~ Happy Earth Day ~

~ Mother Earth Blessings ~

~ Wild Violet Jelly ~

4 cups of Wild Violet infusion ~ 4 cups of petals infused with 4 cups of boiling water overnight

1/4 cup lemon juice ( fresh or bottled )

5 cups sugar

1 pkg of sure-gel

Pour violet infusion into a 6 or 8 qt stainless steel pot , add lemon juice , stir mixture well. Add 1 pkg of dry sure-jel , bring to a boil that will not stop as you stir , add 5 cups of sugar. Let it come to a rapid boil again , stir for 1 minute during rapid boil. Remove from heat , let it cool for about 5 minutes or so , skim foam off top. Ladle into sterilized jars , wipe rims and put lids on , process in hot water bath for 5 minutes. It will make 7 - 1/2 pints of jelly. I use the same recipe for Dandelion jelly.

~ Happy Herbal Blessings ~

~ Delicious Dandelion Fritters and Jellies ~

Click Here to read ~ http://feather-spirits.blogspot.com/2010/04/delicious-dandelion-fritters.html ~.

~ Happy Herbal Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

~ Wild Violets ~

Common Blue Violet ( Viola sororia )

American Dog Violet ( Viola conspersa )

Blue Marsh Violet ( Viola cacullata )

I found this article about Wild Violets I thought some of you might like to read. It has nice photos of the many different types of violets and some of the ways they were used by Native Americans. We have 3 species growing here that I've identified.

http://americanvioletsociety.org/Violets_In_America/Ethnobotanical.htm

~ Happy Herbal Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

* Comfrey *

I just happened to blop over to Herbal Roots the other night and she was having a giveaway for comfrey roots , so I left a comment. I was so surprised when I saw that I had won. I'm looking forward to learning about comfrey , I've read some great info on this herb. This months " Herbal Roots " is about using comfrey , I plan to order the April issue today. If you're interested in herbs , blop over to ~ http://www.herbalrootszine.com/2010/04/winner-of-comfrey-roots/~ and checkout her website and " Herbal Roots Zine ".

~ Herbal Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

Winner of Comfrey Roots

Winner of Comfrey Roots

~ Air Drying Herbs ~

Earthy Purple Nettle (left )

Spearmint (right)

I have several different processes for air drying , the easiest being tying them in bundles and hanging in a dark , dry area. This little closet is perfect for drying most of my herbs. You can also spread them out on a screen in a dark place to dry , sometimes I do that too. I've also use paper bags to dry them , bundle the herbs up and put a paper bag over them , tie the top and hang , this method is used for saving seeds mostly , but if the area is not dark enough , this is a good method to use also. I have dried them in an old truck we have parked out in the field , they dry quickly this way but don't retain as much color because of to much light , so I usually put them in paper bags when I use this method. Sometimes I have just left them sitting in a basket and they dry out just fine , if they don't have any moisture in them.

Flassie , I liked your suggestion about renaming the Dead Nettle , so " Earthy Purple Nettle " it will be (LOL).

~ Happy Herbal Blessing ~
JoyceAnn