Mullein aka Verbascum

Its other names include:

Aaron's Rod, Adam's Flannel, American Mullein, Beggar's Blanket, Blanket Herb, Blanket Leaf, Bouillon Blanc, Bouillon Jaune, Candleflower, Candlewick, Cierge Cotonneux, Cierge de Notre-Dame, Clot-Bur, Clown's Lungwort, Cuddy's Lungs, Duffle, European Mullein, Faux Bouillon-Blanc, Feltwort, Flannelflower, Fleur de Grand Chandelier, Fluffweed, Gidar Tamaku, Gordolobo, Hag's Taper, Hare's Beard, Hedge Taper, Herbe de Saint-Fiacre, Herbe Saint Fiacre, Higtaper, Jacob's Staff, Longwort, Molène, Molène à Grandes Fleurs, Molène Bouillon-Blanc, Molène Faux-Phlomis, Molène Thapsus, Orange Mullein, Oreille de Loup, Oreille de Saint Cloud, Our Lady's Flannel, Queue de Loup, Rag Paper, Shepherd's Club, Shepherd's Staff, Tabac du Diable, Torch Weed, Torches, Velvet Plant, Verbasci Flos, Wild Ice Leaf, Verbascum densiflorum, Verbascum phlomides, Verbascum thapsiforme, Verbascum thapsus, Woolen, Woolly Mullein.

  

  It's a weed in my area, growing on slopes along the highway and popping up here and there in  my garden. I always leave some -- such stately plants.

I know that mullein flowers used to be gathered and sold for use in medicines, but I have no experience of how it might be used in folk remedies. 

According to one site, mullein is used to make medicine for "cough, whooping cough, tuberculosis, bronchitis, hoarseness, pneumonia, earaches, colds, chills, flu, swine flu, fever, allergies, tonsillitis, and sore throat. Other uses include asthma, diarrhea, colic, gastrointestinal bleeding, migraines, joint pain, and gout. It is also used as a sedative and as a diuretic to increase urine output.

"Mullein is applied to the skin for wounds, burns, hemorrhoids, bruises, frostbite, and skin infections  The leaves are used topically to soften and protect the skin."

But wait, there's more! Mullein is used as a flavoring ingredient in alcoholic beverages.

Are any of you familiar with the use of mullein in folk remedies?

 

Outside My Door

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too Hot

Too  hot to do much of anything.  I worked outside, pulling weeds and pruning back wisteria, till about 10 yesterday morning and gave it up to come inside, drink ice tea, and deal with some pages to be edited for my forthcoming workshop in popular fiction at Wildacres.

I'm not sure -- each student only submits 15 pages -- but one of the submissions seemed to be tending in the direction of erotica -- a genre I have trouble with because unless it's extremely well-written, it tends to make me giggle.

But, considering the fantastic success Fifty Shades of Grey has had (due, some suggest, to ebooks which one can read privately without the lady across from you in the bus knowing what you're up to) . . . well, I decided that, as a teacher of multiple genres, perhaps I should take a look at this blockbuster. So I downloaded a sample  from Amazon. 

After reading the sample, I wasn't tempted to go on. And it's fairly depressing to think that such mediocre (I'm being kind here) writing is selling so well. Though, perhaps I should find encouragement in this fact.

I did find one thing well worth reading. On big bestsellers like this, I always like to read the one-star reviews -- and there are some beauties -- Look HERE  The one by DS from LA is hilarious, as is the next one by Ebeth from TX.  These are terrific reading -- and FAR better written that the sample I read.

Still, a whole lot of folks enjoyed the book -- and as the sample I read didn't touch upon any naughty bits, I've missed the full experience. How about you all? Did any of you read it -- and what did you think?

 

Is It the Dog Days Yet?

 

 

 

 

 

Old Barn

 
 I remember when this roof was freshly painted. It's an ad for Hot Springs Spa.

 

 

 

 

Brown-Headed Cowbirds

Like coyotes, cowbirds have spread beyond their original range and, like coyotes, they aren't always welcome.  Cowbirds used to follow bison, consuming insects the herds stirred up in their grazing. Now they follow cows. 

I think they're handsome birds, especially the brown-headed males/

Like cuckoos, the females don't make their own nests; instead they find a nest that already contains eggs and lay their eggs (as many as seven) there. That's the end of motherhood for Ms. Cowbird -- she has a herd to follow.  But she will do this again and again and may produce more that three dozen eggs in a summer.

The original nest builder does the incubating. The cowbird eggs usually have a shorter incubation  time and hatch first. The hatchlings sometimes roll the other eggs out of the nest and snag all the food the poor host parents can provide.

Not pretty behavior -- but a very successful survival strategy.

Fascinating creatures -- there's more about them HERE.

 

Delicious . . .

 

 Wild black raspberries from beside the creek -- just a handful . . .

And in the garden, the lone artichoke plant has produced more buds! I left the first so I can see it bloom but I cut the smaller ones and we had them for dinner. Home grown artichoke is a first for us and I shall plant more next year.

My little harvest -- kale, collards, broccoli, and chard for a stir fry, the artichokes to boil and serve with browned butter, the romaine for a salad . . .  and the handful of raspberries into a bottle of apple cider vinegar.  In a month, the vinegar will take on the raspberry flavor and make the most delicious vinaigrette.

 

As I Was Saying . . .

A lightning strike Thursday evening took out the tower from which we receive our Internet signal and thus my silence.  Justin came up this evening and brought his portable 'hot spot' so I'm able to post -- regular service should resume in a few days.

I've been busy in the garden --  more planting, a lot of hoeing, tying up the tomatoes . . .

Above is a Black Krim tomato --
 Elizabeth Goodweather has them in her garden but this is a first for me.

And there are always the day lilies . . .

Also, I'd like to direct your attention to her spirits rose, where Katy, the proprietor, has done a lovely watercolor picture of Marigold and her calf.

It's been a lovely weekend, topped off by a rainy morning -- perfect for the garden.

I shall come blog-visiting when our service resumes . . .

Until then . . .