Post by sunshine on Jun 30, 2006 3:11:38 GMT 10
An Herbal Bath Garden
(from www.gardenguides.com/herbs/herb.htm)
CALENDULA
Calendula, also known as Pot Marigold, is a cheery little cottage
garden flower that grows to a height of up to 20 inches. The
flowers, which come in shades of yellow and orange, make nice
cut flowers. Find out more about growing and using calendula
here.
Creamy Marigold Cleanser
4 tablespoons olive or almond oil
2 tablespoons dried pot marigold flowers
few drops of violet, orange blossom or rose water
Warm the oil in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot water. Stir
in the dried flowers and continue to heat gently for 30 minutes.
Remove from heat, allow to cool, and stir in the flower water.
LAVENDER
Here's another traditional cottage garden plant, best known as
an ingredient in potpourri. The plant may grow to a height of 3
feet, but there are dwarf forms for edging which reach only about
10 inches. Click Here for tips on growing lavender from the
experts at Purple Haze Lavender Farm.
Lavender Vinegar Hair Rinse
Fill a one-quart jar 1/2 full with lavender leaves and flowers. Top
with white vinegar; seal with a plastic lid, or place plastic wrap
over the jar first before closing lid. Place in a dark place, such as
a cupboard for 3-4 weeks. Mix one part lavender vinegar to one
part distilled water and use to rinse hair after shampooing.
Thanks to Brenda at Seeds of Knowledge for this wonderful
recipe.
Starting Lavender from Seed:
A couple of years ago I was having a difficut time starting
lavender from seed. I'm still no expert, but I posted a note about
my difficulties at our discussion board and my favorite gardening
guru - Ron Poppa - was able to set me on track with this project.
If anyone else is having trouble with this slightly fussy herb (or
anything else) just post a note on our discussion board. I'm sure
Ron will be glad to give you a hand.
GERMAN CHAMOMILE
This is the herb most people associate with relaxation, thanks to
the popularity of chamomile tea. These perennial plants grow to
between four and twelve inches high and produce a profusion of
little daisy-like flowers. It can be used as a groundcover or grown
between stepping stones in areas where traffic is light to
moderate. Find out more about growing chamomile here.
Chamomile Cleansing Milk
(Must be kept refrigerated. Good only for 2-4 days.)
Place 1 cup of warm milk in a bowl. The milk must be kept warm
throughout, however it must never boil and a skin must not form
on the milk. The easiest way to accomplish this is by placing the
bowl over a saucepan of hot water. Add 3 tablespoons fresh
chamomile flowers. Stir gently from time to time so as not to
break up the flowers. Infuse until the milk smells strongly of
chamomile. Strain into glass jars. Excellent for oily skin.
MARJORAM
Most people associate marjoram with the kitchen, but it's is a
wonderful addition to an herbal bath. It's also used in tea and
herbal sleep pillows. Marjoram is a very fragrant herb, and pretty
enough for the flower garden, with clusters of dainty white
flowers growing around the stems. It will reach a height of one to
two feet. We have more information about growing marjoram
here.
Fragrant Bath Bag
Try experimenting with your favorite fragrant herbs to make a
bath bag. I use about 1/4 cup of marjoram, 2 tablespoons of
mint, and 2 tablespoons of lavender. Cut the quantities in half if
using dried herbs.
You will probably be able to find a small muslin bath bag with a
drawstring at the top in your favorite craft store. If not, simply tie
the herbs up securely in a square of muslin. Steep the bag in a
quart of boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes, then allow to cool.
Add the water and the bag to your bath water.
MINT
What could be more refreshing in your bath? Here's some
information on growing and using mint from master gardener
and herbalist Laurel Morris. You won't want to miss her recipe for
Rosemary Mint Wine Jelly.
Peppermint Skin Toner
1 pint vinegar 1 pint purified water 1 cup mint leaves Place all
ingredients in a glass or enamel saucepan and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat. Pour into a glass jar and allow to steep for
four days. Strain and bottle.
This recipe comes from Brenda Hyde at Seeds of Knowledge.
ROSEMARY
This is one of my all time favorite herbs. This evergreen shrub
looks strikingly similar to a Christmas tree, and smells even
better. It can grow up to five feet tall, and does well in containers,
but it's hard to overwinter indoors. More about growing rosemary
here.
Rosemary Hair Treatment
Use this rinse to darken, condition and tone hair.
Hot Method: Fill a jar with fresh rosemary and cover with
sunflower or almond oil. Place the jar up to the neck in a
saucepan of water and bring to a medium temperature. Simmer
for up to three hours. Strain through filter paper or cloth into a
brown glass bottle.
Cold Method: Follow the instructions above, except that the oil
should be placed on a sunny windowsill for up to three weeks
instead of heated. The process can be repeated with the
strained oil infusion and a fresh supply of herbs to make a
stronger oil.
To Use: Work the oil into the hair, then cover with plastic wrap
and a warm towel. Relax in a warm place with a good book for
30 minutes to an hour, then shampoo.
THYME
Gardeners in warm, humid climates such as the Southeastern
US will do better to grow thyme indoors because it won't stand
up well to the climate. For those of you who can grow this
attractive plant outdoors, it's a short plant -- less than twelve
inches -- and it can be used as an edging for the perennial
garden. It produces tiny, pale pink flowers at the tips of the stems
in summer. Find out how to grow thyme here.
This is the herb to use after a long hot day in the garden
because it helps to deodorize the body. You can also use it in a
foot soak to help with tired, stinky feet. To use, steep a handful of
mixed thyme and rosemary in a quart of boiling water for 15
minutes, cool, and add to the bath or foot soak.
(from www.gardenguides.com/herbs/herb.htm)
CALENDULA
Calendula, also known as Pot Marigold, is a cheery little cottage
garden flower that grows to a height of up to 20 inches. The
flowers, which come in shades of yellow and orange, make nice
cut flowers. Find out more about growing and using calendula
here.
Creamy Marigold Cleanser
4 tablespoons olive or almond oil
2 tablespoons dried pot marigold flowers
few drops of violet, orange blossom or rose water
Warm the oil in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot water. Stir
in the dried flowers and continue to heat gently for 30 minutes.
Remove from heat, allow to cool, and stir in the flower water.
LAVENDER
Here's another traditional cottage garden plant, best known as
an ingredient in potpourri. The plant may grow to a height of 3
feet, but there are dwarf forms for edging which reach only about
10 inches. Click Here for tips on growing lavender from the
experts at Purple Haze Lavender Farm.
Lavender Vinegar Hair Rinse
Fill a one-quart jar 1/2 full with lavender leaves and flowers. Top
with white vinegar; seal with a plastic lid, or place plastic wrap
over the jar first before closing lid. Place in a dark place, such as
a cupboard for 3-4 weeks. Mix one part lavender vinegar to one
part distilled water and use to rinse hair after shampooing.
Thanks to Brenda at Seeds of Knowledge for this wonderful
recipe.
Starting Lavender from Seed:
A couple of years ago I was having a difficut time starting
lavender from seed. I'm still no expert, but I posted a note about
my difficulties at our discussion board and my favorite gardening
guru - Ron Poppa - was able to set me on track with this project.
If anyone else is having trouble with this slightly fussy herb (or
anything else) just post a note on our discussion board. I'm sure
Ron will be glad to give you a hand.
GERMAN CHAMOMILE
This is the herb most people associate with relaxation, thanks to
the popularity of chamomile tea. These perennial plants grow to
between four and twelve inches high and produce a profusion of
little daisy-like flowers. It can be used as a groundcover or grown
between stepping stones in areas where traffic is light to
moderate. Find out more about growing chamomile here.
Chamomile Cleansing Milk
(Must be kept refrigerated. Good only for 2-4 days.)
Place 1 cup of warm milk in a bowl. The milk must be kept warm
throughout, however it must never boil and a skin must not form
on the milk. The easiest way to accomplish this is by placing the
bowl over a saucepan of hot water. Add 3 tablespoons fresh
chamomile flowers. Stir gently from time to time so as not to
break up the flowers. Infuse until the milk smells strongly of
chamomile. Strain into glass jars. Excellent for oily skin.
MARJORAM
Most people associate marjoram with the kitchen, but it's is a
wonderful addition to an herbal bath. It's also used in tea and
herbal sleep pillows. Marjoram is a very fragrant herb, and pretty
enough for the flower garden, with clusters of dainty white
flowers growing around the stems. It will reach a height of one to
two feet. We have more information about growing marjoram
here.
Fragrant Bath Bag
Try experimenting with your favorite fragrant herbs to make a
bath bag. I use about 1/4 cup of marjoram, 2 tablespoons of
mint, and 2 tablespoons of lavender. Cut the quantities in half if
using dried herbs.
You will probably be able to find a small muslin bath bag with a
drawstring at the top in your favorite craft store. If not, simply tie
the herbs up securely in a square of muslin. Steep the bag in a
quart of boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes, then allow to cool.
Add the water and the bag to your bath water.
MINT
What could be more refreshing in your bath? Here's some
information on growing and using mint from master gardener
and herbalist Laurel Morris. You won't want to miss her recipe for
Rosemary Mint Wine Jelly.
Peppermint Skin Toner
1 pint vinegar 1 pint purified water 1 cup mint leaves Place all
ingredients in a glass or enamel saucepan and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat. Pour into a glass jar and allow to steep for
four days. Strain and bottle.
This recipe comes from Brenda Hyde at Seeds of Knowledge.
ROSEMARY
This is one of my all time favorite herbs. This evergreen shrub
looks strikingly similar to a Christmas tree, and smells even
better. It can grow up to five feet tall, and does well in containers,
but it's hard to overwinter indoors. More about growing rosemary
here.
Rosemary Hair Treatment
Use this rinse to darken, condition and tone hair.
Hot Method: Fill a jar with fresh rosemary and cover with
sunflower or almond oil. Place the jar up to the neck in a
saucepan of water and bring to a medium temperature. Simmer
for up to three hours. Strain through filter paper or cloth into a
brown glass bottle.
Cold Method: Follow the instructions above, except that the oil
should be placed on a sunny windowsill for up to three weeks
instead of heated. The process can be repeated with the
strained oil infusion and a fresh supply of herbs to make a
stronger oil.
To Use: Work the oil into the hair, then cover with plastic wrap
and a warm towel. Relax in a warm place with a good book for
30 minutes to an hour, then shampoo.
THYME
Gardeners in warm, humid climates such as the Southeastern
US will do better to grow thyme indoors because it won't stand
up well to the climate. For those of you who can grow this
attractive plant outdoors, it's a short plant -- less than twelve
inches -- and it can be used as an edging for the perennial
garden. It produces tiny, pale pink flowers at the tips of the stems
in summer. Find out how to grow thyme here.
This is the herb to use after a long hot day in the garden
because it helps to deodorize the body. You can also use it in a
foot soak to help with tired, stinky feet. To use, steep a handful of
mixed thyme and rosemary in a quart of boiling water for 15
minutes, cool, and add to the bath or foot soak.
