Flower Fruit Shake : Mango Rose

The Roses my parents planted in our backyard in the 70's were no new discovery . How to use the rose petals were though. Sometimes in the 1990's I became aware that you could eat roses. I didn't try any then but after reading vitamins and medicinal uses recently I thought maybe I needed to. Roses contain vitamins c,b,e and k. Also bacteria is said to die when contacted with fresh rose petals. With numerous other medicinal benefits I thought why am I waiting.God has given us the rose not just for beauty and to look at but for many uses. In the following video is a shake recipe using rose petals. My family and I love this. Hope you'll try it and enjoy. Remember use only fresh roses that have not been treated with chemicals and poisons.  

Lyre Leaf Sage (Salvia Lyrata)

Lyre Leaf Sage is abundantly growing right now throughout my backyard. The bees are as busy as they can be going from bloom to bloom. Lyre leaf is edible and medicinal. The leaves were once thought to be an external cure for cancer which gave it one of it's names "Cancerweed"  I decided to taste a leaf for the first time today and it had a mild taste. Some describe it as minty. It can be used in salads or cooked as greens. Seeds and leaves could be used as a tea as well. The Native Americans used the root as a salve for sores and the plant for a tea for colds and coughs. I'm definitely impressed with this new discovery that usually I've mowed over with the lawn mower by now. This year is different as I'm "Discovering His Creation." Oh, how I am discovering how little I know of God's creation that's in my own backyard. 

Lyre Leaf Sage

Lyre Leaf Sage

Lyre Leaf Sage

Lyre Leaf Sage

Lyre Leaf Sage

Penstemon Arkansanus (Arkansas Beardtongue)

Penstemon Arkansanus (Arkansas Beardtongue) is a member of the Beardtongue Family. I just found this growing in the backyard among the other wildflowers. I haven't noticed this before but daily I'm making new discoveries. It Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Even while taking these pictures there were a few bees enjoying their white flowers with lavender streaks as well. They can grow approximately 2 feet tall and the ones I found are close to that. I enlarged some of the photographs so you can see how it got it's name beardtongue. Another one of God's lovely creation to look at that might go overlooked and trampled under foot by some. 

Arkansas Beardtongue 

Arkansas Beardtongue  

Arkansas Beardtongue 

Arkansas Beardtongue 

Arkansas Beardtongue Stem 

Arkansas Beardtongue

Indian Strawberry (Mock Strawberry)

Indian Strawberry (Mock Strawberry)

Indian Strawberry (Mock Strawberry)

Indian Strawberry (Mock Strawberry)

I do have true strawberry plants growing in my yard but this is not . I've seen these since my childhood and never paid them much attention. The Indian Strawberry has yellow flowers . Real strawberries have white flowers. The fruit may look like a strawberry but they are not juicy and lack flavor they say. I've never tried them since we were told they were poisonous but not true according to many sources. Unfortunate confusion about that. There is some value in this little weed . It's said to be medicinal and contains vitamin c. The name didn't come from American Indians but is said to be native to Southern Asia. Just another discovery of God's creation in my own backyard.

Making discoveries in your own backyard

Some time in the 90's I started wondering about the trees, plants and weeds that were in my yard and surroundings. Everything has a name and a family even to the smallest and tiny wildflowers but I knew almost nothing about them. I took a few trips to the library in the 90's and looked up some things. There wasn't much available but learning a little was better than nothing. Much time past and with internet available has come an opportunity to learn the things I only wondered about then. Many surprises of the wild edibles and medicinal uses of what was in my own backyard. Wow! if we only knew our surroundings! Now I take the time to photograph each tiny flower or as some would say weeds and research more about it. A journey has begun to discover God's creation. There are things He has placed here that are solutions to problems. While man overlooks them for only a temporary answer. May our eyes come open to see our Father's creation and what He's placed in our own backyard.