering chamaecyparis now blocking the sunshine to the stewartia, preventing it from reaching full flowering glory.

Chamaecyparis lawsonia

It’s a decision to be made beyond pure heartless logistics. Our chamaecyparis is family. It was one of our first conifers planted 30 years ago, forming a triangle with a hemlock and cedar. Each was then three feet tall, each a fairly rare cultivar; a mix of what little we knew with what little money we had.

The chamaecyparis – and I long ago lost its name tag – came with golden tips that over the years lost their lustre, fading to a dull yellow; itself perhaps victim of its two conifer neighbors blocking out the sun. Yet it was one of our first arboretum children, and, as such, had been good, caring and reliable; just what you might expect.

The stewartias I planted a year later. I had seen them is some magnificent American arboretum, or perhaps on an English estate at a vulnerable time when I was desperately seeking horticulture knowledge. I instantly fell in love with their upright elegance and flowing bark while being mostly ignorant of their flowers—a gift yet to come.

I chose three different cultivars of stewartia for that first planting. One was monadelpha, with its dark green leaves, occasional maroon fall color and cinnamon-brown bark. The white flowers would be about an inch wide and bloom for a month in a gorgeous parade.

My Japanese stewartia (S. pseudocamellia) was advertised as a magnificent tree up to 40 feet tall with sinuous, muscled flaking bark for winter color following its parade of cup-like, white flowers.

The stewartia rostrata, the least known, was to be an upright shrub to 15 or 20 feet with gray-brown, ridged to furrowed bark and early white flowers.

All that being said, stewartia can be tricky to grow. They need moist, well-drained, high-organic acid soil. They do not like too much heat or cold, can be difficult to transplant and need some shade in the hot afternoons.

My stewartia planting site was just a little east of my three conifers. My thinking was the former would receive just enough shade from the latter to keep everybody happy. Fast forward about 30 years. Some rookie horticulturist – unable to visualize the upcoming forest for the trees – had planted everything much too close together. Something had to go.

But what?

Japanese stewartia branch

The three stewartias had bloomed a bit in their adolescence before the chamaecyparis boomed upward. I had seen a bit of their glory. In recent years small stewartia buds would appear, but never open to full flower in our deep chamaecyparis shade.

 I am thus now 0 for 4 on this particular Horticultural Scale of Happiness. The ongrowing problem is the chamaecyparis is now almost 30 feet tall, about 20 inches thick at the base and will require an expensive tree removal in an area tight with other trees.

I accept full blame. Every year I would go out, look over the situation and delay making a decision. I was in full delay mode again this year when a very knowledgeable tree guy came out, looked me in the eye and asked me when I was going to do something about it.

 Right.

Stewartia pseudocamellia flower on Lenten rose in mid-June, by Allen Bush

 My options now include:

1 – Have the chamaecyparis cut down at considerable financial and emotional cost.

2 – Limb it way up from the bottom to allow enough sunlight into the site to grow happy stewartia while creating a very unhappy tree roughly the shape of 30-foot Lollipop.

3 – Start a GoFundMe campaign among stewartia lovers everywhere to fund Option 1.  

My mind says cut down the chamaecyparis and get it over with. My heart says leave all four of my children intact and just be happy with a towering icon, the stewartia bark and those few white buds.

I’m now thinking I’ll take another year to decide.

Chamaecyparis photo credit.  Stewartia branch credit.

How Do You Cut Down a Family Tree? originally appeared on GardenRant on January 28, 2019.

from Gardening https://www.gardenrant.com/2019/01/how-do-you-cut-down-a-family-tree.html via http://www.rssmix.com/

[turfandlawncare]

How Do You Cut Down a Family Tree?

Monet’s Giverny – our inspiration. Don’t laugh.

It’s been more than 30 years since we began converting our eight acres of cow pasture into a mini-arboretum and sculpture garden; the Hoosier Giverny. Our operating philosophy was we pretty much had no idea what the hell we were doing. Most of the stuff we planted lived anyway – even prospered. Now I have to cut some of it down.

The cutting-down is painful; well beyond the current tidying-up fad authored by Marie Kondo with her “decluttering” edict; an awkward, frittery word for a necessary task.

My decluttering goes well beyond ripping out an old iris bed or whacking back the amsonia. It’s not quite like picking a favorite child – but close. We have only two children; both perfect. My mother, with her wicked Irish wit, would often tell her five children she didn’t like any of us. Her actions ruined that argument.

Daily.

My spring 2019 decision in picking a “favorite arboretum child” is choosing between three stewartia or a towering chamaecyparis now blocking the sunshine to the stewartia, preventing it from reaching full flowering glory.

Chamaecyparis lawsonia

It’s a decision to be made beyond pure heartless logistics. Our chamaecyparis is family. It was one of our first conifers planted 30 years ago, forming a triangle with a hemlock and cedar. Each was then three feet tall, each a fairly rare cultivar; a mix of what little we knew with what little money we had.

The chamaecyparis – and I long ago lost its name tag – came with golden tips that over the years lost their lustre, fading to a dull yellow; itself perhaps victim of its two conifer neighbors blocking out the sun. Yet it was one of our first arboretum children, and, as such, had been good, caring and reliable; just what you might expect.

The stewartias I planted a year later. I had seen them is some magnificent American arboretum, or perhaps on an English estate at a vulnerable time when I was desperately seeking horticulture knowledge. I instantly fell in love with their upright elegance and flowing bark while being mostly ignorant of their flowers—a gift yet to come.

I chose three different cultivars of stewartia for that first planting. One was monadelpha, with its dark green leaves, occasional maroon fall color and cinnamon-brown bark. The white flowers would be about an inch wide and bloom for a month in a gorgeous parade.

My Japanese stewartia (S. pseudocamellia) was advertised as a magnificent tree up to 40 feet tall with sinuous, muscled flaking bark for winter color following its parade of cup-like, white flowers.

The stewartia rostrata, the least known, was to be an upright shrub to 15 or 20 feet with gray-brown, ridged to furrowed bark and early white flowers.

All that being said, stewartia can be tricky to grow. They need moist, well-drained, high-organic acid soil. They do not like too much heat or cold, can be difficult to transplant and need some shade in the hot afternoons.

My stewartia planting site was just a little east of my three conifers. My thinking was the former would receive just enough shade from the latter to keep everybody happy. Fast forward about 30 years. Some rookie horticulturist – unable to visualize the upcoming forest for the trees – had planted everything much too close together. Something had to go.

But what?

Japanese stewartia branch

The three stewartias had bloomed a bit in their adolescence before the chamaecyparis boomed upward. I had seen a bit of their glory. In recent years small stewartia buds would appear, but never open to full flower in our deep chamaecyparis shade.

 I am thus now 0 for 4 on this particular Horticultural Scale of Happiness. The ongrowing problem is the chamaecyparis is now almost 30 feet tall, about 20 inches thick at the base and will require an expensive tree removal in an area tight with other trees.

I accept full blame. Every year I would go out, look over the situation and delay making a decision. I was in full delay mode again this year when a very knowledgeable tree guy came out, looked me in the eye and asked me when I was going to do something about it.

 Right.

Stewartia pseudocamellia flower on Lenten rose in mid-June, by Allen Bush

 My options now include:

1 – Have the chamaecyparis cut down at considerable financial and emotional cost.

2 – Limb it way up from the bottom to allow enough sunlight into the site to grow happy stewartia while creating a very unhappy tree roughly the shape of 30-foot Lollipop.

3 – Start a GoFundMe campaign among stewartia lovers everywhere to fund Option 1.  

My mind says cut down the chamaecyparis and get it over with. My heart says leave all four of my children intact and just be happy with a towering icon, the stewartia bark and those few white buds.

I’m now thinking I’ll take another year to decide.

Chamaecyparis photo credit.  Stewartia branch credit.

How Do You Cut Down a Family Tree? originally appeared on GardenRant on January 28, 2019.

from GardenRant http://bit.ly/2Sa82cN

[healthywealthywiselife]

Chasteberry: Facts About 'The Women's Herb'

Table of Contents

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry's Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects

Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Sometimes called monk's pepper, lilac chastetree or simply vitex, 1 chasteberry is an herb with a long history of use. It's specifically believed to benefit female fertility and hormone health, hence its moniker "the women's herb."2 However, men can also try this herb to help correct certain health issues, such as helping increase the flow of urine.3

Not many people are familiar with chasteberry, though. Learn more about this herb and the potential benefits it can deliver for your well-being.

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry, also known as Vitex agnus-castus, is the fruit of the chaste tree, a member of the mint family.4 It is native to western Asia and southewestern European territories, but is now also found in southeastern United States.5

The plant has an interesting history. During the ancient times, people believed that it helped promote chastity, hence its name.6 The Greek physician Dioscorides prescribed a beverage made from this herb's fruits to lower men's libido, while at least one modern-day natural health doctor recommends it to heighten a woman's sexual satisfaction.7

Hippocrates recommended women to take it after childbirth.8 Athenian maidens, according to Pliny the Elder, would sleep with the plant's leaves under their bed during the festival of Thesmophoria. This was believed to help preserve their chastity.9

In the Middle Ages, monks used chasteberry to suppress their sexual desire,10 which is why it's also called monk's pepper. "Pepper" refers not just to the spicy flavor of the fruits but their appearance as well, which is similar to peppercorns.11

Today, chaste tree is grown both for its medicinal uses and as an ornamental plant. It is woody and can grow 8 to 20 feet tall and 5 to 20 feet wide.12 The leaves are dark green and aromatic, and consist of five to seven lance-shaped leaflets.

Flowers of the chaste tree bloom in late summer up until mid-autumn, and are violet-blue and fragrant.13

Chasteberry's Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

As you can guess, the majority of uses for chasteberry are connected to libido and reproductive health, particularly menstruation problems in women.14 Today, this herb is taken as a dietary supplement (available in capsule, tablet, liquid extract or essential oil form) to help alleviate menstruation-related problems.15

After using chasteberry, however, do not expect to see immediate results. It's actually a slow-acting herb and several months may pass before you experience any noticeable effects.16

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

The health benefits of chasteberry are mostly related to reproduction and, in women, to menstrual health.17 Despite containing no hormones or hormone-like compounds, this herb can actually influence your hormonal activity by stimulating the pituitary gland to create more luteinizing hormone (LH).

By doing this, the ovaries are triggered to increase their production of progesterone.18 Some of the other potential benefits of chasteberry include:

Alleviating PMS symptoms,19 such as bloating, depression and irritability - The herb may help normalize the ratio of progesterone to estrogen,20 which then soothes monthly discomforts. In one study of premenstrual women, it was found that 93 percent of those who took the herb reported a reduction in PMS symptoms.21

Relieves menstruation pain - According to a 2005 study in the American Family Physician, chasteberry may help ease painful menstruation, uterine bleeding and breast discomfort in menstruating women.22

Ease endometriosis symptoms - Taking standardized chasteberry extract for hormonal support may be helpful in easing the pain caused by this condition. The herb should be taken long-term, around 12 to 18 months, to be fully effective in this manner.23

May help regulate menstrual cycle - In her book, "Life Is Your Best Medicine," Dr. Tieraona Low Dog says she recommends chasteberry for women with irregular periods or those who are coming off of hormonal birth control.24

Promote men's reproductive health - Despite being called "the women's herb," chasteberry may have benefits for men's health as well. According to EMedicineHealth, it may help increase urine flow, alleviate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and turn off sexual desire.25

Chasteberry may also have benefits for other health issues, such as colds, headaches and migraines, joint conditions, eye pain, spleen problems, and inflammation and swelling. It may help prevent insect bites, alleviate acne and promote the healing of stings.26

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Because of its fragrant flowers and attractive foliage, the chaste tree is becoming popular as a garden plant. To successfully cultivate it in your yard, remember these tips from Gardening Know How:27

Chaste tree needs well-drained soil and full sunlight - Ideally, refrain from placing it in soil that has high levels of organic matter, as there will be too much moisture in the roots. Once it's growing healthy, you may never need to water the plant.

Do not use shredded wood, straw, bark or straw or any other organic mulch for a chaste tree - Instead, put in inorganic mulch like stones or pebbles to allow the soil to dry in between rains.

Prune the tree annually to control its size and shape and encourage branching - When the blossoms fade, make sure to remove the flower spikes as well. If you allow the seeds that come after the flower to mature, the amount of flower spikes will be reduced late in the season.

During severe weather, the tree can freeze and die back to ground level - But don't worry, because they can regrow quickly from the roots.

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Unlike other herbs, chasteberry does not have culinary uses. However, you can always make delicious tea using the berries. Here's an easy recipe adapted from Hormones and Balance - it blends chasteberry with other pleasant-tasting herbs and spices for a truly enjoyable brew.28

Chasteberry and Rose Tea

Ingredients

1 teaspoon whole chasteberries, crushed (you can use a pestle and mortar or a grinder)

1 teaspoon crushed star anise, about one star

1 tablespoon rose petals

1 teaspoon hibiscus flowers

1 teaspoon cinnamon chips

1 teaspoon honey or 1 drop of stevia, to taste

Procedure

Steep all the herbs and spices in 4 cups of hot water for 10 minutes.

Add the honey or stevia and enjoy the drink, either hot or cold.

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects, Too

Using chasteberry oil, or vitex oil, is another efficient way to reap the benefits of this herb. The oil is steam distilled either from the seeds or the leaves, and has a spicy, slightly sweet and woody scent and a golden yellow color.29

One area that chasteberry essential oil may help with is oral health, as its antimicrobial properties are believed to help reduce dental caries and dental plaque. Researchers from Brazil studied the effects of chasteberry essential oil against cariogenic bacteria like S. mutans, and found that it "displayed some activity against all the investigated oral pathogens."30

As with other herbal oils, make sure to consult your physician before using this oil. Always dilute with a safe carrier oil and make sure to do a skin patch test prior to use.

Before Using It, Make Sure You Know the Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Most people do not experience any side effects after using chasteberry, although some do encounter mild issues, such as dizziness, tiredness, headache and nausea, dry mouth and gastrointestinal problems. Weight gain, itching and rashes, acne, difficulty sleeping and changes in menstrual flow may also be experienced after using chasteberry.31 If you notice these effects, it may be better to stop using the herb immediately.

In addition, people who are taking medications for Parkinson's should avoid using chasteberry as it has dopaminergic effects that can meddle with their medications. Pregnant women, children and breastfeeding mothers are also ill-advised to use this oil.32

[battybat-boss]

Chasteberry: Facts About 'The Women's Herb'

Table of Contents

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry's Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects

Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Sometimes called monk's pepper, lilac chastetree or simply vitex, 1 chasteberry is an herb with a long history of use. It's specifically believed to benefit female fertility and hormone health, hence its moniker "the women's herb."2 However, men can also try this herb to help correct certain health issues, such as helping increase the flow of urine.3

Not many people are familiar with chasteberry, though. Learn more about this herb and the potential benefits it can deliver for your well-being.

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry, also known as Vitex agnus-castus, is the fruit of the chaste tree, a member of the mint family.4 It is native to western Asia and southewestern European territories, but is now also found in southeastern United States.5

The plant has an interesting history. During the ancient times, people believed that it helped promote chastity, hence its name.6 The Greek physician Dioscorides prescribed a beverage made from this herb's fruits to lower men's libido, while at least one modern-day natural health doctor recommends it to heighten a woman's sexual satisfaction.7

Hippocrates recommended women to take it after childbirth.8 Athenian maidens, according to Pliny the Elder, would sleep with the plant's leaves under their bed during the festival of Thesmophoria. This was believed to help preserve their chastity.9

In the Middle Ages, monks used chasteberry to suppress their sexual desire,10 which is why it's also called monk's pepper. "Pepper" refers not just to the spicy flavor of the fruits but their appearance as well, which is similar to peppercorns.11

Today, chaste tree is grown both for its medicinal uses and as an ornamental plant. It is woody and can grow 8 to 20 feet tall and 5 to 20 feet wide.12 The leaves are dark green and aromatic, and consist of five to seven lance-shaped leaflets.

Flowers of the chaste tree bloom in late summer up until mid-autumn, and are violet-blue and fragrant.13

Chasteberry's Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

As you can guess, the majority of uses for chasteberry are connected to libido and reproductive health, particularly menstruation problems in women.14 Today, this herb is taken as a dietary supplement (available in capsule, tablet, liquid extract or essential oil form) to help alleviate menstruation-related problems.15

After using chasteberry, however, do not expect to see immediate results. It's actually a slow-acting herb and several months may pass before you experience any noticeable effects.16

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

The health benefits of chasteberry are mostly related to reproduction and, in women, to menstrual health.17 Despite containing no hormones or hormone-like compounds, this herb can actually influence your hormonal activity by stimulating the pituitary gland to create more luteinizing hormone (LH).

By doing this, the ovaries are triggered to increase their production of progesterone.18 Some of the other potential benefits of chasteberry include:

Alleviating PMS symptoms,19 such as bloating, depression and irritability - The herb may help normalize the ratio of progesterone to estrogen,20 which then soothes monthly discomforts. In one study of premenstrual women, it was found that 93 percent of those who took the herb reported a reduction in PMS symptoms.21

Relieves menstruation pain - According to a 2005 study in the American Family Physician, chasteberry may help ease painful menstruation, uterine bleeding and breast discomfort in menstruating women.22

Ease endometriosis symptoms - Taking standardized chasteberry extract for hormonal support may be helpful in easing the pain caused by this condition. The herb should be taken long-term, around 12 to 18 months, to be fully effective in this manner.23

May help regulate menstrual cycle - In her book, "Life Is Your Best Medicine," Dr. Tieraona Low Dog says she recommends chasteberry for women with irregular periods or those who are coming off of hormonal birth control.24

Promote men's reproductive health - Despite being called "the women's herb," chasteberry may have benefits for men's health as well. According to EMedicineHealth, it may help increase urine flow, alleviate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and turn off sexual desire.25

Chasteberry may also have benefits for other health issues, such as colds, headaches and migraines, joint conditions, eye pain, spleen problems, and inflammation and swelling. It may help prevent insect bites, alleviate acne and promote the healing of stings.26

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Because of its fragrant flowers and attractive foliage, the chaste tree is becoming popular as a garden plant. To successfully cultivate it in your yard, remember these tips from Gardening Know How:27

Chaste tree needs well-drained soil and full sunlight - Ideally, refrain from placing it in soil that has high levels of organic matter, as there will be too much moisture in the roots. Once it's growing healthy, you may never need to water the plant.

Do not use shredded wood, straw, bark or straw or any other organic mulch for a chaste tree - Instead, put in inorganic mulch like stones or pebbles to allow the soil to dry in between rains.

Prune the tree annually to control its size and shape and encourage branching - When the blossoms fade, make sure to remove the flower spikes as well. If you allow the seeds that come after the flower to mature, the amount of flower spikes will be reduced late in the season.

During severe weather, the tree can freeze and die back to ground level - But don't worry, because they can regrow quickly from the roots.

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Unlike other herbs, chasteberry does not have culinary uses. However, you can always make delicious tea using the berries. Here's an easy recipe adapted from Hormones and Balance - it blends chasteberry with other pleasant-tasting herbs and spices for a truly enjoyable brew.28

Chasteberry and Rose Tea

Ingredients

1 teaspoon whole chasteberries, crushed (you can use a pestle and mortar or a grinder)

1 teaspoon crushed star anise, about one star

1 tablespoon rose petals

1 teaspoon hibiscus flowers

1 teaspoon cinnamon chips

1 teaspoon honey or 1 drop of stevia, to taste

Procedure

Steep all the herbs and spices in 4 cups of hot water for 10 minutes.

Add the honey or stevia and enjoy the drink, either hot or cold.

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects, Too

Using chasteberry oil, or vitex oil, is another efficient way to reap the benefits of this herb. The oil is steam distilled either from the seeds or the leaves, and has a spicy, slightly sweet and woody scent and a golden yellow color.29

One area that chasteberry essential oil may help with is oral health, as its antimicrobial properties are believed to help reduce dental caries and dental plaque. Researchers from Brazil studied the effects of chasteberry essential oil against cariogenic bacteria like S. mutans, and found that it "displayed some activity against all the investigated oral pathogens."30

As with other herbal oils, make sure to consult your physician before using this oil. Always dilute with a safe carrier oil and make sure to do a skin patch test prior to use.

Before Using It, Make Sure You Know the Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Most people do not experience any side effects after using chasteberry, although some do encounter mild issues, such as dizziness, tiredness, headache and nausea, dry mouth and gastrointestinal problems. Weight gain, itching and rashes, acne, difficulty sleeping and changes in menstrual flow may also be experienced after using chasteberry.31 If you notice these effects, it may be better to stop using the herb immediately.

In addition, people who are taking medications for Parkinson's should avoid using chasteberry as it has dopaminergic effects that can meddle with their medications. Pregnant women, children and breastfeeding mothers are also ill-advised to use this oil.32

[paullassiterca]

Chasteberry: Facts About ‘The Women’s Herb’

Table of Contents

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry’s Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects

Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Sometimes called monk’s pepper, lilac chastetree or simply vitex, 1 chasteberry is an herb with a long history of use. It’s specifically believed to benefit female fertility and hormone health, hence its moniker “the women’s herb.”2 However, men can also try this herb to help correct certain health issues, such as helping increase the flow of urine.3

Not many people are familiar with chasteberry, though. Learn more about this herb and the potential benefits it can deliver for your well-being.

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry, also known as Vitex agnus-castus, is the fruit of the chaste tree, a member of the mint family.4 It is native to western Asia and southewestern European territories, but is now also found in southeastern United States.5

The plant has an interesting history. During the ancient times, people believed that it helped promote chastity, hence its name.6 The Greek physician Dioscorides prescribed a beverage made from this herb’s fruits to lower men’s libido, while at least one modern-day natural health doctor recommends it to heighten a woman’s sexual satisfaction.7

Hippocrates recommended women to take it after childbirth.8 Athenian maidens, according to Pliny the Elder, would sleep with the plant’s leaves under their bed during the festival of Thesmophoria. This was believed to help preserve their chastity.9

In the Middle Ages, monks used chasteberry to suppress their sexual desire,10 which is why it’s also called monk’s pepper. “Pepper” refers not just to the spicy flavor of the fruits but their appearance as well, which is similar to peppercorns.11

Today, chaste tree is grown both for its medicinal uses and as an ornamental plant. It is woody and can grow 8 to 20 feet tall and 5 to 20 feet wide.12 The leaves are dark green and aromatic, and consist of five to seven lance-shaped leaflets.

Flowers of the chaste tree bloom in late summer up until mid-autumn, and are violet-blue and fragrant.13

Chasteberry’s Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

As you can guess, the majority of uses for chasteberry are connected to libido and reproductive health, particularly menstruation problems in women.14 Today, this herb is taken as a dietary supplement (available in capsule, tablet, liquid extract or essential oil form) to help alleviate menstruation-related problems.15

After using chasteberry, however, do not expect to see immediate results. It’s actually a slow-acting herb and several months may pass before you experience any noticeable effects.16

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

The health benefits of chasteberry are mostly related to reproduction and, in women, to menstrual health.17 Despite containing no hormones or hormone-like compounds, this herb can actually influence your hormonal activity by stimulating the pituitary gland to create more luteinizing hormone (LH).

By doing this, the ovaries are triggered to increase their production of progesterone.18 Some of the other potential benefits of chasteberry include:

Alleviating PMS symptoms,19 such as bloating, depression and irritability — The herb may help normalize the ratio of progesterone to estrogen,20 which then soothes monthly discomforts. In one study of premenstrual women, it was found that 93 percent of those who took the herb reported a reduction in PMS symptoms.21

Relieves menstruation pain — According to a 2005 study in the American Family Physician, chasteberry may help ease painful menstruation, uterine bleeding and breast discomfort in menstruating women.22

Ease endometriosis symptoms — Taking standardized chasteberry extract for hormonal support may be helpful in easing the pain caused by this condition. The herb should be taken long-term, around 12 to 18 months, to be fully effective in this manner.23

May help regulate menstrual cycle — In her book, “Life Is Your Best Medicine,” Dr. Tieraona Low Dog says she recommends chasteberry for women with irregular periods or those who are coming off of hormonal birth control.24

Promote men’s reproductive health — Despite being called “the women’s herb,” chasteberry may have benefits for men’s health as well. According to EMedicineHealth, it may help increase urine flow, alleviate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and turn off sexual desire.25

Chasteberry may also have benefits for other health issues, such as colds, headaches and migraines, joint conditions, eye pain, spleen problems, and inflammation and swelling. It may help prevent insect bites, alleviate acne and promote the healing of stings.26

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Because of its fragrant flowers and attractive foliage, the chaste tree is becoming popular as a garden plant. To successfully cultivate it in your yard, remember these tips from Gardening Know How:27

Chaste tree needs well-drained soil and full sunlight — Ideally, refrain from placing it in soil that has high levels of organic matter, as there will be too much moisture in the roots. Once it’s growing healthy, you may never need to water the plant.

Do not use shredded wood, straw, bark or straw or any other organic mulch for a chaste tree — Instead, put in inorganic mulch like stones or pebbles to allow the soil to dry in between rains.

Prune the tree annually to control its size and shape and encourage branching — When the blossoms fade, make sure to remove the flower spikes as well. If you allow the seeds that come after the flower to mature, the amount of flower spikes will be reduced late in the season.

During severe weather, the tree can freeze and die back to ground level — But don’t worry, because they can regrow quickly from the roots.

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Unlike other herbs, chasteberry does not have culinary uses. However, you can always make delicious tea using the berries. Here’s an easy recipe adapted from Hormones and Balance — it blends chasteberry with other pleasant-tasting herbs and spices for a truly enjoyable brew.28

Chasteberry and Rose Tea

Ingredients

1 teaspoon whole chasteberries, crushed (you can use a pestle and mortar or a grinder)

1 teaspoon crushed star anise, about one star

1 tablespoon rose petals

1 teaspoon hibiscus flowers

1 teaspoon cinnamon chips

1 teaspoon honey or 1 drop of stevia, to taste

Procedure

Steep all the herbs and spices in 4 cups of hot water for 10 minutes.

Add the honey or stevia and enjoy the drink, either hot or cold.

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects, Too

Using chasteberry oil, or vitex oil, is another efficient way to reap the benefits of this herb. The oil is steam distilled either from the seeds or the leaves, and has a spicy, slightly sweet and woody scent and a golden yellow color.29

One area that chasteberry essential oil may help with is oral health, as its antimicrobial properties are believed to help reduce dental caries and dental plaque. Researchers from Brazil studied the effects of chasteberry essential oil against cariogenic bacteria like S. mutans, and found that it “displayed some activity against all the investigated oral pathogens.”30

As with other herbal oils, make sure to consult your physician before using this oil. Always dilute with a safe carrier oil and make sure to do a skin patch test prior to use.

Before Using It, Make Sure You Know the Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Most people do not experience any side effects after using chasteberry, although some do encounter mild issues, such as dizziness, tiredness, headache and nausea, dry mouth and gastrointestinal problems. Weight gain, itching and rashes, acne, difficulty sleeping and changes in menstrual flow may also be experienced after using chasteberry.31 If you notice these effects, it may be better to stop using the herb immediately.

In addition, people who are taking medications for Parkinson’s should avoid using chasteberry as it has dopaminergic effects that can meddle with their medications. Pregnant women, children and breastfeeding mothers are also ill-advised to use this oil.32

from Articles http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/01/05/xdjm18-herbs-spices-18mcsa-chasteberry.aspx source https://niapurenaturecom.tumblr.com/post/181730903461

[jerrytackettca]

Chasteberry: Facts About The Womens Herb

Table of Contents

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry's Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects

Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Sometimes called monk's pepper, lilac chastetree or simply vitex, 1 chasteberry is an herb with a long history of use. It's specifically believed to benefit female fertility and hormone health, hence its moniker "the women's herb."2 However, men can also try this herb to help correct certain health issues, such as helping increase the flow of urine.3

Not many people are familiar with chasteberry, though. Learn more about this herb and the potential benefits it can deliver for your well-being.

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry, also known as Vitex agnus-castus, is the fruit of the chaste tree, a member of the mint family.4 It is native to western Asia and southewestern European territories, but is now also found in southeastern United States.5

The plant has an interesting history. During the ancient times, people believed that it helped promote chastity, hence its name.6 The Greek physician Dioscorides prescribed a beverage made from this herb's fruits to lower men's libido, while at least one modern-day natural health doctor recommends it to heighten a woman's sexual satisfaction.7

Hippocrates recommended women to take it after childbirth.8 Athenian maidens, according to Pliny the Elder, would sleep with the plant's leaves under their bed during the festival of Thesmophoria. This was believed to help preserve their chastity.9

In the Middle Ages, monks used chasteberry to suppress their sexual desire,10 which is why it's also called monk's pepper. "Pepper" refers not just to the spicy flavor of the fruits but their appearance as well, which is similar to peppercorns.11

Today, chaste tree is grown both for its medicinal uses and as an ornamental plant. It is woody and can grow 8 to 20 feet tall and 5 to 20 feet wide.12 The leaves are dark green and aromatic, and consist of five to seven lance-shaped leaflets.

Flowers of the chaste tree bloom in late summer up until mid-autumn, and are violet-blue and fragrant.13

Chasteberry's Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

As you can guess, the majority of uses for chasteberry are connected to libido and reproductive health, particularly menstruation problems in women.14 Today, this herb is taken as a dietary supplement (available in capsule, tablet, liquid extract or essential oil form) to help alleviate menstruation-related problems.15

After using chasteberry, however, do not expect to see immediate results. It's actually a slow-acting herb and several months may pass before you experience any noticeable effects.16

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

The health benefits of chasteberry are mostly related to reproduction and, in women, to menstrual health.17 Despite containing no hormones or hormone-like compounds, this herb can actually influence your hormonal activity by stimulating the pituitary gland to create more luteinizing hormone (LH).

By doing this, the ovaries are triggered to increase their production of progesterone.18 Some of the other potential benefits of chasteberry include:

Alleviating PMS symptoms,19 such as bloating, depression and irritability — The herb may help normalize the ratio of progesterone to estrogen,20 which then soothes monthly discomforts. In one study of premenstrual women, it was found that 93 percent of those who took the herb reported a reduction in PMS symptoms.21

Relieves menstruation pain — According to a 2005 study in the American Family Physician, chasteberry may help ease painful menstruation, uterine bleeding and breast discomfort in menstruating women.22

Ease endometriosis symptoms — Taking standardized chasteberry extract for hormonal support may be helpful in easing the pain caused by this condition. The herb should be taken long-term, around 12 to 18 months, to be fully effective in this manner.23

May help regulate menstrual cycle — In her book, "Life Is Your Best Medicine," Dr. Tieraona Low Dog says she recommends chasteberry for women with irregular periods or those who are coming off of hormonal birth control.24

Promote men's reproductive health — Despite being called "the women's herb," chasteberry may have benefits for men's health as well. According to EMedicineHealth, it may help increase urine flow, alleviate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and turn off sexual desire.25

Chasteberry may also have benefits for other health issues, such as colds, headaches and migraines, joint conditions, eye pain, spleen problems, and inflammation and swelling. It may help prevent insect bites, alleviate acne and promote the healing of stings.26

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Because of its fragrant flowers and attractive foliage, the chaste tree is becoming popular as a garden plant. To successfully cultivate it in your yard, remember these tips from Gardening Know How:27

Chaste tree needs well-drained soil and full sunlight — Ideally, refrain from placing it in soil that has high levels of organic matter, as there will be too much moisture in the roots. Once it's growing healthy, you may never need to water the plant.

Do not use shredded wood, straw, bark or straw or any other organic mulch for a chaste tree — Instead, put in inorganic mulch like stones or pebbles to allow the soil to dry in between rains.

Prune the tree annually to control its size and shape and encourage branching — When the blossoms fade, make sure to remove the flower spikes as well. If you allow the seeds that come after the flower to mature, the amount of flower spikes will be reduced late in the season.

During severe weather, the tree can freeze and die back to ground level — But don't worry, because they can regrow quickly from the roots.

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Unlike other herbs, chasteberry does not have culinary uses. However, you can always make delicious tea using the berries. Here's an easy recipe adapted from Hormones and Balance — it blends chasteberry with other pleasant-tasting herbs and spices for a truly enjoyable brew.28

Chasteberry and Rose Tea

Ingredients

1 teaspoon whole chasteberries, crushed (you can use a pestle and mortar or a grinder)

1 teaspoon crushed star anise, about one star

1 tablespoon rose petals

1 teaspoon hibiscus flowers

1 teaspoon cinnamon chips

1 teaspoon honey or 1 drop of stevia, to taste

Procedure

Steep all the herbs and spices in 4 cups of hot water for 10 minutes.

Add the honey or stevia and enjoy the drink, either hot or cold.

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects, Too

Using chasteberry oil, or vitex oil, is another efficient way to reap the benefits of this herb. The oil is steam distilled either from the seeds or the leaves, and has a spicy, slightly sweet and woody scent and a golden yellow color.29

One area that chasteberry essential oil may help with is oral health, as its antimicrobial properties are believed to help reduce dental caries and dental plaque. Researchers from Brazil studied the effects of chasteberry essential oil against cariogenic bacteria like S. mutans, and found that it "displayed some activity against all the investigated oral pathogens."30

As with other herbal oils, make sure to consult your physician before using this oil. Always dilute with a safe carrier oil and make sure to do a skin patch test prior to use.

Before Using It, Make Sure You Know the Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Most people do not experience any side effects after using chasteberry, although some do encounter mild issues, such as dizziness, tiredness, headache and nausea, dry mouth and gastrointestinal problems. Weight gain, itching and rashes, acne, difficulty sleeping and changes in menstrual flow may also be experienced after using chasteberry.31 If you notice these effects, it may be better to stop using the herb immediately.

In addition, people who are taking medications for Parkinson's should avoid using chasteberry as it has dopaminergic effects that can meddle with their medications. Pregnant women, children and breastfeeding mothers are also ill-advised to use this oil.32

from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/01/05/xdjm18-herbs-spices-18mcsa-chasteberry.aspx

source http://niapurenaturecom.weebly.com/blog/chasteberry-facts-about-the-womens-herb

[jakehglover]

Chasteberry: Facts About ‘The Women’s Herb’

Table of Contents

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry's Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects

Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Sometimes called monk's pepper, lilac chastetree or simply vitex, 1 chasteberry is an herb with a long history of use. It's specifically believed to benefit female fertility and hormone health, hence its moniker "the women's herb."2 However, men can also try this herb to help correct certain health issues, such as helping increase the flow of urine.3

Not many people are familiar with chasteberry, though. Learn more about this herb and the potential benefits it can deliver for your well-being.

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry, also known as Vitex agnus-castus, is the fruit of the chaste tree, a member of the mint family.4 It is native to western Asia and southewestern European territories, but is now also found in southeastern United States.5

The plant has an interesting history. During the ancient times, people believed that it helped promote chastity, hence its name.6 The Greek physician Dioscorides prescribed a beverage made from this herb's fruits to lower men's libido, while at least one modern-day natural health doctor recommends it to heighten a woman's sexual satisfaction.7

Hippocrates recommended women to take it after childbirth.8 Athenian maidens, according to Pliny the Elder, would sleep with the plant's leaves under their bed during the festival of Thesmophoria. This was believed to help preserve their chastity.9

In the Middle Ages, monks used chasteberry to suppress their sexual desire,10 which is why it's also called monk's pepper. "Pepper" refers not just to the spicy flavor of the fruits but their appearance as well, which is similar to peppercorns.11

Today, chaste tree is grown both for its medicinal uses and as an ornamental plant. It is woody and can grow 8 to 20 feet tall and 5 to 20 feet wide.12 The leaves are dark green and aromatic, and consist of five to seven lance-shaped leaflets.

Flowers of the chaste tree bloom in late summer up until mid-autumn, and are violet-blue and fragrant.13

Chasteberry's Uses Are Mostly Related to Reproductive Health

As you can guess, the majority of uses for chasteberry are connected to libido and reproductive health, particularly menstruation problems in women.14 Today, this herb is taken as a dietary supplement (available in capsule, tablet, liquid extract or essential oil form) to help alleviate menstruation-related problems.15

After using chasteberry, however, do not expect to see immediate results. It's actually a slow-acting herb and several months may pass before you experience any noticeable effects.16

5 Health Benefits of Chasteberry

The health benefits of chasteberry are mostly related to reproduction and, in women, to menstrual health.17 Despite containing no hormones or hormone-like compounds, this herb can actually influence your hormonal activity by stimulating the pituitary gland to create more luteinizing hormone (LH).

By doing this, the ovaries are triggered to increase their production of progesterone.18 Some of the other potential benefits of chasteberry include:

Alleviating PMS symptoms,19 such as bloating, depression and irritability — The herb may help normalize the ratio of progesterone to estrogen,20 which then soothes monthly discomforts. In one study of premenstrual women, it was found that 93 percent of those who took the herb reported a reduction in PMS symptoms.21

Relieves menstruation pain — According to a 2005 study in the American Family Physician, chasteberry may help ease painful menstruation, uterine bleeding and breast discomfort in menstruating women.22

Ease endometriosis symptoms — Taking standardized chasteberry extract for hormonal support may be helpful in easing the pain caused by this condition. The herb should be taken long-term, around 12 to 18 months, to be fully effective in this manner.23

May help regulate menstrual cycle — In her book, "Life Is Your Best Medicine," Dr. Tieraona Low Dog says she recommends chasteberry for women with irregular periods or those who are coming off of hormonal birth control.24

Promote men's reproductive health — Despite being called "the women's herb," chasteberry may have benefits for men's health as well. According to EMedicineHealth, it may help increase urine flow, alleviate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and turn off sexual desire.25

Chasteberry may also have benefits for other health issues, such as colds, headaches and migraines, joint conditions, eye pain, spleen problems, and inflammation and swelling. It may help prevent insect bites, alleviate acne and promote the healing of stings.26

How to Grow and Harvest Your Own Chasteberry

Because of its fragrant flowers and attractive foliage, the chaste tree is becoming popular as a garden plant. To successfully cultivate it in your yard, remember these tips from Gardening Know How:27

Chaste tree needs well-drained soil and full sunlight — Ideally, refrain from placing it in soil that has high levels of organic matter, as there will be too much moisture in the roots. Once it's growing healthy, you may never need to water the plant.

Do not use shredded wood, straw, bark or straw or any other organic mulch for a chaste tree — Instead, put in inorganic mulch like stones or pebbles to allow the soil to dry in between rains.

Prune the tree annually to control its size and shape and encourage branching — When the blossoms fade, make sure to remove the flower spikes as well. If you allow the seeds that come after the flower to mature, the amount of flower spikes will be reduced late in the season.

During severe weather, the tree can freeze and die back to ground level — But don't worry, because they can regrow quickly from the roots.

Chasteberry Recipe: Take a Sip of Chasteberry Tea

Unlike other herbs, chasteberry does not have culinary uses. However, you can always make delicious tea using the berries. Here's an easy recipe adapted from Hormones and Balance — it blends chasteberry with other pleasant-tasting herbs and spices for a truly enjoyable brew.28

Chasteberry and Rose Tea

Ingredients

1 teaspoon whole chasteberries, crushed (you can use a pestle and mortar or a grinder)

1 teaspoon crushed star anise, about one star

1 tablespoon rose petals

1 teaspoon hibiscus flowers

1 teaspoon cinnamon chips

1 teaspoon honey or 1 drop of stevia, to taste

Procedure

Steep all the herbs and spices in 4 cups of hot water for 10 minutes.

Add the honey or stevia and enjoy the drink, either hot or cold.

Chasteberry Oil May Have Health-Promoting Effects, Too

Using chasteberry oil, or vitex oil, is another efficient way to reap the benefits of this herb. The oil is steam distilled either from the seeds or the leaves, and has a spicy, slightly sweet and woody scent and a golden yellow color.29

One area that chasteberry essential oil may help with is oral health, as its antimicrobial properties are believed to help reduce dental caries and dental plaque. Researchers from Brazil studied the effects of chasteberry essential oil against cariogenic bacteria like S. mutans, and found that it "displayed some activity against all the investigated oral pathogens."30

As with other herbal oils, make sure to consult your physician before using this oil. Always dilute with a safe carrier oil and make sure to do a skin patch test prior to use.

Before Using It, Make Sure You Know the Potential Side Effects of Chasteberry

Most people do not experience any side effects after using chasteberry, although some do encounter mild issues, such as dizziness, tiredness, headache and nausea, dry mouth and gastrointestinal problems. Weight gain, itching and rashes, acne, difficulty sleeping and changes in menstrual flow may also be experienced after using chasteberry.31 If you notice these effects, it may be better to stop using the herb immediately.

In addition, people who are taking medications for Parkinson's should avoid using chasteberry as it has dopaminergic effects that can meddle with their medications. Pregnant women, children and breastfeeding mothers are also ill-advised to use this oil.32

from HealthyLife via Jake Glover on Inoreader http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/01/05/xdjm18-herbs-spices-18mcsa-chasteberry.aspx