Springtime And the garden awaits

 Magickal Egg Garden-
~Found at OakDancer.com

To start, when you crack open your eggs to cook, try to crack them as close to the narrow end as possible. By doing so, you can leave most of the eggshell intact, forming a little cup.

Empty and rinse out the egg with hot water, setting it to dry in a place where the kids (and the cats!) won't be able to knock them off. I usually keep my eggshells in the original cardboard containers.

When you have at least a dozen or so, you have the start of your magickal garden! These eggshells make great miniature planters for starting seeds in. The eggshell symbols new birth and growth, and when the seedlings are large enough, they can be planted in the ground, eggshell and all.

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Mosquito Spray Fill a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around whenever you saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby. During the summer, I don't leave home without it.....Pass it on.

A FRIEND'S COMMENTS: I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works - in fact, it killed them instantly. I bought my bottle from Target and it cost me $1.89. It really doesn't take much, and it is a big bottle, too; so it is not as expensive to use as the can of Bug-spray you buy that doesn't last 30 minutes. So, try this, please. It will last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog house.

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Egg shells for your Tomatoes

 Blossom-end rot is a common tomato problem, but I recently learned that it is actually caused by a calcium deficiency in the plant. Experienced gardeners often place eggshells in the bottom of the hole when transplanting their tomato plants to help combat this problem.

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Soft Ice Packs for your tired back

Spring is sprouting before us. Many eager gardeners have begun weeding flowerbeds and turning or hoeing the garden soil. Over zealousness in your efforts could lead to a sore neck or back.
When this happens, here are two solutions for relieving muscle soreness with ice packs. Grab a bag of frozen peas from the freezer, place in a towel and hold against sprained or sore area.

To make your own soft ice pack,
add 1 part Isopropyl Alcohol and
3 parts water to a zip lock freezer bag

 Double bag and label the bag with a permanent marker: Ice Pack, do not consume. Store in the freezer. Remove from the freezer when needed. Wrap in a towel and apply to sore back or neck. The ice will not freeze solid and will mold comfortably to the contour of your body.

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Edible Flowers

For Your Dining Pleasure! When we think of an edible garden, most likely we think of tomatoes, peas and other glorious vegetables or we may think of culinary herbs, such as thyme, oregano and rosemary. There are, however, many ornamental flowering plants that are both lovely in the flower garden and delicious at the table. The blossoms of some vegetable plants, such as squash or zucchini, are also tasty when included in the meal. Either grow your own or shop at a natural food store to lower your exposure to chemicals and pesticides. Beware of experimentation - not everything that is beautiful is edible. The following list of edible ornamental just might surprise you, as well as delight your palate

Marigolds (Calendula officianalis)
Carnations (Dianthus)
Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosasinensis)
Lilacs (Syringa)
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Roses
Pansy's

Marigolds (Calendula officianalis)
Everyone loves yellow rice, but those little saffron petals are very pricey - marigold petals are a lovely alternative. Simply sprinkle the petals of this lovely orange flower into simmering white rice, and watch the rice turn a beautiful yellow. Be careful and don't overdo as too many petals can make the taste bitter.

Carnations (Dianthus)
This pumpkin pie scented flower is as tasty as it is sweet smelling. Whether steeped in wine, sugared, or as a cake decoration, the dainty carnation is colorful and very romantic on the dessert plate while its' petals add color and flavor to salads. Cut away the white base of the flower as it has a bitter flavor.

Hibiscus Flower (Hibiscus rosasinensis)
This showy edible makes a gorgeous garnish in deep rose or red. Its' mildly citrus taste would be an exotic addition to roast duck or any citrus inspired meal.

Lilacs (Syringa)
While the flavor of lilacs varies from plant to plant, its' very perfume-like, slightly bitter taste is delicious in salads. Distinctively lemony with floral pungent overtones.

Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)
Sweet smelling and good to eat, this lovely flower can add a spicy, peppery zing to the garden salad. It is easy to grow, too, especially in pots, where you can control the soil type. It prefers a rather sterile soil, without fertilizer, and it will bloom like crazy in about 60 days. They are a great introduction to your fall garden, inter-planted with flowering kale or cabbages. In mild winter areas you can sow in fall and gather flowers all winter. Light frost tolerant

Roses grow any where are a great addition to a green salad or any fresh salad. Like rose hips they are very high in vitamin C

Pansy Are good in fresh salads are a beautiful addition to cakes when candied. You can candy any of these flowers to use on cakes or speciality dishes