Secret 2

The Secret Weapon

When I was growing up, both my mother and grandmother had this plant on the kitchen counter. They gave it, along with the housewarming gift, to anyone moving into their first home or apartment. They considered this plant essential to every home, and you could almost always find it in the kitchen.

I’m referring to the Aloe vera plant.

The primary reason my mom and grandma kept this plant in the kitchen wasn’t for its impressive looks, there are many better looking plants that will thrive in the indoors. No, they kept this plant in the kitchen because of its soothing, healing abilities in treating a burn, even as severe as a second-degree burn. Burn your hand on a hot pan, and a piece of the plant would be broken off, and they would apply the healing gel from the plant to the burn area. Scrap your skin and the aloe plant would come out as well.

Science proves the Aloe plant to be useful in other ways as well; used in a toothpaste for helping control cavity-causing bacteria, helping to heal wounds such as diabetes-induced foot ulcers. They can use the extracts from the plant as a natural antioxidant, an additive to creams for protection of skin damage after radiation therapy, and in acne creams. Although research isn’t conclusive at this point, the extracts are also being tested in the hopes of use against constipation, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, depression, memory loss, and Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

All that potential from one plant! It’s always best to discuss the use of anything you add to your skin or wounds with a doctor. Doctors also recommend you test for an allergic reaction before using.

Near Miss

Wow! There is nothing like the threat of an approaching hurricane to make you take stock of your garden.

This past weekend Hurricane Isaias quickly formed in the Atlantic ocean and headed for the Florida coast. There was no 4-5 day preparation with this storm. Luckily it broke apart before it could do much of anything, and passed us by, just offshore.

Even though we decided to not put up our hurricane shutters, there was still work to be done. And every time we have to do this, we moan about all the garden “stuff” my husband and I have added to our yard.

one of my many orchids

So, we start with the orchids. I had just repotted them together in large wood orchid baskets, so that cut the number down considerably, but there were still a couple dozen that had to be taken out of the trees and placed in a protected area. Then there was the shade sail (shade cloth) my husband put up over my fountain to protect more orchids and foliage plants from the summer sun.

Then we move to the decorative pieces. Wind chimes hang in the larger trees and had to be taken down and laid low into the bushes. The wind spinners were taken apart and placed in a corner, and we gathered the decorative statues and animals into the garage. The large umbrella that covers the table and chair was tied up and laid on the ground.

the backyard is the last to clean up; we want to keep the animals happen as long as we can.

The lawn furniture and cushions had to be stacked in a protected corner of the front porch, and finally the bird baths were emptied and turned upside down. I held out until the last possible moment before taking down the bird feeders. Which were also the first things to go back up. The bluejays sat outside my window, all but tapping on the glass for food when the winds died down.

The largest potted plants were laid on their side to keep the wind from snapping them in half, and they were also watered for extra weight.

And then we “hunker down” and wait for the storm to pass. Of course, with a storm that was stronger, there would be more work to do; put up the shutters, get gas for the generator, mow the lawn, and the list goes on.

Then, after the go ahead is given, we return everything to its rightful place until the next storm is approaching. And each time we promise ourself, we will get rid of the lawn art and make our life simpler.

But we don’t. Because the storms are for brief intervals, over quickly and with the promise of better days ahead. Creating the garden we love to be in takes time, effort and patience. And the knowledge that the storms will pass and better weather is just around the corner to enjoy.