Loving our Elders:
Food, Medicine and Myth from the Elder Tree.
By Jolie Elan
(Laura I think this first paragraph can go in a side bar with a picture of the plant otherwise it can be the first paragraph - your choice)
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra subspecies caerulea) is a tall shrub with beautiful lacy clusters of tiny white flowers that look like snowflakes. This fascinating medicinal and edible wild plant grows in North America, Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. In California, the elder grows in wet places below 3000 meters and is a resident of Sonoma County and Bodega Bay. Once pollinated by insects, especially hoverflies, the flowers ripen into round black berries coated with a white wax. The berry clusters resemble constellations of little bluish planets (picture). We have two species of elder in California: blue and red. The red elder (Sambucus racemosa) is not customarily used and is said to be poisonous, although I know a very wise old herbalist who makes jam and medicine of the red berries without
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For the animists of old Europe the elder was magical and enchanted. The European mythology tells us that trees were guarded by a dryad named the Hylde Moer or Elder Mother and should the tree be cut or burned, this tree nymph would haunt the perpetrators with misfortune and, as was believed in Rumania, a toothache. The Elder Mother also reigns as Queen of the Underworld, an alternate dimension of Earth, where the spirits and fairies dwell. Because Elders were associated with fairies, leaving a baby to sleep under an elder tree could result in the child being stolen by fairies and replaced with a changeling afflicted with unexplained disorders. It was also told that those who stood under an elder tree on the mid-summer night could witness a procession of the king of the fairy land and his
Folk medicine is created through groups of individuals and spreads due to the diffusion of different ethnic groups. Even though folk medicine is isolated to a region, folk medicine is important in creating the knowledge and treatments of illnesses from past generations. Appalachian folk medicine is unique because of the influence of Native American, African American, and Euro-American cultures. Due to isolation of the region, the elements of Appalachian folk medicine is comprised of outside influences, categories within fork medicine, variations of caregivers, and natural remedies.
A. The plant - This is representative of Mama's ability to endure despite harsh surroundings, and her tenacity in keeping her dream alive.
Pollan, Michael. The Botany of Desire: A Plant's Eye View of the World. New York: Random
Native Americans have a long history of using native plants, berries, herbs, and trees for a wide variety of medicinal purposes. Native Americans have been using these methods for thousands of years.
The Crowning of Flora. 1816. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Brief Third ed. Vol. One. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. 274. Print.
The story opens by embracing the reader with a relaxed setting, giving the anticipation for an optimistic story. “…with the fresh warmth of a full summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green (p.445).”
The next area of the garden a person encounters is one that appeals to the active touch, for these plants have appealing textured bark and leaves. A person realizes that this next stage of the garden applies a different sense because the walkway changes to a brick path, which reflects a different sound to the person, whether he or she is tapping the path with a cane or simply listening to the sound of his or her own footsteps. The first plants found in this ?texture? area are crape myrtle, which have smooth bark. These plants can be considered small trees or shrubs, and occupy some space, so the visitor can walk along the path, gently touching the leaves and bark until the next plant, the lamb?
Describe how your chosen plant has adapted to its current environment. The iris plant is known to be some very beautiful flowers. The iris plants come in different colors and they are known to be in the lower 48 states and can be found in
Throughout time, mankind has persistently been seeking ways to maintain their health and to cure those that had not been so fortunate in that task. Just about everything has been experimented with as a cure for some type of illness; whether physical, spiritual or mental. There has always been evidence of spiritual healing and it will continue to be an important part of any healing process, large or small.
For this essay, I’ve chosen to write about Aconitum (Aconite). Other common names (and/or species) for this plant include (but are not limited to); Monkshood, old wife's hood, helmet flower, soldier's cap, bachnag, bear's foot, and the apt name; brute killer.
Fairy-legends in particular often reflected the people’s fears and became a way for them to explain things they just could not understand. These fairy legends were told very long ago before people had an understanding of science so when an unexpected death or a child went missing fairy legends were created to explain this. People’s anxieties were greatly reflected in fairy legends such as giving birth to a child and what had to be done, children being taken and replaced by changelings, women getting taken away, and children being abducted.
...ots her memory, the blossoms her dreams, and the branches her vision. After each unsuccessful marriage, she waits for the springtime pollen to be sprinkled over her life once again. Even after Tea Cake's death, she has a garden of her own to sit and revel in.
Mama’s plant represents her dream of buying a house when she describes that the plant does not receive enough sunlight. Early on a Friday morning, Mama wakes up to Walter, her son, slamming a door after fighting with his sister, Beneatha, over what their fathers life insurance money should be used for. When Mama enters the room, she exclaims, “ ‘Lord, if this little old plant don’t get more sun than it’s ...
“Weaved from leaves. And adorned with beautiful flowers. I want to place the flower crown on my love’s head…”
In the article, "Tree Doctors" it talks about the jobs of an arborists. The article is an Q&A about the qualities to be an arborists and information about their work. An arborists are tree trimmers that help maintain and protect trees or any plants. In order to be an arborists, you have to take a course in plant science, landscaping or any course that relates to taking plants. Arborists job is dangerous because they work at a high areas near power lines and use chainsaws which are hazardous. They are hired by companies that needs help keep trees and bushes to be maintained and gets paid $14 hourly wage. Tree doctors are important to keep our society/environment to be greener.