Paintbrush of the Fairies...Periwinkle

"In the language of flowers, the periwinkle is the symbol of pleasures of memory and early friendship."
Sharon Lovejoy

Periwinkle or Creeping Vinca or Myrtle (Vinca minor) is a dense forming ground cover excellent for erosion control and can often be seen growing around foundations or down embankments. It was introduced into North America in the 1700's as an ornamental. It grows best in partial shady areas which is why if it escapes cultivated areas can be a problem when it covers the forest floor. It is very hardy and drought resistant so if it likes where it is established, can compete with native species.

Personally, I love this plant, as it brings back a lot of memories of my childhood home. My mother originally got her starts from her own mother and over the years it wound its way around the house and the little summerhouse that was at one time used for the summer canning season.

When I had my own children and discovered Sharon Lovejoy's books on gardening with children, I loved the flower stories and little games that could be played.

This is the story of the periwinkle as is told in the book "Sunflower Houses" by Sharon Lovejoy:

PERRY WINKLE'S PAINT BRUSH

The first Spring descended upon the earth, and all of the new, young animals and shimmering green plants and trees were healthy and happy. The view from a hilltop across mile after mile of wildflowers with all different blossom and leaf shapes revealed one startling, glaringly obvious thing. Somehow, the finishing touch had been overlooked! All the flowers were one color-WHITE!

The very last flower to have been created was the humble periwinkle. thus, he was the one called upon to solve the problem of coloring all of the flowers.
"Goodness gracious," said Perry in a small, blue voice. "I am depressed. There is just no way a little flower like me could color all the flowers in the world."

"Perry," a deep, soft voice resounded, "what you need is a little faith! In this world everyone has a job and is expected to work. The job for you and your family will be to paint all the flowers every color to be found on our earth and in our sky."

"But how can I do such a thing? There are not enough brushes or paint in the world to color the millions of flowers you have strewn on this planet," Perry said in a defeated tone.

"The rainbow will be your never-ending supply of colors. And listen closely: Slip your petals off, and you will see that I have given every periwinkle in my kingdom its very own paintbrush."


This is the magical part while telling your child this story. When you slip off the last pale blue petal you will discover the tiniest, most fairy-like paintbrush imaginable!

After gently removing the petals, carefully take off the outer wrapping of the pistil/stamen and you'll find the little paintbrush. Children love this story and will never see this simple flower the same way again.

To Purchase

Flowers and Folklore....Bleeding Hearts

If there is a flower that brings out the child in us, it has to be the bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis). It is inevitable that anyone who has never seen these before will bend to get a closer look at the dancing little hearts that line up along the slender branches. The bleeding heart actually does look like a dripping heart, and if you turn it upside down and pull it open a bit, it looks like a lady in a bath. In fact, lady in a bath is another name for it.

Bleeding heart was originally from China. In 1842, Robert Fortune set out to explore an unknown world and sent back many of our garden treasures. He had with him carrying cases that were accidentally invented by Nathaniel Ward. Ward used a closed bottle to bury a chrysalis and observe the development of a moth. When he noticed plant growth in the closed environment he figured this would be the perfect way to transport plants and protect them from lack of water, changes in temperature and sea spray during long sea voyages to the home destination. This discovery completely revolutionized the transportation of live plants from far away.

Robert Fortune disguised himself as a Chinese man to get into the forbidden areas around China. He collected and smuggled out many plants that were the result of centuries of China's select breeding and cultivation. He called China the "central flowery land."

These delicate old-fashioned plants emerge in the spring, display their chains of hearts, and too soon the plant dies back till next year.

Children love this plant. The flowers encourage the imagination with creative pretend as they become earrings, heart hair tiaras, dancing ballerinas, lady in the bath play or man in a gondola play.

Many flowers have stories attached to them and bleeding heart is certainly no exception. Here we have two stories from folklore:

 The first is the story of Princess Dicentra. This beautiful princess wandered away from her walled garden home and became lost in the darkness of an ancient forest. An evil crone, angry at being disturbed, took out her vengeance on the vulnerable Dicentra. The crone reduced Dicentra's size to a fraction of her normal self and the princess became entrapped in the satiny pink folds of an oddly shaped flower.

The crone told Dicentra that she'll only escape if by chance she is discovered by an innocent youngling. What the crone didn't realize is how attractive these flowers were to any passing child. It took only three days before travelers stopped for water in the forest. A little boy noticed the dancing wand tipped by a pink and white heart, and as predictable with children, he plucked it. When the child started to play with the flower, the princess was freed when he pulled back the pink skirt.

The second story is called "Ann's Story of the Bleeding Heart" by Elma Lang.
This is exactly as the story goes so the full credit goes to Elma Lang.

Ann thought she was the most unhappy girl in the world. Although she had gone to her new school for a whole week, she hadn't made a single friend.

Things might have been different if she hadn't been so frightened that first day. Some of the girls had spoken to her, but her throat had become so tight that she hadn't been able to answer them. Maybe after that the girls has thought she was stuck up or unfriendly. At any rate, they had left it up to her to make the next move.

Ann stopped to pick a bouquet of lilies of the valley and bleeding hearts for her new teacher. Many were growing in the garden of her new home.

As soon as she was in their classroom after the morning bell rang, Ann took the flowers to her teacher.

"My what lovely bleeding hearts!" exclaimed Miss Johnson, smiling at Ann. "Isn't that a sad name for such pretty flowers? Why do you suppose it was given that name?"

"Don't you know the story?" asked Ann in surprise. "My mother told it to me when I was just a little girl."

"Perhaps you can tell the story to the class," suggested Miss Johnson.

Ann looked at the class and felt horrified. Then she thought, I know the story well, and I love it. Of course I should share it.

Both her hands and her knees were shaking as she broke off one of the flowers, but she bravely stood before the class and told her story.

"Once upon a time there lived a beautiful princess. Young men from far and near came to pay her court. But the princess was very vain and would have nothing to do with any of them. A young prince fro the neighboring country fell deeply in love with her. She ignored him like the others, though he tried and tried to win her heart. One day the prince found a pair of pretty pink rabbits at the market. He sent them to the princess thinking 'these will surely melt her heart.'"
 Ann carefully broke off the two outside petals of the flower in her hand. She placed them on the teacher's desk. Sure enough they looked like a pair of pink rabbits.
"But the princess went right right on ignoring him," Ann continued with her story.
"Then the prince sent her a pair of beautiful Oriental slippers." From the front and back of the flower, Ann took off the two long petals. One could easily imagine the dainty heels, the slender insteps, and the widened toes. They looked like a pair of real Oriental slippers.

Ann had to wait until the oh's and ah's of the class had quieted down before she could go on.

"Still the princess would have nothing to do with him. The young prince was so heart broken that he took his dagger and drove it into his heart." The remains of the flower in Ann's hand made the outline of a heart with a line down the center. Ann broke out the stamen, which had made the line. It looked like a dagger. She put it through the center of the heart. Ann held her hand so that the class could see the perfect heart pierced by the dagger.

Ann went on with the story. "As soon as the prince was dead, the princess realized that she had really love him. 'As long as I live, my heart shall bleed for my prince.' she wept".

"That" finished Ann, "is the story of the bleeding heart.

"Show me how to do it," said Donna, who sat in the front seat.

"Me too, me too!" cried the other girls.

"Ann may show you at recess," Miss Johnson stated firmly.

My story has made everything all right, Ann thought happily as she went back to her desk. I won't have any trouble making friends now.



For those who love to save their flower collections by pressing them, the bleeding heart is perfect. Picked early in the morning after the dew has dried, tuck between the pages of a thick book and after a few weeks the flower is transformed into a perfect flat, papery little heart.



Information for this post came from "100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names" by Diana Wells and "Sunflower Houses" by Sharon Lovejoy

Below are three wonderful books to spark a child's imagination and love of gardening:

To purchase

To purchase

To purchase

How to use Plant Leaves to Dye Easter Eggs

Dying Easter eggs can be a time for fun, creativity and a little kitchen chemistry.
To get started you'll need white eggs, not brown.
Use a size pot to accommodate the number of eggs you want to boil. Too few eggs for the size pot will result in the eggs rattling around and increase the chance of them cracking.
Add enough water to fully cover the eggs.
Bring them to a boil, cover the pot with a lid, turn off the heat and let sit on the burner for 15 minutes.
Put the pot in the sink and run cold water to cool off the eggs. This works better than tipping the pot to strain off the hot water since that may cause the eggs to bump and crack.

Gather your plant material.
This time of year you'll probably have to rely on houseplants or herbs purchased from the grocery store. Parsley and cilantro leaves are pretty.
As far as houseplants use whatever you have. Boston fern, English ivy and Pothos have pretty shapes and work nicely.
Choose and snip off the tinier leaves.




Use an old pair of nylon stockings.
Cut it up into sections of about 5 inch lengths
Spread out the leaf so it lays flat onto the egg and carefully stretch the nylon over the egg to hold it tight.
Twist the nylon ends to close and tie shut with a twisty tie (the kind from loaves of bread)

To dye your eggs you'll need:



Small glass or metal bowls, one for each color you'll be using
Into each bowl add 1 cup boiling water
2 tsp. vinegar
10 - 20 drops food coloring (single colors or various blends and shades)
Using a slotted spoon or tongs lower the eggs into the dye
Let sit for at least 5 - 10 minutes or until satisfied with the strength of the colors
If dying a large number of eggs you may  need to increase and adjust the water, vinegar and dye amounts.

To remove the stocking from the eggs:



Work over your kitchen sink so all drips, stockings and plant material stay in the sink and you won't risk staining your countertop.
Using a scissors, carefully snip off the stocking and peel away the stocking and the plant leaf.
Lay the egg on a cookie sheet to dry.
Repeat for each egg.
Once all the eggs are dry the eggs can be put into an egg carton and stored in the refrigerator.
Hard-boiled eggs are good for about a week.

If you want to take the time and use all natural dyes for your eggs, this is a great tutorial.
Tumeric gives you yellow
Beets give you purple
Onion skins give you a brownish orange
Red cabbage gives you a blue

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

Forcing Spring Twigs for a bit of Color

In a hurry for spring to arrive? Try cutting branches from flowering shrubs and force them to bloom a little early in the warmth of your home. Enjoy yellows, whites, pinks and purples!

This is a fun project to spark an interest in children to the wonder and beauty of our natural world.

During the months of February and March cut one to two foot long branches from such shrubs as:
pussy willow, dogwood, forsythia, redbud, plum, cherry, wild crab apple, apple, lilac and wisteria.
You can try tree types but shrubs tend to bloom much easier.
If you wait till March and the buds are starting to swell you'll get faster results.
Cut the branches on the diagonal.
Using a hammer, bruise the ends to allow the branches to soak up the water faster.
Put the branches in a vase and add water. Change the water every few days.

Below is a chart from the Farmer's Almanac as to the length of time you can hope to enjoy the blooms.

Buckeye	5 weeks
Cherry	4 weeks
Cornelian dogwood	2 weeks
Crab apple	4 weeks
Deutzia	3 weeks
Flowering almond	3 weeks
Flowering dogwood	5 weeks
Flowering quince	4 weeks
Forsythia	1 week
Honeysuckle	3 weeks
Horse chestnut	5 weeks
Lilac	4 weeks
Magnolia	3 weeks
Pussy willow	2 weeks
Red maple	2 weeks
Redbud	2 weeks
Red-twig dogwood	5 weeks
Spicebush	2 weeks
Spirea	4 weeks
Wisteria	3 weeks

Lilac

Red Bud

Forsythia

Crabapple

Dogwood

Pussy Willow

Salt, Lemons, Vinegar, Baking Soda...Helping Hand to Raising Children

Though many of us are aware how useful the Fab Four (Salt, Lemons, Vinegar, and Baking Soda) by Shea Zukowski can be around the house for anyone seeking earth-friendly solutions, it is difficult to actually remember which is for what purpose.

I came across this little gem of a book and now I have all these tips in one place for reference instead of forgetting where I read those tips and to where I filed them away. The book is categorized into sections including kitchen, laundry, personal, pet and outdoors. For this post I am just going to center on what can be useful to make life easier in raising children.

CLOTH DIAPER CLEANER

1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup vinegar
Fragrance-free liquid laundry detergent

Add the baking soda to the wash cycle along with the detergent. Baking soda helps neutralize the acids in the dirty diapers.
Add the vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften clothes and help remove the detergent.


BABY FORMULA STAIN REMOVER

1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup water

Baby formula easily stains clothing because of it's high protein content. Keep this mix in a spray bottle in the refrigerator so it is handy to pre-treat stains as soon as possible. Let the garment air dry in the sun and then wash as usual.


BABY AND CHILD TOY DISINFECTANT

1/4 cup vinegar

Soak a clean cloth in the 1/4 cup of vinegar and wipe down all  non-plush toys. Allow items to air dry. The vinegar scent will fade away.


STUFFED ANIMAL CLEANER

1/2 cup baking soda

Not all plush toys can be put into the washing machine. To rid stuffed animals of odors, put them in a plastic zip lock bag along with the baking soda. Shake the bag to distribute the baking soda over the stuffed animals and let sit overnight. Remove the toys and shake off the excess baking soda.


URINE SMELL ELIMINATOR

2 cups vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup baking soda

Bed wetting can be frustrating for everyone. There are waterproof mattress covers to protect the mattress but if the deed is already done you'll want to get rid of the smell of urine. Mix the vinegar and water and apply with a sponge to the affected areas. Blot dry with a towel and cover the spot with the baking soda. Let the area fully dry and then vacuum.


MUDDY CARPET CLEANER

When kids or pets come charging into the house leaving a trail of muddy footprints behind them, resist the urge to try blotting it up. This could just drive the dirt deeper into the carpet fibers. Take a handful of plain old salt and sprinkle generously onto the messy spots and leave it. Give the salt time to absorb the liquid and once dry vacuum it up.


PRE-TREATMENT FOR GRASS AND OTHER STAINS 

1 Tbsp baking soda
1 Tsp lemon juice OR 1 tsp vinegar

Stained knees and shirt fronts are prime targets for stained clothes. Sprinkle baking soda on the area, followed up with the lemon juice or vinegar on top. As the mixture starts to fizz, rub the fabric or use a toothbrush to rub it in to make sure the mix is getting through the stain. Let it sit a few minutes and then launder as usual.


CHEWING GUM REMOVER

Before you grab the scissors to cut out gum stuck in your child's hair, try using a lemon. Cut a lemon in half and rub the cut side onto the gum to help it loosen its grip. Gently squeeze the lemon to release some juice. Lemons can cause some bleaching so rinse the hair. This method can work on clothes and carpets as well, just remember to blot it up so it doesn't lighten the carpet.

SWIMMER'S EAR PREVENTION

2 Tbsp vinegar
2 Tbsp isopropyl alcohol

After a day of swimming there is always a chance the protective layer of wax in the outer ear canal gets worn away. Bacteria rich water from swimming can get in there and cause an infection. To lower this risk, make a solution of equal parts vinegar and isopropyl alcohol and store in a bottle or jar. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and squeeze a few drops into each ear after swimming.


POOL TOY MILDEW PREVENTION

Inflatable pool toys are susceptible to mold and mildew once deflated and stored away for the winter. To minimize this from happening, let them sit in the sun to thoroughly dry before storing. Sprinkle each deflated item with a handful of baking soda before rolling up.


FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WASH

1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp baking soda
1 cup water

A homemade, very economical fruit and vegetable spray to remove waxy coatings and help clean off pesticides. Fill a spray bottle with the lemon juice, baking soda and water. Shake before use. Spray the produce before eating and rinse it well to remove any aftertaste from the wash. The spray will last about a week.

NEED SOMETHING TO DO KID ACTIVITIES

SALT PAINTING

4 to 5 small bowls of salt
Food coloring of different colors
School glue
sponge brush
Paper

Pour an equal amount of salt into a few small bowls. A few Tbsp in each should be plenty.
Add a drop of food coloring into each bowl and stir to create different colors.
Using the sponge brush, coat a piece of paper with a thin layer of glue and let the children sprinkle the colored salt to form pictures and patterns.

SALT CLAY DOUGH

1 cup salt
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 cups flour

Mix the salt with the warm water and stir to dissolve. Add the vegetable oil and flour and stir slowly to combine. Knead the dough till pliable, adding flour if necessary till not sticky. If desired, divide into smaller balls and add a few drops food coloring to each to make different color dough balls. Store the play dough in a zip lock bag or lidded container. If the kids want to save their creations, let them air dry a few days and paint them with watercolor or acrylic paints. A thin coating of clear nail polish will help preserve them.


Here are three other posts about natural care for adults and children:
All Natural Care for Mom and Baby

The Well Stocked Natural Child's First Aid Kit

Dealing with the Pitfalls of Summer, Naturally

Baths, a Time for nursing the Body and Soul

Ever wonder why a hot bath is such a comfort?
According to this article from Daily Mail Reporter when people feel loneliness they tend to feel cold and the feel of a hot bath can help with feelings of isolation. There is a link between physical warmth and social warmth and it all begins in childhood where so much comfort comes from hot things like soup, hot drinks and the love from those who offer them. Warm water can substitute for desired company and help lift that down in the dumps feeling that is so often helped by being around other people.

You certainly don't have to feel lonely to desire the escape from it all in a nice soak. Perhaps you have had plenty of socialization for a day and just want time to be left alone and nurse your frazzled nerves. Take time for yourself once in a while and close that bathroom door for at least 30 minutes.

Humans have a natural pull towards the sea and the theory is that since the water content of our bodies is so similar to seawater we feel a connection. There is a quote by JFK that says, "We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came."

Warm water is so very therapeutic for not only the soul, but for the body as well. Stiff muscles and achy joints benefit so greatly from the heat and relaxation offered from warm water.
Bath oils offer the silky skin loving benefits of carrier oils such as almond, jojoba, olive, apricot and wheat germ. Essential oils are added which further add quality to a good bath oil. Certain plant essences contain anti-inflammatory properties or help eliminate toxins and fluid retention or do wonders for the weary spirit.
The salts used for bath salts contain necessary minerals such as magnesium which are so often lacking in our modern diets. By absorbing these minerals through our skin, we benefit by way of stress relief and even lowering blood pressure.
Bath salts aid with periodic detoxification and help to eliminate toxins.

Feel better, Sleep better and you'll Do better

Below are some of the bath products found within the Meadow Muffin Gardens shop.
 Here are just a few of the available bath oils, salts and scrubs:

Sensual Earth Patchouli and Lavender Bath Oil

Down in the Dumps Bath Oil

Lavender andYlangYlang Bath Salts

Grounding Earth Bath Salts

Salt Polish Body Scrub

Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Valentine's Sugar Cookies, HeartSweets

A lot of what makes a Home Sweet Home is the positive energy within its walls. And when it comes to showing our love for people, we have a natural urge to feed them.

Valentine's Day is the holiday of love and there are many ways in which to express that emotion. The history behind the Legend, Love and Lore is both romantic and fascinating. Hearts, Cupid, Chocolate, Cards, Flowers and jewelry are all symbols to say "I love you" to that special someone. Baking is another sure way to bring someone back to the comfort of their childhood kitchen memories of love and security.

This recipe for Valentine's Sugar Cookies can be made anytime, using any shape cookie cutter. Their touch of almond and vanilla extracts set them a bit apart from the usual sugar cookie at Christmas.

VALENTINE SUGAR COOKIE

from Taste of Home magazine

donated by Rene Schwebach

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. almond extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

red sprinkle sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar.

Add the egg and the extracts.

Stir in the flour and mix well.

Cover the bowl and chill for several hours.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.

I find it easier to pull off chunks of dough at a time rather than attempt to roll out the entire ball.

Use a heart shaped cookie cutter (2 1/2 or 3 inch heart works well)

 Cut out cookies and place 12 at a time on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Sprinkle with the red sugar sprinkles.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 9 - 10 minutes.

They will brown lightly around the edges.

Let cool a few minutes till hold their shape and remove to a cookie rack to cool completely.

Makes about 3 1/2 dozen

Unbaked cookies

Baked cookies