Saturday, July 5, 2014

Go slowly the Parish Road

Go slowly the Parish Road to see vultures spread wings in the sun, or rest on a limb before flight in the thermals.

Watch the muskrat glide to you pushing water to glistening ridges.

See the medicinal ones: St. John’s Wort, and Mullein. 

St. John’s Wort extract is used to treat major depression and in Germany it is frequently prescribed for moderate depression especially for children and adolescents.

Stately Mullein has a plethora of  uses. Hummingbirds sometimes use the soft leaves to line their nests. Bumble bees and honey bees gather it’s nectar. It is used by humans treat phthis (any disease that causes wasting of the body, esp. pulmonary tuberculosis). It allays coughs and mullein poultices remove the pain of haemorrhoids. In Europe a sweetened infusion of the flowers eases mild catarrhs and colic.There are many many more uses but I shall leave you with these.

Finally, enjoy the profusion of colours where common vetch lofts it’s purple garlands in summer’s wild .


Turkey Vulture




Muskrat


St. John’s Wort Common Vetch in the background

Mullein


Common Vetch and White Alfalfa