EdenSong Essentials Skin Care
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Endorsements
  • Ingredients
  • About Us

EdenSong Essentials Skin Care

Earth Day Digging in the Dirt

4/22/2012

11 Comments

 
Don't you just love the smell of Spring . . . the sweet scents of the never-ending variety of blooms - lilac, honeysuckle, hyacinth, lily of the valley, tulips, daffodils, lupine, sweet violet, clematis, roses, apple and cherry blossoms, to name a few - and the earthy smell we often associate with rainfall?  There are actually words for that smell - Geosmin, which literally translates to "earth smell" and is an organic compound with a distinct earthy flavor and aroma, is responsible for the earthy taste of beets and a contributor to the strong scent (Petrichor) that occurs in the air when rain falls after a dry spell of weather or when soil is disturbed.  Who knew?
Picture
Photo Credit: NixBlog from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. One of my favorite blooms, the lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a beautifully fragrant spring flower that has several cultivars. This mauve, large-flowered one is 'Agincourt Beauty'. (Click image for larger view.)
For more beautiful images like the one above, check out NixBlog. He says he's only an amateur photographer!  You be the judge!

As for my personal Earth Day project, I went into recycle/reuse mode.  Since my move out to the country just outside Nashville six years ago, I have had some unfinished outdoor plans I'm been itching to complete.  We recently had our annual Nashville Herb Society sale at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds and I was anxious to get some of new herbs planted.  With so much shade on the property, I had an experiment in mind for my over-sized front deck, which required portable planters to find the sunniest areas.

To get motivated, I decided to start small and tackle some older terracotta-colored planters that had seen better days.  Scrub, prime, prime, paint, paint, PLANT!  That's all there was to it!
Picture
Old terracotta-colored planter that has seen better days - ready to be scrubbed. (Click image for larger view.)
Picture
Planters scrubbed and ready for paint - those are tree shadows on the deck, not mold! (Click image for larger view.)
Picture
Primed planters. (Click image for larger view.)
Picture
Painted and planted! This pot contains rosemary and lavender. (Click image for larger view.)
Picture
All three completed planters with an array of herbs, including Thai and sweet basil, stevia, rosemary, lavender, chocolate and sweet mint, and bee balm. (Click image for larger view.)
Picture
Planter placement on front deck. This deck is about 30 X 18 feet. I also have two back decks, each 44 X 20 feet. The jury is still out on whether they will get enough sun. (Click image for larger view.) And, yes - my deck needs staining! Want to volunteer? :) I'll show you the furniture on the other side of this shot when I get them recovered!
These are just a few of my plants.  Most of mine are in the ground, but I wanted to have some easily accessible for my kitchen witchery brews.  

What did you do on Earth Day?  Are you a gardener and if so, what type of plants do you grow?  Feel free to share your ideas, plans and tips and you are welcome to share this blog post!
11 Comments
Margi Macdonald link
5/3/2012 07:08:03 am

Stephanie... i'm intrigued to know... what is bee balm? It's not something we have in Australia.
Does it have culinary or medicinal uses, or neither?
And do bees love it?
;D

Reply
Audrey Taylor
5/3/2012 07:20:28 am

You are my hero in so many ways. I have some planting planned around my little apartment. I'm waiting for my son to come dig up the beds. My place faces north so is mostly in the shade. I am going to put in some hostas, some lilys, and some herbs among those. My neighbor iis gonna tuck something in too!

Reply
Stephanie Rountree of EdenSong Essentials link
5/3/2012 07:32:02 am

Yes, indeed, bees love bee balm! The Monarda Bee Balm symbolizes compassion or sweet virtues and in the language of flowers suggests to the recipient, “Your whims are unbearable.” Its name is derived from its odor, which is considered similar to the bergamot orange. After the 1775 Boston Tea Party, the penalized colonists faced the huge dilemma of scrambling for a Chinese and Indian tea substitute. John Bartram, a devoted botanist, of Fort Oswego in upper New York, had learned from Native Americans many plant uses, including a certain wildflower's foliage to treat chills and fever. It is an aromatic herb belonging to the mint family and he named it Oswego tea. Little did Bartram know that this same plant we commonly call Bee Balm would replace the Chinese and Indian tea as the colonies' household drink. While it offered no caffeine, the tea proved to be a good a balm for healing and soothing sore throats and headaches. Oil within the leaves was used to treat insect bites and relieve bronchial congestion. Most important, it made a welcome substitute and was very tasty tea indeed.

Other names: Oswego tea, bergamot, monarda, wild bergamot, horsemint

Typical colors in nature:
Scarlet or crimson red, violet blue, purple, pink, white, pale lavender

You'll find lots of online info if you search medicinal uses of bee balm. Here's one: http://wildalchemist.blogspot.com/2011/08/medicinal-uses-of-bee-balm.html

Reply
Margi Macdonald
5/3/2012 08:23:20 am

Thank-you Stephanie. That's a beautiful botanical history lesson!

Reply
Stephanie Rountree of EdenSong Essentials link
5/3/2012 07:39:07 am

Good for you, Audrey! You'll be amazed at what will grow in shade!

Reply
Stephanie
5/3/2012 10:34:19 am

I love your planters! I have a "deck garden" going on myself right now. So far I am growing peas, potatoes, garlic, grapes and blueberries in pots. We will see how they do!

Reply
Stephanie Rountree of EdenSong Essentials link
5/3/2012 01:42:59 pm

You're welcome, Margi!

Oh, Stephanie, I want grapes and blueberries! I had both at my old homestead, but lost them in the move out to the country.

Reply
boite mensuelle link
5/25/2012 04:29:11 pm

Good job, definitely I'll also follow you. I like the purple flower so beautiful.

Reply
check this blog to know about best anti aging products link
8/3/2012 02:41:03 pm

Very interesting topics here in your site mate. Can't wait to read more of your blogs. Just keep it coming.

Reply
Wilber Evans link
8/31/2012 02:27:07 pm

I watered all the plant in my garden and nearby area. Also invited my friends on home for little talk and have gifted them a plant to grow in their gardens.

Reply
ENT specialist in Gurdaspur link
12/1/2022 05:32:53 am

We wish you a happy and meaningful Earth Day, and enjoyment of the many gifts of working and playing the dirt, all year round.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Contact Us

    Stephanie Rountree, Founder of EdenSong Essentials

    Author

    Welcome! I'm Stephanie (Jo to close friends), founder of EdenSong. Aside from my university studies, I have a natural passion for all things organic.  I enjoy living and learning about natural ways, all things health related, cooking, gardening with herbs and flowers, photography, DIYing, yoga, bicycling, ballet, traveling and being with family and friends. A quirk of mine is my near obsession of Asian culture, particularly Korean history and its language. Would you like to know more? Find out about us.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Ich fahre Fahrrad. Multimedia - http://www.liebes-film.de banc de swiss
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Academy Awards
    Alcohol
    Aloe Vera Gel
    Alpha Hydroxy Acids
    Anti Aging
    Anti-aging
    Antibacterial
    Antifungal
    Antioxidant
    Antiviral
    Arrowroot Powder
    Award Shows
    Baby Powder
    Baking Soda
    Bentonite Clay
    Blackheads
    Body Care
    Body Powder
    Body Scrub
    Cancer
    Capric Acid
    Carbon Footprint
    Castile Soap
    Celebrities
    Chamomile
    Chemical Preservatives
    Chocolate
    Citric Acid
    Clutter
    Cma Awards
    Cold Remedy
    Co Q10
    Cornstarch
    Cosmetics
    Cough Suppressant
    Cough Syrup
    Cucumber
    Cuticles
    Deet
    Diy Cleaning
    Dry Skin
    Earth Day
    Edible
    Emmys
    Environmental
    Epsom Salts
    Essential Oils
    Exercise
    Exfoliation
    Expiration Dates
    Facial Cleansers
    Facial Mask
    Facial Moisturizers
    Facial Scrub
    Facial Toner
    Fatty Acids
    Feet
    Feng Shui
    First Aid
    Flowers
    Flu Remedy
    Foot Care
    Fruit & Vegetable Wash
    Fungal Infections
    Gardening
    Gbk Gift Lounge
    Gbk Productions
    Gelatin
    Geranium
    Gift Guide
    Gift Lounge
    Ginger
    Ginger Root
    Glycolic Acid
    Golden Globes
    Green
    Hair
    Hair Tonics
    Handcrafted
    Handmade Paper
    Hands
    Herbal Hair Tonics
    Herbal Healing Balm
    Herbs
    Holidays
    Honey
    Hydrogen Peroxide
    Insect Repellent
    Kaolin Clay
    Lactic Acid
    Lauric Acid
    Lavender
    Lemons
    Makeup
    Malic Acid
    Mask
    Matcha Tea
    Milk
    Moisturizers
    Nails
    Nashville Herb Society
    Natural
    Natural Actives
    Oatmeal
    Oats
    Omega-3
    Oranges
    Organic
    Organization
    Oscars
    Oxygen
    Parabens
    Parsley Seed
    Peppermint
    Pinterest
    Preservatives
    Produce
    Raw Honey
    Recipes
    Reshma Shetty Of Royal Pains
    Rice Powder
    Rosemary
    Sea Salt
    Shaving Cream
    Shaving Oil
    Shelf Life
    Silica
    Skin Care
    Sleep
    Soda
    Sore Throat
    Stocking Stuffers
    Stress
    Sunburn
    Sun Protection
    Sunscreen
    Sustainable
    Synthetics
    Tartaric Acid
    Tea Tree
    The Artisan Group
    Tooth Powder
    Toxins
    Turmeric
    Ubiquinone
    Vegetable Wash
    Vinegar Apple Cider
    Vinegar White
    Virgin Coconut Oil
    Water
    Wendy Willams Show
    Winter Skin Care
    Yarrow
    Yogurt
    Zach Woods Of The Office
    Zinc Oxide

    Archives

    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010

    © EdenSong Essentials
    All Rights Reserved

Picture
Sign up for monthly free tips and recipes.
* indicates required


Shop
About Us
Contact Us
Ingredients

Endorsements
Terms & Policies

Get in Touch
Customer service or wholesale inquiries,
please leave us a message:  615.292.1000
 Or better yet, email us: 
[email protected]
Connect Socially
Picture
Picture
© EdenSong Essentials
All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Endorsements
  • Ingredients
  • About Us