tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12494346445278355972024-02-19T17:34:27.123-08:00The Outlander Plant GuideA wee bit more information about the plants found in Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER series of novels.Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-80047468984397441722021-03-22T11:56:00.000-07:002021-03-22T11:55:59.987-07:00My New Website!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFee3NpGZst4vFn_6jz1A261F-AGtfn8ADgGBRMtYSlbj9muFQZPgry_KB20TeNKtQ7mzLzbcU969LzRW2IkZkrecUvWNIoMpZRqlgSwEZpiQf3m-S8L8nuDUCKsyOTpdJ3ri30B9Fobo/s1089/Forget-me-not+seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="913" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFee3NpGZst4vFn_6jz1A261F-AGtfn8ADgGBRMtYSlbj9muFQZPgry_KB20TeNKtQ7mzLzbcU969LzRW2IkZkrecUvWNIoMpZRqlgSwEZpiQf3m-S8L8nuDUCKsyOTpdJ3ri30B9Fobo/s320/Forget-me-not+seeds.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>Hello, loyal readers!</p><p>I hope you are enjoying reading about the plants mentioned in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series of novels. These posts have been fun to research and write.</p><p>This isn't my only blog, however. I have two more and I'm in the process of combining the "best of" those posts and this one into one website. </p><p>Here it is: <a href="https://www.whereiamnow.net" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Where I Am Now</b></span></a></p><p>I hope you'll stop by and take a look.</p><p>Thank you!</p><p>Marie</p>Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-87433936112669299762016-09-10T09:45:00.000-07:002016-09-10T09:45:52.239-07:0018th Century Cooking with Jas. Townsend and SonMy son was doing some research online and came across this series of videos. He started watching them and got hooked. They really are that good!<br />
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He sent some of the links to me and now I've watched a lot of them, too. I think they are perfect for Outlander Plant fans to watch before the launch of Season 3. We know that in the next season, based on the book <b><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Voyager-Outlander-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0440217563/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=outlander03-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=6ec235b6ec27a6c1efbcf9eaea5c82dd&creativeASIN=0440217563" target="_blank">Voyager</a></span></b>, Claire and Jamie leave Scotland and head to the New World. These videos give us a wee bit of insight into what life will be like when they get there. Enjoy!<br />
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Claire and Jamie likely ate their share of bisket on the voyage to North America.<br />
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Did you know that haggis is a pudding? I didn't, either.<br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-36921880878550131672016-04-10T12:09:00.000-07:002016-06-06T12:32:01.762-07:00Vive Le New French Version of the Outlander Theme SongBy now, most Outlander fans know the theme song for Outlander by heart. Bear McCreary's <a href="http://www.whereiamnow.net/2014/08/the-outlander-theme-song.html" target="_blank">adaptation of the Scottish folksong,</a> The Skye Boat Song, has become a classic.<br />
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With the opening of Season 2, however, the story moves to France - and McCreary has moved the theme song along with it. Here is Raya Yarbrough (Bear's wife, by the way) singing the new version. McCreary is accompanying her on the accordion and Noah Hoffeld is on cello.<br />
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The French lyrics are below the video. Enjoy!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Chante-moi l'histoire
D'une fille d'autrefois
S'agirait-il de moi?
L'ame légère
Elle prit un jour la mer</span></div>
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<script src="https://z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-56425034720230528752016-04-03T14:35:00.001-07:002016-06-24T14:04:42.743-07:00The Kitchen and Love Gardens at Chateau Villandry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>You're not in Scotland anymore, Outlander Plant lovers! </b></div>
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Just look at this magnificent kitchen garden. I can't imagine what Mrs. Fitz, the thrifty and efficient head housekeeper of Castle Leoch, would have said about a "working" garden this elaborate.<br />
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Suffice it to say that they do things differently in France.<br />
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Located in the Loire Valley, about a 3 hour drive southwest of Paris, you'll find Le Chateau Villandry, one of the last great Renaissance chateaux built on the Loire River. The chateau itself is not that impressive, compared to others from the era like Chenenceau and Chambord. The main reason to visit Villandry is to see the gardens. The gardens I most appreciated were the kitchen and the love gardens.<br />
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The kitchen garden, which you see above, is divided into individual rectangular beds, each bordered with tightly clipped boxwood hedges. The vegetable planting scheme is designed to alternate color and texture to give the impression of a living chess board. </div>
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You'll see blue-grey leeks; lacy, pale green carrot tops; almost black dino kale; purple cabbage; red-veined beet leaves; arching artichoke branches; orange pumpkins and red peppers - all arranged as a work of art. Adjacent to the kitchen garden is an herb garden containing around 30 different species noted for their medicinal or aromatic qualities. I can see Claire strolling through these garden beds, reveling in the abundance of herbs and fresh produce.<br />
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Tree roses punctuate the beds, adding height and color. The perimeter of the garden is lined with colorful flower beds and bordered with espaliered apple and pear trees. Grapes are trained along the arbor above the stone walls. Even in fall, when most vegetable gardens are looking tired and unkept, the kitchen garden at Villandry is beautiful.</div>
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<b>The Gardens of Love are another special feature at Villandry. </b></div>
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Best viewed from the chateau balcony, separate parterres represent four aspects of love: Tender Love (upper left corner), Tragic Love (lower left corner), Passionate Love (upper right corner) and Fickle Love (lower right corner). </div>
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Tender love is shown with perfect heart shapes, separated by red "flames" of love. The boxwoods in the tragic love quadrant are pruned to take the shapes of swords and daggers; the red flowers are the blood shed by men fighting over women. The hearts in the passionate love parterre are split open by the intensity of love. The fickle love garden has horn shapes and fans to indicate flirtation. Although not the case in this photo, the flower color in the fickle love garden is usually yellow, the color that symbolizes betrayal. </div>
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Here is a view of the Tender Love garden with the Kitchen Garden in the background on the right. The clipped, upright evergreens that look like chess pieces are <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2015/09/its-all-about-yew.html" target="_blank">yews</a>.</b></div>
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<b>Today the chateau is undergoing renovation, its rooms reflecting the French art of living in the 18th Century. </b>The kitchen garden is transitioning to becoming entirely organic and the produce from the garden is used in the preparation of food served in the chateau restaurant. So if you want to get a wee taste of what a grand French castle was like when Claire and Jamie were there, I highly recommend a visit. For more information about the Chateau and gardens, visit <b><a href="http://www.chateauvillandry.fr/en/" target="_blank">their website</a></b>. </div>
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Related Posts:</h3>
<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2016/03/september-in-monets-garden.html" target="_blank">September in Monet's Garden</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2016/03/le-jardin-luxembourg-paris.html" target="_blank">Le Jardin Luxembourg - Paris</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2016/03/les-jardins-de-france.html" target="_blank">Les Jardins de France</a></b><br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-60807285763592182142016-03-20T10:21:00.000-07:002016-03-20T10:21:05.626-07:00September in Monet's Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The famed impressionist painter, Claude Monet, made his home in Giverny, France, from 1883 until his death 43 years later. During those years, he built the gardens around his farmhouse, constantly reworking parts of them to create the beautiful landscapes that became the subjects of his paintings. Working with plants allowed him to experiment with colors and textures in various combinations. He created a Japanese garden because he was fascinated with Asian art. He found a way to divert water from a nearby river to fill a pond where he grew aquatic plants, most notably his famous water lilies.<br />
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The garden in September has a different color palette than is found there in spring, or in summer, when the water lilies are in full bloom. But there is a quality to the light in early autumn that casts everything in a certain glow that is quite special.<br />
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The green foot bridge so familiar from Monet's paintings is almost lost in the abundance of weeping willow foliage as you look across the pond.<br />
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Here's the view as you walk across the bridge.</div>
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From the bridge, you look down onto the water lilies, a few still blooming here and there. Monet's series of water lily paintings are perhaps some of the best known of his works. </div>
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Fall blooms include roses, dahlias and trailing nasturtiums that flow onto the walking path. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">A sure sign of fall is the reddish tinge on the </span><i style="text-align: left;"><b>Parthenocissis </b></i><span style="text-align: left;">vine </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">that grows on the walls of the house. </span></div>
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For more information about Monet's Garden, including travel information, visit the <b><a href="http://giverny.org/gardens/fcm/visitgb.htm" target="_blank">garden website</a></b>.</div>
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Related posts:</h3>
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<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2016/03/le-jardin-luxembourg-paris.html" target="_blank">Le Jardin Luxembourg - Paris</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2016/03/les-jardins-de-france.html" target="_blank">Les Jardins de France</a></b></div>
<br />Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-17835203138207973872016-03-13T17:35:00.000-07:002016-06-24T14:03:01.462-07:00Les Jardins de FranceSeason Two of Outlander is going to look very different from Season One. The story moves from the wild, mystical scenery in the Scottish Highlands to urban French landscapes with carefully designed and groomed gardens.<br />
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I've been going through photos I took on a trip I made to northern France some years ago, thinking that as we wait for the new season to begin, it might be fun to share my photos of French gardens. Perhaps they will give you an idea of what we might see in Season Two. This and the next few posts will feature some of my favorites.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKfrmYuor838q8WsWh4Jg7Uu9dzN3drF6WvZlr_TwoQifAvoHyzKbRIn9BqMxMaUGxnQvrWvDsrv5Os1R0k-0cNdDk_lgIsdQ4PgUU4xNoXjsWLHGmCIZeIgC-Ntwwi3nsSJuTlXXgzE/s1600/Bourges+2+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKfrmYuor838q8WsWh4Jg7Uu9dzN3drF6WvZlr_TwoQifAvoHyzKbRIn9BqMxMaUGxnQvrWvDsrv5Os1R0k-0cNdDk_lgIsdQ4PgUU4xNoXjsWLHGmCIZeIgC-Ntwwi3nsSJuTlXXgzE/s640/Bourges+2+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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These are the gardens of Bourges Cathedral, located in the city of Bourges, at the edge of the Loire Valley. The cathedral was completed in 1230 and features double flying buttresses, like those of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The gardens surrounding the cathedral are formal and beautifully maintained. </div>
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Here's a close up of one of the planting beds.</div>
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This photo was taken in late September, when color in most gardens is winding down. But not here!</div>
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Not far from Bourges, about 190 miles southwest of Paris, is the city of Angers. Its strategic defensive location was first recognized by the ancient Romans, who built a fortress there. The fortress was replaced by the Chateau d'Angers, a castle built in the 9th and early 13th centuries. Over the centuries the castle passed through the hands of many powerful people including the Plantagenet Kings of England, King Louis IX (referred to as St. Louis) and members of the Medici family. </div>
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Today the Castle is a museum, operated by the city of Bourges. The moat, once filled with water to protect the castle from invaders, is now filled with elaborate gardens, like the one below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNwuKyb8t2m2apSCzzbFGlg57VQzk7OCCIUw9YL4wDmBwsT8IbTGFBaZC2T5xdX__CCR_mRdfywonSC4qGklVOO6GXRQQbG2VyMtz1jI5VzbshovLxclVrCQ8upixIkBTBYJMO19rRSE/s1600/Angiers+garden+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNwuKyb8t2m2apSCzzbFGlg57VQzk7OCCIUw9YL4wDmBwsT8IbTGFBaZC2T5xdX__CCR_mRdfywonSC4qGklVOO6GXRQQbG2VyMtz1jI5VzbshovLxclVrCQ8upixIkBTBYJMO19rRSE/s640/Angiers+garden+%25281%2529.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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I'll close this post with one more favorite memory - the garden at Clos Luce, the home of Leonardo da Vinci in his final years. Clos Luce is a small chateau in the city of Amboise. It came as a complete surprise to me that da Vinci died in France; I thought he spent his last days in Italy. I was also surprised to see that the Chateau is home to an impressive collection of exhibits that illustrate da Vinci's many inventions - the same collection I'd seen a few years earlier in Victoria, BC!</div>
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This is a view from one of the upstairs windows, looking out toward the gift shop. I'm sure the view was quite different in Leonardo's day - none of these plants are that old. But it was nice to stand there and think that perhaps he looked out that same window onto a similar garden long ago. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzypzy6Tsp5bzygdY9s4wCgljH_Yg9rQwtF3XKKPjGe_yInE3Qv3DW0QACfXgEr7yqL7a9PoPkZXKewKZIPC_YDKS3AhJLyE9ySPxA0aDsjwPG3-JveioSNRo-wH70fO8q2Fb6ljah2E/s1600/Clos+Luce+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzypzy6Tsp5bzygdY9s4wCgljH_Yg9rQwtF3XKKPjGe_yInE3Qv3DW0QACfXgEr7yqL7a9PoPkZXKewKZIPC_YDKS3AhJLyE9ySPxA0aDsjwPG3-JveioSNRo-wH70fO8q2Fb6ljah2E/s400/Clos+Luce+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In future posts, I'll take you on a tour of Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, show you some of Monet's waterlilies and introduce you to the most awesome kitchen garden you've ever seen! Stay tuned. </div>
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-64735713569952122062016-02-27T11:07:00.000-08:002016-02-27T11:07:35.074-08:00Juniper: The Clan Badge of the Murrays <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DpjPhYvrHHHWf05-GLyg8DSUV-JnH6Ko7Fsr89l-2UZ5XfTVdexljDeqBSSIMfaWCb5VvlMSdKdm5E0-ODZ7jBaOZnrJBzAEJghh-E8H3ZvLk9tAm6aPvyHkCughf5WoWMssqjSJu-w/s1600/Juniper+berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DpjPhYvrHHHWf05-GLyg8DSUV-JnH6Ko7Fsr89l-2UZ5XfTVdexljDeqBSSIMfaWCb5VvlMSdKdm5E0-ODZ7jBaOZnrJBzAEJghh-E8H3ZvLk9tAm6aPvyHkCughf5WoWMssqjSJu-w/s400/Juniper+berries.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Berries on a Hollywood juniper, <br /><i>Juniperous chinensis 'Torulosa'</i></span></b></td></tr>
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<blockquote>
"<i>The Corporal went away and I sat by myself, eating scorched potatoes and stringy beef. I'd found a late patch of charlock near the stream, leaves wilting and brown around the edges, and had brought back a handful in my pocket, along with a few juniper berries picked during a stop earlier in the day. The mustard leaves were old and very bitter, but I managed to get them down by wodging them between bites of potato. I finished the meal with the juniper berries, biting each one briefly to avoid choking and then swallowing the tough, flattened berry, seed and all. The oily burst of flavor sent fumes up the back of my throat that made my eyes water, but they did cleanse my tongue of the taste of grease and scorch, and would, with the charlock leaves, maybe be sufficient to ward off scurvy</i>." </blockquote>
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--<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0440215625?creativeASIN=0440215625&linkCode=w00&linkId=XWAGE6ILBCDJYDP4&ref_=as_sl_pc_tf_til&tag=outlander03-20"> DRAGONFLY IN AMBER</a></b>, by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 33, "In Which Quite A Lot of Things Gang Agley" </blockquote>
This is the most unappetizing passage I can think of from the OUTLANDER books. Having cleared more than my share of overgrown junipers from neglected landscapes and suffered prickly skin rashes from contact with their leaves, I cannot imagine thinking that eating the berries would be a good idea. However, people have and apparently do - see the Medicinal Uses section below.<br />
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As far as I am concerned, the Murray clan has found a better use for the plant. They use juniper (in Gaelic, it is called Aitionn) as <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_badge" target="_blank">their clan badge</a></b>. Men attach sprigs of it to their caps; women fasten bits of the foliage to their sashes at the shoulder.<br />
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As you may know, the berries are used to flavor gin, a practice that is believed to have originated in Holland. The name of the drink is short for the Dutch word for juniper - "genever." However, I've discovered some bad news for fans of gin and tonic in Scotland and England. A fungal disease, <i>phytopthora austrocedreae</i>, has infected nearly 80% of existing junipers in the UK, causing people there to wonder if they may be <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/news/gin-crisis/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link" target="_blank"><b>facing a gin shortage.</b></a> <br />
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Botanical Information</h3>
<b>Family:</b> Cupressaceae<br />
<b>Genus:</b> <i>Juniperus</i><br />
<b>Species: </b>There are many! By some counts over 60 different species grow in the Northern Hemisphere. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniper">Here</a></b> is a list.<br />
<b>Common Name: </b> Juniper is the name used generally, but individual species have their own names. For examples, <i>Juniperous chinensis</i> is called Chinese juniper; <i>Juniperous conferta</i>, Shore juniper; <i>Juniperous virginiana</i>, Eastern juniper or Eastern Redcedar (this is the so-called cedar used in drawers to repel moths).<br />
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Medicinal Uses</h3>
According to Ellen Evert Hopman, writing in <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Druids-Herbal-Sacred-Earth-Year/dp/0892815019/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=outlander03-20&linkCode=w00&creativeASIN=0892815019" target="_blank">A Druid's Herbal,</a></b> juniper is "primarily a diuretic, the berries help digestive problems, gastrointestinal inflammations, and rheumatism."<br />
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During the Thirty Years War, gin, called "<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_courage" target="_blank">Dutch Courage</a></b>" - was given to English soldiers before battle to calm them.<br />
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The popular drink, gin and tonic, had its origins as a sort of medicine in tropical British colonies. Tonic water in those days contained quinine, the only effective anti-malarial compound available at the time. Gin was added to the tonic water to mask the bitter taste of the quinine.<br />
<br />Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-23051211504653934682015-03-29T11:44:00.001-07:002015-09-20T07:53:59.528-07:00The Medicinal Gardens at Bastyr UniversityYesterday was The Outlander Plant Guide's first anniversary. I celebrated by meeting a couple of Outlander fans at the Medicinal Gardens at <b><a href="http://www.bastyr.edu/">Bastyr University</a></b> in Kenmore, Washington. I wanted to take a look around and prepare for the Outlander gathering we are having there on April 18th.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>The Botany Beds have plants arranged by botanical family.</b></span></td></tr>
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I've often thought that if Claire Fraser was to travel back in time to the 21st century instead of the 20th, she might have chosen Bastyr as the school where she would get her medical degree. Bastyr was the first university in the United States to offer an accredited, science-based, natural medicine program. Their approach is so like that of Claire's - combining science with botanical medicine. </div>
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Since its founding in 1978, Bastyr has expanded its course offerings to include degree programs in nutrition, acupuncture, midwifery, psychology, public health, Ayurvedic medicine, exercise science and wellness, along with naturopathic medicine. </div>
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The medicinal gardens at Bastyr are a collection of several gardens in one large garden space. All provide hands-on teaching experiences for students. One garden features Botany Beds, in which plants are grouped by botanical family. Another garden contains plants used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. There is a 4 Element garden, based on the ancient Greek "humoral" system of medicine, featuring plants that represent water, fire, air and earth. There is also a Nutrition Garden which provides fresh produce and herbs for the university cafeteria. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C8H9HfK7sK6sXeQ82c38DT-zDkD3GukWc72NPd-gmt8xvsjXWfg5BPuRneWD3ZXVEIWSI3FLW-cuf86Iq1YV1b_Ml4n8ZQeG1d2bNhudYB-Vb4U9pDAad-SdDriKSbOFODLdPkLSGLM/s1600/BU+musculo-skeletal+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C8H9HfK7sK6sXeQ82c38DT-zDkD3GukWc72NPd-gmt8xvsjXWfg5BPuRneWD3ZXVEIWSI3FLW-cuf86Iq1YV1b_Ml4n8ZQeG1d2bNhudYB-Vb4U9pDAad-SdDriKSbOFODLdPkLSGLM/s1600/BU+musculo-skeletal+bed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>This bed features plants that benefit the musculo-skeletal system.</b></span></td></tr>
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For those of us who are most interested in plants used to treat specific ailments, there are the Physiological System beds. The bed shown above, for example, features plants that benefit the musculo-skeletal system. They include: crampbark (<i>Virburnum opulus</i>), comfrey (<i>Symphytum officinale)</i>, St. John's wort (<i>Hypericum</i> <i>perforatum)</i>, and meadow arnica (<i>Arnica chamissonis</i>). Other beds have plants that benefit the brain and central nervous system, the reproductive system, genitourinary system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, immune system and endocrine system. All are clearly labeled. </div>
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If you live near Kenmore, Washington, I hope you can join us for our Outlander gathering at noon on April 18. If you aren't able to stroll the gardens with us then, I hope you've enjoyed this brief virtual tour. </div>
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Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-35107108920203071302014-12-21T18:05:00.000-08:002014-12-21T18:05:17.305-08:00Winter Solstice<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfQE6C4_2Bhp6Mk80O5c7R0WBGlF9frtFshtFbGeyvG3N6KNkW09NObjvkzzK9NI0jSzDdIM2R3AqbOuzW4WCyVaFh5P2aG3OnPS8WfBF9gifBUPPy7dVM0Jit6k5zGcc473ciyCT06M/s1600/Cotoneaster+berries+in+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfQE6C4_2Bhp6Mk80O5c7R0WBGlF9frtFshtFbGeyvG3N6KNkW09NObjvkzzK9NI0jSzDdIM2R3AqbOuzW4WCyVaFh5P2aG3OnPS8WfBF9gifBUPPy7dVM0Jit6k5zGcc473ciyCT06M/s1600/Cotoneaster+berries+in+snow.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cotoneaster berries in snow</td></tr>
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Today, as we celebrate the Winter Solstice, I'd like to share with you my favorite quote about this time of year.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">"There is a long standing rumor that spring is the time of renewal, but that's only if you ignore the depressing clutter and din of the season. All that flowering and budding and birthing - the messy youthfulness of Spring actually verges on SQUALOR. Spring is too busy, too full of itself, too much like a 20-year-old to be the best time for reflection, re-grouping, and starting fresh. For that, you need December." - Vivian Swift </span></blockquote>
I fully expected that by the time I reached my 60s, I would be eager to move to a place with warm, sunny winters. But that isn't what happened. Instead, I fell in love with winter in the Pacific Northwest. I love how the season beckons me to come inside, both physically and metaphorically. Winter restores me. It is a time for me to pause, look toward the future and imagine a new year. There's nothing I have to do right now. The garden is sleeping and so can I. There will be plenty to do in Spring.<br />
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I hope that your Holidays are Merry and that the New Year will be one filled with Health and Happiness. I am grateful that you have joined me here this year. I look forward to sharing more Outlander Plant adventures in 2015.<br />
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Slainte mhath! Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-80725729104833253542014-12-11T15:38:00.000-08:002014-12-11T15:38:39.610-08:00'Tis The Season For Fraser Firs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8ssRJ-RqiTBZxbHc-m42e0sYuZQQ0fOA_p-uq5AiirsBYkXKsAOxSJI6Ja9EQcJcAZhV0jcBdkK3j6QC3KRso9g3fiDeEDGoLM11maf9LbeNDe62w3NO9otfcWhbz0VERD72UQK1pLo/s1600/Fraser+fir+cones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8ssRJ-RqiTBZxbHc-m42e0sYuZQQ0fOA_p-uq5AiirsBYkXKsAOxSJI6Ja9EQcJcAZhV0jcBdkK3j6QC3KRso9g3fiDeEDGoLM11maf9LbeNDe62w3NO9otfcWhbz0VERD72UQK1pLo/s1600/Fraser+fir+cones.jpg" height="291" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immature cones on Fraser fir (<i>Abies fraseri</i>), photographed in spring at<br />
the South Seattle College Arboretum.</td></tr>
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I don't recall any mention in the Outlander books of Claire and Jamie having a Christmas tree. But if they did, you can be sure it would have been a Fraser fir.<br />
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Fraser firs are native to the Appalachian Mountains, in an area that includes western North Carolina, which is known to Outlander fans as the location of Fraser's Ridge. (I am <b>NOT</b> making this up.)<br />
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The trees are named, not for our beloved Jamie, but for the intrepid Scottish botanist, <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fraser_(botanist)">John Fraser,</a></b> who explored the region in the 1780s and early 1800s. He trekked through areas no European had gone before, collecting plants that he sent back to his nursery in London, where they were propagated and introduced into the local landscape trade. Those plants included the firs that bear his name.<br />
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Here are some fun facts about Fraser firs:<br />
<ul>
<li>Fraser fir is the official Christmas tree of North Carolina.</li>
<li>Fraser firs have been used more often than any other tree as the official White House Christmas tree by Presidents of the United States.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_fir">Steve Jobs had two fresh cut Fraser firs</a></b> set up and decorated in the windows of every Apple store in the world at Christmastime in 2009.</li>
<li>Fraser firs are one of the most desirable Christmas trees in the world because of their shape, fragrance and tendency to hold onto their needles long after being cut. </li>
<li>Fraser firs are grown on plantations in Scotland and sold throughout the UK and Ireland. </li>
</ul>
<h3>
Botanical Information</h3>
Family: Pinaceae<br />
Genus: <i>Abies</i><br />
Species: <i>Abies fraseri</i><br />
Common name: Fraser fir, she-balsam, and sometimes (incorrectly) balsam fir, which is closely related (<i>A. balsamea</i>)<br />
<br />
Fraser firs like acid soil and a cool, moist climate. They are well adapted in the UK and parts of Canada. They have a conical growth habit in youth, opening to a nearly parallel branching pattern as they age. They reach a maximum height of 30 - 50 feet. Unlike other conifers, firs, including the Fraser fir, hold their cones upright (as you see in the photo at the top of the page).<br />
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These trees are highly susceptible to attack by a non-native insect called the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balsam_woolly_adelgid">balsam wooly adelgid</a></b>. This invasive species made its way from Europe to the US in the early 1900s. In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, adelgids have destroyed 95% of the Fraser firs, creating what are called "ghost forests" of dead tree trunks.<br />
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Fortunately, there has been rapid regrowth of these trees with new seedlings replacing trees that have been lost. The future of the trees is uncertain, however. As Fraser firs mature, their bark begins to develop fissures which allow insects to penetrate. Perhaps it is best to cut them for Christmas trees before the insects get them, aye?<br />
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So there you have it Outlander fans. If you are shopping for a Christmas tree, you now know what kind to buy. As I always say - the thing about being an Outlander fan is that pretty soon everything in your life seems connected to a plot line or character from one of the books. And that includes Christmas trees.Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-62858203168234524512014-12-06T13:40:00.000-08:002015-09-20T07:55:28.446-07:00Adventures in Food and Drink Inspired by OUTLANDER Plants<div style="text-align: left;">
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I've been exploring new food and drink territory lately, thanks to being an OUTLANDER fan and starting this blog. I enjoy trying new things and watching how one adventure leads to another. When I start working on a blog post, the research invariably turns up something I didn't know before about how certain OUTLANDER plants are used in food and beverages. These discoveries inspire me to try new things and experiment with recipes. When I write about what I've discovered, readers write back with their experiences and suggestions, and that leads to more discoveries.<br />
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What new foods or beverages have you tried since joining the OUTLANDER family? Here are a few things I wouldn't have known about if I hadn't become a fan:<br />
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<b>1.</b> <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/stinging-nettles.html">Stinging nettles</a>.</b> The post I wrote <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/stinging-nettles.html">about nettles</a></b> has consistently been one of the most popular posts on this blog. I've known for a long time that they are nutritious, but until I did more research, I didn't realize that they are a good source of protein. Even that information failed to get me out to gather some and try cooking with them. What it took was a nudge from Theresa Carle-Sanders, chef and author of <b><a href="http://outlanderkitchen.com/">Outlander Kitchen</a></b>. (If you haven't had the pleasure, I suggest you click on over to her kitchen and check out her collection of "character inspired"recipes.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrkBzpB18hN0u3QKqHbSqKj-bYXaIiUJh1S_v5YnC_Z6DMS4PMlKEzmd6tvRj-oLdFSKO335iacdVQdfmpPHF7PNbkLcLOImlim7_FLDylNreeDvArndOMl8TZ-_sXCp9fxLKneGON2E/s1600/nettle+harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrkBzpB18hN0u3QKqHbSqKj-bYXaIiUJh1S_v5YnC_Z6DMS4PMlKEzmd6tvRj-oLdFSKO335iacdVQdfmpPHF7PNbkLcLOImlim7_FLDylNreeDvArndOMl8TZ-_sXCp9fxLKneGON2E/s1600/nettle+harvest.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a basket full of stinging nettles,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> foraged </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">from </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a fearsome patch </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">that grows on a steep slope near my house.</span></td></tr>
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I wrote to her to tell her that I wanted to use her nettle foraging video in my blog post. She was enthusiastic about the idea. Theresa is a big fan of nettles and encourages people to cook with them. She suggested I try her recipe for <b><a href="http://islandvittles.com/2014/03/19/nettlekopitas/">Nettlekopitas</a></b> - spanikopita made with nettles instead of spinach. And <b>THAT</b> is what finally got me out the door with my wee basket. Thank you, Theresa!<br />
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(I also have to thank her for inspiring me to start this blog. I had been subscribing to hers for a couple of years when it dawned on me that I could do something similar, only with plants. She has been very supportive of my humble efforts, for which I am most appreciative.)<br />
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<b>2. Heather Ale</b>. In the 20+ years I've worked in the horticulture industry as a landscape designer and sales person in retail nurseries, I've probably specified, sold and/or planted acres of heather. I know a lot about these plants: how they are used in the landscape and how to care for them. But it wasn't until I was doing research for this blog that I discovered that <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/09/heathers-heaths.html">ale has been made from heather flowers</a></b> for 4,000 years!<br />
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That, of course, led me to wonder what heather ale would taste like. Which led me to <b><a href="http://www.thebeerjunction.com/">The Beer Junction</a></b>, a local specialty store, to see if they carry such a brew. And they do! It's called <b><a href="http://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/beerboard/bottles/fraoch-heather-ale">Fraoch Heather Ale</a></b>, brewed in Scotland. It has a hint of unusual flavor, but overall, I would describe it as being a very good pale ale.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2RrHRRI3TOlvZKWQn6Wv7BrdVts6D8k4_GWFBBw8xVoEb65zo5y7Dt_I6lOwpptBbsEF41Wb_RaP9Lyf9nJWsOXodq2zM6VMm8xJJybLCWZvJglKEjezOvRktY_W5GyUkkmLexQ-l-A/s1600/Crabbie's%2BGinger%2BBeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2RrHRRI3TOlvZKWQn6Wv7BrdVts6D8k4_GWFBBw8xVoEb65zo5y7Dt_I6lOwpptBbsEF41Wb_RaP9Lyf9nJWsOXodq2zM6VMm8xJJybLCWZvJglKEjezOvRktY_W5GyUkkmLexQ-l-A/s1600/Crabbie's%2BGinger%2BBeer.jpg" width="161" /></a></div>
<b>3. <a href="http://www.crabbiesgingerbeer.com/">Crabbie's Ginger Beer</a>.</b> After I wrote about the heather ale, I started hearing from readers about other brews to try. One of those is Crabbie's Ginger Beer, something I would never have known about if not for reader comments. Unlike ginger ale, it is alcoholic. And unlike regular beer, it is gluten-free. (However, be sure to check before you drink. Apparently the Crabbie's made in Scotland is gluten-free. Crabbie's USA might not be.)<br />
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This beer is a bit sweet and has a strong ginger flavor. If you happen to like ginger and have given up regular beer because of gluten issues, this may be just the brew for you.<br />
<br />
Slainte!<br />
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<b>4.</b> <b>Sausage</b>. Here's another inspiration from Outlander Kitchen. I ruled out the idea of making my own sausage long ago because I thought I'd have to buy a meat grinder and wrestle with stuffing the meat mixture into casings. But when I took a look at Theresa's recipes for <b><a href="http://outlanderkitchen.com/2013/04/15/garlic-sage-sausage-from-a-breath-of-snow-and-ashes/">Garlic and Sage Sausage</a></b> and <b><a href="http://outlanderkitchen.com/2012/01/25/anything-but-haggis-for-robbie-burns-day/">Fennel, Mint and Lemon Lamb Sausage</a></b>, I realized that meat grinders and casings aren't necessary. Ground meat - pork, lamb, chicken and turkey - is readily available at my local grocery store. And sausage doesn't have to be made into links - patties are just fine. (I don't like casings anyway - they're like chewing on a piece of an old balloon - I usually cut them off of larger sausages before cooking.)<br />
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It is said that once you've seen how sausage is made, you'll never want to eat it. But that applies to products made commercially. If you make your own, you know exactly what goes into it - no mystery meat or nasty chemicals. Plus, it's easy. All you have to do is combine the ingredients, let the mixture spend a little time in the refrigerator while the flavors meld, then take it out, form it into patties and cook.<br />
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Learning how to do this inspired me to create my own recipe for chicken-apple sausage. I like this kind of sausage because it is low in fat, but the chicken-apple sausage I buy at the store has cinnamon in it. I don't like cinnamon in meat dishes. I wanted my Chicken Apple Sausage to taste like Thanksgiving Dinner. So I created my own recipe, which I've added at the bottom of this post.<br />
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<b>4. <a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/10/barley.html">Barley</a></b> - When my kids were little, I used to make beef barley soup. It is inexpensive and filling, important qualities when you are feeding teenaged boys. It has been along time since my sons were teenagers, though, and many years since I made that soup. I pretty much forgot about it until I started working on the article about barley.<br />
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I discovered that barley is very nutritious - a good source of protein, micronutrients and fiber. It is a particularly good source of magnesium, which is important because an estimated 68 - 75% of Americans are deficient in this mineral. This information, plus the fact that I had a good supply of barley left over from the photo shoot for the article, inspired me to start making beef barley soup again. Yum! <br />
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Of course, barley is probably best known for it's role in brewing. Although I am not that fond of either beer or whisky, I found it interesting to learn about brewing and distilling. I would even consider doing a whisky tasting - especially if I can do it in Scotland! My interest led me to try a beverage I've heard of for years but never tried - barley wine. You can read my review <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/10/barley.html">here</a></b>.<br />
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<b>5. <a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/05/potatoes-story-of-feast-famine-and.html">Potatoes</a></b> - Did you know that the cultivation of potatoes was responsible for a quarter of all the population and urban growth in western Europe between 1700 and 1900? That was news to me. I still don't think of potatoes as being a super food. Their nutritional profile is not as impressive as stinging nettles or barley. But the fact that this single food could fuel SO much growth certainly got my attention.<br />
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So did the fact that I can buy a 4-pound bag of organically grown potatoes at <b><a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/">Trader Joe's</a></b> for just $4. I'm not in the habit of eating a lot of potatoes. I generally prefer non-starchy vegetables. But since I learned more about the power of the potato, I've been using them lately as the main ingredient in certain meals. For example, potato soup, with lots of chopped carrots, onions, celery and bits of crispy turkey bacon, makes a fine supper. Fresh fruit and a plate of latkes, which are simple potato pancakes, make a hearty breakfast. I now understand how potatoes were such an important fuel source for western Europeans. Potato dishes give me energy and I don't get hungry again for hours. (If you'd like to try making your own latkes, I've included my recipe below.)<br />
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<b>What new foods or beverages have you tried since you joined the OUTLANDER world? Please share in the comments. </b><br />
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<b>Marie's Chicken and Apple Sausage</b><br />
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1 lb. ground chicken<br />
1/4 c. minced tart apple (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)<br />
1/4 c. minced onion<br />
2 tsp. ground sage<br />
1/2 tsp. celery seed<br />
1-1/2 tsp. sea salt<br />
1/3 c. bread crumbs (I use Panko)<br />
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Wash your hands (as Claire would remind you) and use them to mix everything together. Take some time with this to be sure the spices are evenly distributed. Form the sausage mixture into a roll and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.<br />
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When ready to cook, unwrap the sausage, cut slices to form patties and fry in just enough butter to keep them from sticking to the pan. Be careful not to overcook or the patties will be dry.<br />
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<b>A Simple Recipe for Latkes </b></div>
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4 large potatoes (russet or Yukon gold), grated and drained on paper or cloth kitchen towels</div>
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1 small onion grated or cut into very thin slices</div>
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4-5 Tbs. bread crumbs</div>
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1 beaten egg</div>
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1 tsp. sea salt</div>
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sunflower oil for frying</div>
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Combine all ingredients. Heat oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Drop spoonfuls of the potato mixture into the pan and flatten out to form pancakes. Let cook 4-5 minutes on each side or until crispy and golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Makes about 8 pancakes. Some people like to top them with sour cream or applesauce. I like to serve them with slices of fresh apples or pears. </div>
Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-34929795918478900282014-11-29T17:03:00.000-08:002014-12-01T09:49:45.314-08:003 Good Gifts for OUTLANDER Plant Lovers<h3>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Happy Holidays, Outlander Plant Fans!</span></b></h3>
As long as you're online shopping for other people, why not buy a gift (or two) for yourself? I know you all are readers - how else could you be fans of books that can be over a thousand pages long? I also know that many of you love reading about Claire's herbal preparations and how plants are used as food, medicine and more. With these interests in mind, here are three books I think you might enjoy.<br />
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<b>1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156458187X?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=156458187X&linkCode=xm2&tag=outlander03-20">The Complete Medicinal Herbal: A Practical Guide to the Healing Properties of Herbs, with More Than 250 Remedies for Common Ailments </a></b>by Penelope Ody. This book comes highly recommended by readers because it combines clear, detailed botanical information with high quality photography, explains which herbs to use for particular complaints, and describes how to prepare them (as tinctures, salves, cough syrups, etc.) for medicinal use. This puts the information you need - plant identification, parts of the plant to use, when and how to use them - all in one book. Before you know it, you'll be channeling your "inner Claire."<br />
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<b>2.</b> <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Herbal-Kitchen-Cooking-Fragrance/dp/0060599766/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=outlander03-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=PUO53G2WMWEIAQGI&creativeASIN=0060599766">The Herbal Kitchen: Cooking with Fragrance and Flavor </a></b> by Jerry Traunfeld. Jerry was the executive chef at the <b><a href="http://theherbfarm.com/">Herbfarm Restaurant</a></b> in Woodinville, Washington, until 2007, when he opened his current restaurant, <a href="http://poppyseattle.com/about" style="font-weight: bold;">Poppy</a>, located in Seattle. His inspired use of herbs and local ingredients won him a James Beard award in 2000 for "Best American Chef: Northwest and Hawaii."<br />
<br />
If you've never done much cooking with fresh herbs or you're intimidated by Jerry's credentials, you can relax. This book has recipes for elegant dishes that are surprisingly simple. Would you like to start an herb garden to supply your kitchen? You'll find lists here for what to plant: "The Essentials," "The Nice to Have," "Easy to Buy, But Nice to Grow," and herbs "For Adventurous Cooks." He also includes tips for growing, harvesting and storing herbs. This is the kind of book that gives confidence to new cooks and inspiration to experienced ones who are ready for some fresh ideas. Read this and Mrs. Fitz will have nothing on you.
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<b>3. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Handbook-Natural-Plant-Dyes/dp/1604690712/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=outlander03-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=HZLIYWRAFWBUP4PI&creativeASIN=1604690712">The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes: Personalize Your Craft with Organic Colors from Acorns, Blackberries, Coffee, and Other Everyday Ingredients</a> </b>by Sasha Duerr. This<b> </b>is a book that fans of the OUTLANDER TV series will enjoy. One of the scenes in the <b>"Rent"</b>episode involves women dying fabric with human urine. That has led viewers to wonder what other substances might be used to color fabrics. This book may not be long on information about what was used historically, but offers plenty of practical information for anyone interested in experimenting with botanical dyes, using readily available plant materials. (No mention here, however, of the use of bodily fluids. Which may be just as well, aye?) </div>
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Whatever your interests - reading, botanical medicine, cooking or textiles - there's plenty of information here to help you pass the time until the second half of Season 1 starts to air in April. So treat yourself and enjoy! </div>
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Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-14050103251520454902014-09-26T17:57:00.000-07:002014-09-26T17:57:22.036-07:00How To Distill Your Own Wee Dram<b>These are troubling times in the Fandom. </b><br />
<br />
<b>Starz </b>announced this week that instead of the second half of Season 1 of Outlander beginning in January, it will start on April 7, 2015. This news went down badly with fans who were already wondering what they were going to do with themselves from the time when Episode 8 airs on September 27 until the first of the year when Episode 9 was going to arrive.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>Waddya mean? We have to wait six whole MONTHS? Waaaaah! </i></b></blockquote>
This from people who should be used to waiting. Diana Gabaldon, prolific as she is, says that it takes her three to four years (not months) to write one of her Big Books. Doing the math, that means that since the most recent book in the Outlander series, <b>In My Own Heart's Blood</b>, came out in June of this year, we won't see the next book in the series until summer of 2017 or 2018. That makes waiting until April for a new TV episode seem like no big deal.<br />
<br />
It happens that this upset over the date change is happening at the same time that I am doing research for a post on barley - a far more interesting subject than I ever expected. The research has led me to do some reading about how barley is used in the making of barley wine, beer and whisky. And once I got past the information on malting and fermenting, the next thing I wanted to know was how whisky is distilled.<br />
<br />
As I was watching YouTube videos, it occurred to me - if anyone needs an Outlander-related activity to keep them occupied for the next 6 months, building a still and making whisky could be just the thing.<br />
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You're going to start by making wort, a liquid drawn from the mash of malted barley which contains the sugars that will convert to alcohol in the fermenting process. Unless you are <b><i>really </i></b>desperate for something to do, I'm not going to send you to the malting shed with bags of wet barley grain. To keep this simple, go to your local home-brew store and buy malt extract. That will save you the steps of malting the barley, making the mash, and extracting malt from it. You simply mix the malt extract with water to make the wort. While at the home-brew store, ask about recipes and buy the yeast you will use for fermenting the wort. You will also need to buy a large glass container in which to store the wort while it ferments. When fermentation is complete, you are ready for distilling.<br />
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This article, <b><a href="http://www.bobanahalf.com/node/345">How to Make Whisky - Step by Step</a></b>, is a good overview of the entire process. Before you get invested too much in this project, you should give it a read.<br />
<br />
The basics of still manufacture are pretty simple, as this article <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Still"><b>3 Ways to Build a Still</b></a> explains. If you are more of a visual learner, here's a video, below, that explains what to do. You can probably build a still for around $100.<br />
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There's enough to do here to keep you busy for weeks. And if your attempts are less than hoped for, you can always pop into a bottle shop on April 6 and buy a bottle of the good stuff to sip while you watch Episode 9.<br />
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<b>Slainte mhath!</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2HIoVVeGuhA" width="420"></iframe>
Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-1740386848703920922014-09-18T15:09:00.000-07:002015-03-11T17:27:24.590-07:003 Reasons To Love Latin Plant Names<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: 'Menlo Regular'; font-size: large;"><b>Cue Tina Turner...</b></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Menlo Regular';"><span style="font-size: large;">♫ <span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7;">What's Latin got to do, got to do with it? </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Menlo Regular';"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">What's Latin, but a sweet old fashioned language? </span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Menlo Regular';"><span style="font-size: large;">♫</span></span></h3>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
What's in a name? Quite a lot, as it happens, in the world of horticulture. Consider the flap over <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/08/right-plants-wrong-season.html">plants in Episode 3 of Outlander</a></b>. Claire correctly explains that <i>Convallaria majalis</i>, commonly known as lily of the valley, is often mistaken for wood garlic, <i>Allium ursinum</i>. However, the plant she identifies as lily of the valley is not <i>Convallaria</i> - a fact pointed out by <b><i>many</i></b> viewers - it doesn't even look similar. Because the script was so clear, specifying <i>Convallaria</i>, one wonders how such a mistake could have happened.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpZ90XGVpez3rvnWspBt39ljrWs_wdrlteLL2jhwfF75C5AhJxLfLSfsG6q2y14rfArcUMg26bJw8-9aGSGPa0CHrQsyjzJglt1JWQ7UkiOJmHcycy_w7Cq9t_x6Oct3eetmdkj2n0kk/s1600/Pieris+-+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpZ90XGVpez3rvnWspBt39ljrWs_wdrlteLL2jhwfF75C5AhJxLfLSfsG6q2y14rfArcUMg26bJw8-9aGSGPa0CHrQsyjzJglt1JWQ7UkiOJmHcycy_w7Cq9t_x6Oct3eetmdkj2n0kk/s1600/Pieris+-+white.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lily of the Valley shrub - <i>Pieris japonica </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My guess, and this is only a guess, is that the person sent to find the plant for filming the episode was simply told to find a "lily of the valley." That seems innocent enough, especially to people who don't have much experience, but if you want a specific plant, the only way to assure accuracy is to use its Latin, scientific name. Using the common name, lily of the valley, can get you into trouble because more than one plant may have that name. Possibilities in this case include: false lily of the valley (<i>Maianthemum dilatum</i>), which seems most likely the plant used for the show, or lily of the valley shrub (<i>Pieris sp.</i>) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
I can sympathize with the producers of the show, because of my experience as a landscape designer. Designers and architects specify plants for landscape plans using Latin names because we are very particular about form, size and color. We know precisely which plants will deliver those characteristics, and we strive to be as clear as possible with our instructions. But nearly all of us have had the experience of visiting a job site and being horrified to find that an installer has taken it upon himself to make some substitutions. If I have specified a dwarf conifer that will fit nicely into a small, urban garden, I am not happy to see that one of its relatives, a forest tree that wants to be 150 feet tall, has taken its place. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That said, if you are not in the horticulture business, do Latin plant names really matter? If you are a gardener or have <b><i>any</i></b> interest in plants, I believe so. Here are three reasons:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
1) Latin botanical names are names without borders. No matter what country you live in and no matter what language you speak, botanists, biologists, nursery professionals, landscape designers, architects and savvy gardeners all use the same Latin, scientific name for the same plant.<br />
<br />
2) Using Latin names eliminates confusion. Plants have common names, but these names vary from place to place. You can't assume that the common name that <i><b>you </b></i>have for a plant means the same thing to other people.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbEKxd8n52GkaoigfsSRHWksYxfaNwrMmf8p_Nr26uEwUHUnC-_PXbh1kbKaPj-gCGr0HfV9axKZq8wCDueoE0o7D5U1oWWXxFSTRMdg0mIbYYbSsJt0mHjAbOWS9TbEJFkcQv34jmk8/s1600/Green+bell+pepper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbEKxd8n52GkaoigfsSRHWksYxfaNwrMmf8p_Nr26uEwUHUnC-_PXbh1kbKaPj-gCGr0HfV9axKZq8wCDueoE0o7D5U1oWWXxFSTRMdg0mIbYYbSsJt0mHjAbOWS9TbEJFkcQv34jmk8/s1600/Green+bell+pepper.jpg" height="174" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is this a mango?</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of my hort instructors told us a story about ordering a pizza while visiting in Ohio. Looking through <span style="text-align: center;">the list of toppings, he was surprised to see that mangoes were offered. Thinking that an orange, tropical fruit was rather an exotic choice, particularly in the midwestern US, he had to ask. </span><span style="text-align: center;">Turns out, "mango" is what the </span><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oes.org/page2/30479~Mango_vs_Pepper_Ohio_speak.html" target="_blank">locals there call green bell pepper</a></b><span style="text-align: center;">. It's one more example of how common names can cause misunderstandings.</span><br />
<br />
3) Finally, when ye have a wee bit o' the Latin, the names will tell ye more about the wee plants, ye ken? Here's brief list of Latin species names to give you an idea.<br />
<br />
<i>alba</i> - white<br />
<i>aurea</i> - yellow or gold (Au being the chemical symbol for gold)<br />
<i>baccata</i> - having berry-like fruit<br />
<i>callosum</i> - thickened, calloused<br />
<i>compacta</i> - small, compact<br />
<i>dendatum</i> - toothed<br />
<i>fasciata</i> - bound together<br />
<i>ilicifolia </i>- having leaves like holly<br />
<i>indica</i> - native to India<br />
<i>lacteum</i> - milky<br />
<i>macrophylla</i> - having big leaves<br />
<i>nana</i> - small<br />
<i>nigra</i> - black<br />
<i>palustris</i> - loves marshes<br />
<i>pendula</i> - pendulous, weeping<br />
<i>purpurea </i>- purple<br />
<i>rubra</i> - red<br />
<i>spinosa</i> - spiny or thorny<br />
<i>sylvatica</i> - of the forest<br />
<i>tortuosum</i> - twisted, contorted<br />
<i>umbraculifera</i> - umbrella-like<br />
<i>variegata</i> - variegated, usually refers to foliage with more than one color<br />
<i>viridis </i>- green<br />
<i>vulgaris </i>- common<br />
<br />
Want to know more? Have a name you want to look up? Go to the <b><a href="http://davesgarden.com/guides/botanary/" target="_blank">Botanical Dictionary</a></b> at <b>Dave's Garden.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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Related Post:</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQY037BDdmFiAjpFGGFCnQPU0f-J9tL9Qz_NSqAm1p6FH-ixfnyEOvmtV7E3OHqkKqHwZ1yMu0mln7AMnm2TgAqQrDZcvGinJzzv7IuqsvqeQQ144mVVuOO_s7lW_JnUNTZOp8Mhi18HI/s1600/Forget-me-not.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQY037BDdmFiAjpFGGFCnQPU0f-J9tL9Qz_NSqAm1p6FH-ixfnyEOvmtV7E3OHqkKqHwZ1yMu0mln7AMnm2TgAqQrDZcvGinJzzv7IuqsvqeQQ144mVVuOO_s7lW_JnUNTZOp8Mhi18HI/s1600/Forget-me-not.jpg" height="80" width="100" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/08/right-plants-wrong-season.html">Right Plants, Wrong Season?</a></b>Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-85760416612325900722014-07-03T13:03:00.000-07:002014-08-03T13:10:57.547-07:00Black Jack Randall in the Garden<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ehtSi2v-jOvnGmYQFx5CM-GHQAADoTXVJgffFi3yaQtXnX6iBM1Ab9QNWQYjpChzCjDx0B97D6yfWrf4IZFd5gncT18_2SrcVW6ymrGBUjZIkTaq_H50mLHKEKGg1ucvIzeW_dH-nVA/s1600/BJR+Japanese+blood+grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ehtSi2v-jOvnGmYQFx5CM-GHQAADoTXVJgffFi3yaQtXnX6iBM1Ab9QNWQYjpChzCjDx0B97D6yfWrf4IZFd5gncT18_2SrcVW6ymrGBUjZIkTaq_H50mLHKEKGg1ucvIzeW_dH-nVA/s1600/BJR+Japanese+blood+grass.jpg" height="220" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Blood grass</b> (<i>Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra'</i>)</td></tr>
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Welcome, Dear Readers, to the dark side of gardening. This post is a departure from my usual format because I cannot think of a single passage in any of the Outlander books in which Black Jack Randall's name appears in the same sentence as the word "garden." There is nothing in his demeanor that indicates that he has an appreciation for horticulture, and it's best not to dwell on some of the uses he might find for certain garden tools. </div>
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However, there are plants that may remind us of Jack, that tortured villain we all love to hate. It might be because they have black leaves or flowers. Or it might be because their names suggest violence. Take a look. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcncq-gpYqO8YTaj1pYPiVsXUFc5aOjsEScNj4dXujRi5czt64VTjKRbJ3sfJWtK6T9XXznwFJ0OZE6osDYkxSeL7MhWXAWsAiiUFwrT40zGYLiEpZmaOTyHBBoLs98Dmy6QexS-h0OxI/s1600/BJR+Chilhuly+black+mondo+grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcncq-gpYqO8YTaj1pYPiVsXUFc5aOjsEScNj4dXujRi5czt64VTjKRbJ3sfJWtK6T9XXznwFJ0OZE6osDYkxSeL7MhWXAWsAiiUFwrT40zGYLiEpZmaOTyHBBoLs98Dmy6QexS-h0OxI/s1600/BJR+Chilhuly+black+mondo+grass.jpg" height="322" width="400" /></a></div>
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At Chilhuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, a glass sculpture representing the sun hovers over a mound densely planted with <b>black mondo grass</b> (<i>Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'</i>) - a classic illustration of Dark vs. Light. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv2Ow6DRdgiXSi9EXZHJ_X1KoL71JtzNSsmtClfRaCQdX5TwrFtk1kCEO-UpcQnUHfeyE3MHZ4lNNZr4GI96Ud9MUY03nmK90hVCWxVWrxtUeuwSxjS1HQUOQvvU7Tx5PmOq5Euf2Zl8/s1600/BJR+rex+begonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv2Ow6DRdgiXSi9EXZHJ_X1KoL71JtzNSsmtClfRaCQdX5TwrFtk1kCEO-UpcQnUHfeyE3MHZ4lNNZr4GI96Ud9MUY03nmK90hVCWxVWrxtUeuwSxjS1HQUOQvvU7Tx5PmOq5Euf2Zl8/s1600/BJR+rex+begonia.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course, there are no true black leaves or flowers. What appears to be black from a distance turns out to be a very dark purple when you look closely or see the plant in direct sunlight. Still, this near-black hue has a striking effect in the garden, as you can see from the leaves of this <b>Rex begonia</b> (<i>Begonia</i> Rex-cultorum).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9Pw1IlGhJZWNJGPKoCdu0TyOBTs50MFwxu4ioL68anhEKheyqSZVuekalbPLpQThUk_jsQbah9xp19Z5U8NoPkNPR0ay_aNdDja3vaQW-kAcDGQa3Wa9lHa-CHHgDIiVWivd7Mxrcwc/s1600/BJR+'Smoking+gun'+daylily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9Pw1IlGhJZWNJGPKoCdu0TyOBTs50MFwxu4ioL68anhEKheyqSZVuekalbPLpQThUk_jsQbah9xp19Z5U8NoPkNPR0ay_aNdDja3vaQW-kAcDGQa3Wa9lHa-CHHgDIiVWivd7Mxrcwc/s1600/BJR+'Smoking+gun'+daylily.jpg" height="320" width="314" /></a></div>
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There are many daylilies (<i>Hemerocallis sp.</i>) that have near black flowers. This one is called <b>'Smoking Gun.</b>' Others have names like 'Cinderella's Dark Side,' 'Dracula,' 'Sinners Anonymous,' and, well, you get the idea. This post on <b><a href="http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/daylily/msg0321273620829.html" target="_blank">GardenWeb</a></b> lists more, along with photos. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRKzkJBdQvuRyFJmpbKneUWjiSKT1MNS36edavo-KeyLT30BDGiKYZ4rdS43XVuNF0cCTyilfHobXu9-ncXJNqpMdIqI1DCY_m4bLxMmaj6RClnOX3P2eogNzMeLXjyqu4z6KnAQNQY8/s1600/BJR+black+hollyhock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRKzkJBdQvuRyFJmpbKneUWjiSKT1MNS36edavo-KeyLT30BDGiKYZ4rdS43XVuNF0cCTyilfHobXu9-ncXJNqpMdIqI1DCY_m4bLxMmaj6RClnOX3P2eogNzMeLXjyqu4z6KnAQNQY8/s1600/BJR+black+hollyhock.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b>Black hollyhocks</b> are easily grown from seed and will re-sow themselves year after year. These in my garden have been perpetuating themselves for close to 10 years. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhft8nj5OCGeCPAn0m8Py1pueEZsb-kLHCYxPEtLfByeNoQPcQmWSyXp-2AL08ez7yhXT4ZNqXfuRWWBvoLFofdQM6X9enFAueDPpz0IDiMulLAfMxo1n7DnW56K04uuUSCHKSoExVRYf0/s1600/BJR+Blackie+sw+potato+vine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhft8nj5OCGeCPAn0m8Py1pueEZsb-kLHCYxPEtLfByeNoQPcQmWSyXp-2AL08ez7yhXT4ZNqXfuRWWBvoLFofdQM6X9enFAueDPpz0IDiMulLAfMxo1n7DnW56K04uuUSCHKSoExVRYf0/s1600/BJR+Blackie+sw+potato+vine.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Black potato vine</b> (<i>Solanum jasminoides 'Blackie'</i>) is a striking annual that adds interest to containers and hanging baskets.</div>
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Other BJR plants to consider:</h3>
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<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_curassavica" target="_blank">Blood Flower</a></b> (<i>Asclepias curassavica</i>)</div>
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<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil's_Club" target="_blank">Devil's Club</a></b> (<i>Oplopanax horridus</i>)</div>
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<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_curassavica" target="_blank">Devil's Horsewhip</a></b> (<i>Achyranthes aspera</i>)</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/1217019/-Red-Majestic--contorted-filbert--Corylus-avellana--Red-Majestic-----" target="_blank">Purple Contorted Filbert</a></b> (<i>Corylus avellana 'Red Majestic'</i>) - near black leaves on twisted, contorted branches</div>
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<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kniphofia" target="_blank">Red Hot Poker</a></b> (<i>Kniphofia sp.</i>)</div>
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<b>What plants can you think of that would fit the Black Jack Randall theme? Please add them in the comments. </b></div>
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<h3>
Related Post</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxe12wj6wn_a7hNx7DWsD7HhRxsWigqSrhUTJHjO3eZRzrxKOo8iIJl-ZZ7Of86tm2Psby9NBy-4xC5bQnm-p-1ie9-LikziQQt0ttEG6vFgbSoxLjvitynmc9_jGQyz_Lsw2iFdMzZE/s1600/Lavender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxe12wj6wn_a7hNx7DWsD7HhRxsWigqSrhUTJHjO3eZRzrxKOo8iIJl-ZZ7Of86tm2Psby9NBy-4xC5bQnm-p-1ie9-LikziQQt0ttEG6vFgbSoxLjvitynmc9_jGQyz_Lsw2iFdMzZE/s1600/Lavender.jpg" height="125" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/lavender-blues.html" target="_blank">Lavender Blues</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR9-N7Jcmt4OqISYFkB_yF4yLmSoOTaM06UvcKWVSF6UkFVu8_Y4g8EQODPdxAtOTDn-OgUv4RC9yulm9XazdfpK7k1msS95m8QB4eIfh8r1NryWCth_j-dxtNnNl8i4b89K-FYpwqsQ/s1600/Hair+grass+Jamie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR9-N7Jcmt4OqISYFkB_yF4yLmSoOTaM06UvcKWVSF6UkFVu8_Y4g8EQODPdxAtOTDn-OgUv4RC9yulm9XazdfpK7k1msS95m8QB4eIfh8r1NryWCth_j-dxtNnNl8i4b89K-FYpwqsQ/s1600/Hair+grass+Jamie.jpg" height="172" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/07/outlandish-hair-grasses.html" target="_blank">Outlandish Hair Grasses</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxe12wj6wn_a7hNx7DWsD7HhRxsWigqSrhUTJHjO3eZRzrxKOo8iIJl-ZZ7Of86tm2Psby9NBy-4xC5bQnm-p-1ie9-LikziQQt0ttEG6vFgbSoxLjvitynmc9_jGQyz_Lsw2iFdMzZE/s1600/Lavender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-5244265148530429222014-07-01T10:55:00.001-07:002015-09-20T07:58:49.375-07:00The Gem That Is Jewelweed <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1oWahx_JSIIAzIgEeMLPfFNBYGFkGBcnolVVfScgqjuRcIaQ9A4ehedBo6v8KDuqsgwPC808NZrdLXeXw33OsPxIXf9Rvl9WylIb0mxyVx1Z8s7oRH5XwgfIHXBLmTRks-_VtGqjo7o/s1600/Impatiens+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1oWahx_JSIIAzIgEeMLPfFNBYGFkGBcnolVVfScgqjuRcIaQ9A4ehedBo6v8KDuqsgwPC808NZrdLXeXw33OsPxIXf9Rvl9WylIb0mxyVx1Z8s7oRH5XwgfIHXBLmTRks-_VtGqjo7o/s1600/Impatiens+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> </i>Alas, jewelweed (<i>Impatiens capensis) </i>doesn't grow here in Seattle, so I can't <br />
photograph it for you. For images of jewelweed flowers and habitat, <br />
watch the video at the bottom of this post. The popular bedding plant <br />
shown above, busy lizzie (<i>Impatiens walleriana</i>), is one of jewelweed's sisters<i>.</i></td></tr>
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<i>"'Wonderful,' I murmured. My own immediate plans for the goose grease involved a salve of wild sarsaparilla and bittersweet for burns and abrasions, a mentholated ointment for stuffy noses and chest congestion, and something soothing and pleasantly scented for diaper rash - perhaps a lavender infusion with the juice of crushed jewelweed leaves."</i> </blockquote>
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- From <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fiery-Cross-Outlander-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0440221668/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=outlander03-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=SPBR3J7TT5OTISPZ&creativeASIN=0440221668">THE FIERY CROSS</a></b>, by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 34</blockquote>
I didn't know what jewelweed was until after I posted an article here on <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/stinging-nettles.html">stinging nettles</a></b>. Readers wrote to tell me that the sting from the nettles could be relieved by crushing jewelweed stems and applying the "juice" to the sting. I was told that wherever you find nettles, jewelweed can be found growing nearby.<br />
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<i>Really?</i><br />
<br />
I don't claim to be an expert on native plants of the Pacific Northwest, but this was news to me. I was pretty sure I could identify every plant in my local nettle patch, but I went back to see what, if anything, I had missed. I found plenty of horsetail (<i>Equisetum hyemale</i>), Himalayan blackberry (<i>Rubus armeniacus</i>) and <a href="http://www.arthurleej.com/a-wildclematis.html">wild clematis</a> (<i>Clematis vitalba</i>), but nothing resembling the jewelweed plant that had been described to me.<br />
<br />
So I consulted the "bible," Arthur Kruckeberg's book, <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gardening-Native-Plants-Pacific-Northwest/dp/0295974761/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=outlander03-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=5Y2FAOME25ZF5FTE&creativeASIN=0295974761">GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST</a></b>. A professor of botany at the University of Washington for more than 30 years, Kruckeberg has spent his lifetime studying and cataloging the local flora. He apparently hasn't found jewelweed here, either. He makes no mention of it in his book.<br />
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By then, I was intrigued with this plant and wanted to find out more. After a little research, I discovered that jewelweed grows wild throughout the eastern part of the United States. (No wonder I couldn't find it.) Margaret Roach, a garden writer who lives and gardens in upstate New York, describes it as a good weed because it offers so many <b><a href="http://awaytogarden.com/jewelweed-weed-thats-gem/">benefits to wildlife</a></b>. There are many videos on YouTube describing this plant, often shot in woodland areas of the Southeast, that show how to use the plant to protect against poison ivy rashes or soothe the itch of insect bites. It's easy to see why jewelweed comes highly recommended by readers and Twitter followers.<br />
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<h3>
Botanical Information</h3>
Family: Balsaminaceae<br />
Genus: <i>Impatiens</i><br />
Species: <i>Impatiens capensis </i>also known as<i> I. biflora; </i>the yellow-flowering variety is<i> I. pallida</i><br />
Common name: Orange jewelweed, Common jewelweed, Spotted jewelweed, Spotted touch-me-not, Orange balsam<br />
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Jewelweed is native to North America. It likes moist, mostly shady areas and can be found in ditches and along stream beds. Its showy, trumpet-shaped, orange flowers are popular with pollinators like butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.<br />
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It is called JEWELweed because raindrops and dew drops cling to the leaves and look like little jewels. It has been nicknamed, "touch-me-not," because its ripe seedpods explode when touched, scattering seed everywhere. If you want to collect the seed, grasp the pod in your fist to capture the seed before it falls. Jewelweed seeds are edible, but the leaves and stems are toxic, causing vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.<br />
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<h3>
Medicinal Value</h3>
Jewelweed is used to relieve skin irritations from stinging nettles, minor burns, and insect bites. It will also relieve and even prevent the rash and itching caused by poison ivy or oak.<br />
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Basic preparation is simple. If you've been stung by a nettle or an insect, grab some jewelweed, mash the stems to release the juice, and rub it on the affected area. The sooner you do this, the better the results. Many people say that if you rub jewelweed juice on exposed skin before you go near poison ivy it will keep you from getting the rash. Conveniently, in certain parts of the country, the two plants are found growing next to each other.<br />
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The beneficial qualities of jewelweed can be captured in soaps and salves, like the one Claire was planning to make for diaper rash. A "tea" can be made with it, not for drinking, but for applying topically to relieve discomfort. It is made by taking the whole plant - leaves, stems and flowers - chopping them coarsely and putting them into boiling water. When the water returns to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Cool, pour into a glass jar, put a lid on it and store in the refrigerator. When needed, wet a cloth with the tea and wipe it over the affected area.<br />
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If jewelweed doesn't grow where you live, you can still find it (sort of), at your local drugstore. According to <b><a href="http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Jewelweed.html" target="_blank">Wildman Steve Brill</a></b>, "jewelweed contains methoxy-1, four napthoquinine, an anti-inflamatory and fungicide that's the active ingredient in Preparation H." So there you have it - jewelweed is a remedy for the ages, soothing diaper rash in the 18th century and hemorrhoids in the 21st.<br />
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The video below is my favorite of the many I watched while doing research for this post. It shows you how to identify jewelweed, harvest it, and make a soap to use when your skin is irritated. If you are lucky enough to have jewelweed growing near you, you might want to give this a try.<br />
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<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/stinging-nettles.html" target="_blank">Stinging Nettles</a></b>Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-54099134087201524002014-06-07T16:12:00.000-07:002020-04-17T20:36:05.716-07:00Claire and the Case for Cleanliness<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<i>"...she began digging in a painted wooden chest by the hearth, emerging finally with a pile of ratty cloths. </i></blockquote>
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<i>'No, that won't do,' I said, fingering them gingerly. 'The wound needs to be disinfected first, then bandaged with a clean cloth, if there are no sterile bandages.' </i></blockquote>
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<i>Eyebrows rose all around. 'Disinfected?' said the small man, carefully.</i></blockquote>
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<i> </i><i>'Yes, indeed,' I said firmly, thinking him a bit simpleminded, in spite of his educated accent. 'All dirt must be removed from the wound and it must be treated with a compound to discourage germs and promote healing.'"</i></blockquote>
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- From <b><a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/network/build-links/individual/get-html.html?ie=UTF8&asin=0440212561&marketplace=amazon">OUTLANDER</a></b>, Chapter 3, "The Man In The Wood" by Diana Gabaldon</blockquote>
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Discouraging "germs" is a bit off- topic for a plant blog. But we are talking here about the Outlander books and Claire Fraser's pragmatic approach to healing. She could use "<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/garlic-food-medicine-aphrodisiac.html">Russian penicillin</a></b>," also known as garlic, to treat infection, but why allow infection to take hold in the first place? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I'm sure Claire would agree.<br />
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In Claire's time, dramatic improvements in human health had been achieved as a result of good hygiene and sanitation practices. But in the 18th century, no one understood that tiny, invisible-to-the-naked-eye organisms were responsible for a host of infectious and deadly diseases. Even though "germ theory" had been around a long time (Aristotle, in 350 BC, advised Alexander the Great to "<a href="http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/labs/microbiology/History_Micro/Germ_Theory_History_Table.html"><b>boil drinking water and bury feces</b></a>, to prevent disease."), the idea didn't really begin to gain widespread attention until the mid-19th century.<br />
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In the 1850s, John Snow, a British obstetrician, became convinced that drinking water contaminated with sewage was responsible for outbreaks of cholera in London. His conclusion was met with derision from his contemporaries who "knew" that diseases like cholera were caused by "vapors" or "miasma." The Reverend Henry Whitehead sought to discredit Snow's conclusions, claiming that the disease was an act of God.<br />
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But Snow ignored his critics and continued observing and collecting data. In August of 1854, a particularly severe outbreak of cholera occurred in Soho, a London suburb. Determined to prove that contaminated water was the cause, he conducted a study of the victims and where they got their drinking water. Writer <b><a href="http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/snowcricketarticle.html">Kathleen Tuthill</a></b> quotes Snow as saying, "Within 250 yards of the spot where Cambridge Street joins Broad Street there were upward of 500 fatal attacks of cholera in 10 days. As soon as I became acquainted with the situation and extent of this irruption (sic) of cholera, I suspected some contamination of the water of the much-frequented street-pump in Broad Street."<br />
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In spite of all the evidence he collected, connecting hundreds of cases of cholera with drinking water from the Broad Street pump, his conclusions were still met with skepticism. He finally convinced town officials to take the handle off the pump, at least temporarily, so that no one could draw water from it. The cholera epidemic came to an immediate halt.<br />
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Despite this dramatic proof, city officials still refused to clean up sewage systems and assure that drinking water was clean. But Snow's conclusions eventually won out. In the 1880s, a German doctor, Robert Koch, identified the bacterium, <i>Vibrio cholerae</i>, that causes cholera. His work showed that cholera is spread by way of fecal contamination of food or water.<br />
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By the end of the 19th century, cities in Europe and the United States had improved sanitation systems, keeping drinking water separate from sewage. Outbreaks of cholera in those cities became a thing of the past.<br />
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Snow is considered a pioneer in public health research, but he was not alone. <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Pasteur">Louis Pasteur</a></b>, for whom the process of pasteurization is named; <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Koch">Robert Koch</a></b>, the founder of modern bacteriology mentioned above; <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_viruses">Charles Chamberland</a></b>, whose filter was used in the discovery of viruses; <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Joseph_Berkeley">Miles Berkeley</a></b>, who discovered that <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/05/potatoes-story-of-feast-famine-and.html">potato blight</a></b> was caused by fungal disease - all made significant discoveries in the last half of the 19th century.<br />
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As the chart below illustrates, the benefits of all this knowledge were profound. In the first half of the 20th century, improved sanitation systems, combined with public health education about the importance of cleanliness to prevent the spread of disease, reduced mortality rates from infectious diseases dramatically. The one notable spike in those years was the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic">1918 flu pandemic</a></b>, nicknamed the Spanish flu. (Fans of <b><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/">Downton Abbey</a></b> will remember the episode when <b><a href="http://downtonabbey.wikia.com/wiki/Lavinia_Swire">Lavinia Swire</a></b>, Matthew Crawley's fiance, died of the disease.)<br />
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By the time Claire was serving as an Army nurse during WWII, mortality rates from infectious diseases had declined by 75% since the turn of the century- and that was <b><i>before</i></b> penicillin was widely available. As you can see from the graph, antibiotics did have an effect, but nothing compared to the difference made by good sanitation and hygiene. Let's remember that. Three cheers for soap and clean water!<br />
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<b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/garlic-food-medicine-aphrodisiac.html" target="_blank">Garlic - A Food, A Medicine, an Aphrodisiac?!</a></b>Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-53941869142552033182014-05-11T14:39:00.000-07:002015-03-11T12:10:53.272-07:00Pocket Jamie's Spring Garden TourIf you are an OUTLANDER fan, you are undoubtedly familiar with "Pocket Jamie," the 8" photo of James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser as played by Sam Heughan. Inspired by fans around the world, who take photos of Pocket Jamie wherever they are, I decided to take my Jamie out to explore the garden.<br />
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Right away, Jamie started searching <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/rhododendron-hell.html">Rhododendron Hell</a></b>, looking for wee Roger.<br />
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Then to get away from the "stink" of <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/lavender-blues.html">lavender</a></b> <i>(Lavandula sp.)</i>, Black Jack Randall's signature scent, Jamie jumped into the foliage of David's viburnum <i>(Viburnum davidii).</i><br />
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Even though we were in Seattle, Jamie felt right at home marching across the <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/09/heathers-heaths.html">heath</a></b> <i>(Erica sp.).</i><br />
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And a clump of bluebells <i>(Hyacinthoides non-scripta)</i> reminded him of being home in Scotland.</div>
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Finally, Jamie paused in a cloud of <b><a href="http://outlanderplants.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-little-blue-flower-at-start-of-it.html">Forget-me nots</a></b> <i>(Myosotis sylvatica), </i>no doubt thinking of his beloved Claire and her trip through the stones.<br />
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(If you would like to download and print your own Pocket Jamie, <a href="http://www.outlanderlife.com/2014/03/sam-heughan-talks-outlander-sex-scenes.html#.U2_g7CiRndk">here's the link</a>.)</div>
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Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1249434644527835597.post-83900074843761153542014-03-28T19:30:00.002-07:002014-03-28T23:19:43.686-07:00A Guide to the Plants in the Outlander Series<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm not sure why this idea didn't occur to me before now. I have been a fan of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series of books for years. I feel as though I know Claire, Jamie and the array of characters I've met by reading thousands of pages about their lives and adventures. I particularly identify with Claire because I was once a young nursing student, working in various hospitals and nursing homes, until I decided on a different career. All these years later, I still have an avid interest in anatomy, physiology and healing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have also had a life-long fascination with plants. I have been a gardener since my early 20s. I went back to school for a degree in environmental horticulture and landscape design in midlife. And I have always been interested in herbal remedies. No one in my family gives a hoot about these things and I wondered why they were so important to me, until I started doing some genealogy. I found out that my 4th great-grandmother was a midwife and what was called a "yarb woman" - yarb being an old pronunciation of the word "herb." She was the woman that folks in her area called on when a baby was ready to be born or someone was sick.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Perhaps my affinity for botanical medicine has been, in its own way, a sort of time traveler, passing through the genes, through the generations, from Grandma Maggie to me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been a writer, both professionally and as a blogger for many years. (My other blogs are <b><a href="http://www.whereiamnow.net/">Where I Am Now</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.seattlegardenideas.com/">Seattle Garden Ideas</a></b>.) It is only natural for me to write about the plants found in the Outlander books, but these posts don't seem to fit the websites I already have. So it makes sense to create this separate blog and give these posts their own home. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My intention for this blog is that it be a companion for readers of the Outlander series who also have an interest in plants and gardening. I know that when I see the name of a plant I am not familiar with or that I can't remember much about, I want to know more. Sometimes I wonder if that plant will grow in my part of the country. Or if it is related to a plant I think is similar. If the plant has a place in traditional medicine, I would like to know about that. I am also entertained by bits of folklore that surround these trees, shrubs and flowers. I don't plan to write only about plants with medicinal uses, although there will be quite a few of those I am sure. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As the list of posts grow, I hope you will find something of interest and answers to some of your questions. </span><br />
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Marie McKinseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061540293923506267noreply@blogger.com0