Summer Solstice ~ This & That

Solstice Moon Illusion ~
June 16 , 2008: Sometimes you just can't believe your eyes. This week is one of those times.On Wednesday night, June 18th, step outside at sunset and look around. You'll see a giant form rising in the east. At first glance it looks like the full Moon. It has craters and seas and the face of a man, but this "moon" is strangely inflated. It's huge!

A shout out to one of our very own locals:
Dr. Mike Shapiro is a long time family friend, and someone that has helped me thru the years. A true healer in his own right, if you are in the area and need a chiropractor, he is the 'go to' guy.! To read more about Dr. Mike and what he does, please visit his website: Dr.MikeShapiro.com

On the Essential Herbal list that I am on, Sue over at Farm At Coventry, spoke about drying herbs .. with her permission here is the post where she describes the process:

It's almost too simple ...
- Harvest herbs right after dew dries on a sunny day
(with the knowledge that the next few days will be dry and sunny)
- Put small amounts of herbs in paper bags being careful not to load it up to full.
- They have to be able to breathe.
- Keep the doors and windows of the vehicle closed.
- You can either put the bag in the trunk or the back seat.
- Give the bag a shake a few times a day.
- By the third day they should be completely dry.

Note:
(I have dried lemon verbena completely in 6-8 hours in a hot car!)
Fleshier leaves will take longer.

We dry all of our calendula flowers, mints and oregano this way.
They dry very crisp and retain the color. Its amazing.

I will never hang bundles again in this humid old PA farmhouse! You'll? just need to bring them in, strip off the leaves and IMMEDIATELY store them in a dark place in an airtight container.

My best advice for this process is to harvest small amounts at a time.

One time I harvested all my oregano at once and decided to put down the back seat of my SUV , lay down a cloth tablecloth, then all the oregano and cover it all with paper bags. My car smelled like a pizzeria for a week until it was dry! and it took forever to get it stripped off and put away.

Remember:: Only pick what you can comfortably process.

Sue said credit for this information should be given to Jim Long at Long Creek Herbs .

Well, Summer is officially here.! Don't forget to stay hydrated, drink plenty of fluids, and protect your skin. And remember that little children and the elderly on really hot days need extra attention.!

Summer veggies, farmers markets, bounty from your garden, fresh cut flowers, the ocean and just relaxing .. the lazy days of summer are here. Be safe and enjoy,!

~ until next time, Rosanne
SunRoseAromatics.com