My Dahlias

Aztecs used them to cure epilepsy, starches taken from the tubers were used for diabetes, and they are named after a Scandinavian. They ended up in my backyard via Mexico and are one the most beautiful flowers in the world.

Friends

Dear friends eating al fresco who love left overs!

Treasures - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Treasures:  a signed book from Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Cien Anos de Soledad 100 Years of Solitude) and seeing dear friends Gail and Claude and their family from France for dinner in my backyard.

Beets & Sally Jacob

My camera broke and all I have is a newer one that doesn't take photos as well. As I wanted to credit to the botanical art I found on tumblr with now cred I finally found by chance found Sally Jacobs who I hope knows that her art is on tumblr. Her art is phenomenal I wish I had every piece! if I could only do what she does! This made me forget all about my love of beets and the dinner tonight! Beets seem irrelevant now as I scroll through her artwork.

However, I do love beets cut up with parsnips, purple potatoes and vidalias broiled in the oven with olive oil and rosemary. Beets are low in calories, high in sugar and full of folic acid, sodium, magnesium, phosphorous etc etc. According to Outside magazine if I eat tons I will run faster as they will increase my lung capacity. Beets have been used to dye everything from hair to material and were called blood roots due to their color. The leaves have been used to cure garlic breath and Hippocrates used the leaves to bind wounds.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood essential oil acts as an antiseptic, anti inflammatory and healing agent when used in skincare. The tree must be at least 20 years old to obtain the essential oil and the tree reaches maturity at 80 years. Long know in Hindu in religious ceremonies sandalwood is at least 4000 years old and grows in Asia with some species growing in Hawaii. I love the smell as it evokes exotic lands to me. It is in my marigold foaming face wash.

rose and geranium

These two lovely flowers posses elixirs for you skin int their essential oils, both are found in my rose geranium face moisturizer, waterless, certified USDA organic and leaping bunny.