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1) Editor's Comments:Here in the northern part of the US we are drawing closer to seeing one of the first flowering plants in our yard -- well, maybe not one that is real popular. I am referring to the dandelion. Thought I'd share some info you may not know about it. If you'll indulge me, I'd like to introduce you to JENNY GREGOR, a professional portrait artist and a member of our family. There is something different about an "oil painting" that inspires the love and memories of your family. We invite you to visit some of Jenny’s creations on her Website. http://www.jennygregor.com/html/gallery.html If you click on any of the images they will enlarge for you. Enjoy! As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop me a note. Rex Gregor 2) Dandelions:Do you recognize the plant Lions Tooth? How about Priests Crown? Pu Gong Ying? Swine’s Snout or Dent de Lion? A corruption of the French name Dent de Lion is what gave it the name we know as dandelion. Dandelions are a perennial herb that has been naturalized throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It grows in almost any soil, and is found growing in pastures, lawns, sand, rocky ground, and even in sidewalk cracks. It has a bright golden yellow flower that has a furry looking flower that blooms almost any time of the year. You may not know it, but the dandelion is a very nutritious plant with more vitamins and minerals than most vegetables. It has a long history as a food in many countries. The leaves are often used as a salad or cooked like spinach. A herbal wine is made from fermented flowers and is considered to be a very flavorful. It is often used as a medicine. Native Americans used it as a medical herb for centuries long before the discovery of America. It was a panacia, a "cure for everything." Recent research substantiates that the dandelion contains an amazing number of chemicals including Taxaxicacin, Taraxacoside, Insulin, Pheonolic Acids, Sesqiterpene lactones, Triterpenes, Coumarins, Catortenoids and such minerals as Potassium and Calcium. It is used as a tonic and blood purifier for constipation, inflammatory skin conditions, joint pain, eczema, and liver dysfunction such as hepatitis and jaundice. The whole plant is now being used as a medicinal herb and is also used for gall bladder, kidney and urinary disorders. The latex contained in the plants sap can be used to remove corns and warts. The leaves will release ethylene gas which may be used to speed up ripening of fruit by placing them together in a bag. The dark red die obtained from the root of the dandelion when mixed with distilled water is used to clear skin and is effective in fading freckles. AND YOU THOUGHT DANDELIONS WERE WEEDS? 3) Humor for Today:At lunch one day a guy asked - "Hey what happened to Pete in payroll?" A co-worker replied, "He got this harebrained notion that he wanted to build a new kind of car." "How was he going to do that?" "He took an engine from a Pontiac, tires from a Chevy, seats from a Lincoln, hubcaps from a Caddy and well you get the idea." "So what did he end up with?" "Ten years in prison!" 4) Cooking Tip: Adding Oil to Pasta Water?Some folks think you should add oil to the water when cooking pasta. However, the oil will stay mainly on the surface of the water and does not add to the taste. After your pasta cooks, it should be rinsed to remove undesirable starchiness. The temperature of the rinse water is determined by how you will be using the pasta. If for a cold dish, rinse in cold water. If you are serving hot pasta, be certain to use hot water. Here is an excellent tip for using oil with your pasta after cooking. Go ahead and add some oil to the rinsed pasta and toss -- you'll find this a wonderful way to keep sticking to a minimum. 5) Fun Fact:Did you know that the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park, California, is the largest tree in the world. It weighs more than an amazing 6,000 tons. 6) Morning Glory (IPOMOEA):Morning Glorys are native to the tropics. They are an excellent plant to grow from seed. They come in blue, purple, pink, white or multicolored single or double trumpet shaped flowers. They are one of the most widely known of all annual vines. The flowers can be as much as eight inches across. The vines have abundant leaves that are heart shaped and generally 4 to 5 inches long. Morning Glory vines are a very fast growing plant that will reach 10 or more feet in six to eight weeks. They will grow on most any support and will flower profusely. They will also do well in hanging baskets or along fences. They should be planted in full sun and do best if they are planted in regular garden soil without fertilizer or too much moisture. The plant will produce too many leaves and not enough flowers if you over water them. I suggest you plant the seeds after all danger of frost. Plant the seeds about 1/2 inch deep and about eight or twelve inches apart. You should provide a support of twine or wire, along a fence or on a trellis. I strongly suggest that you plant your seeds directly in the ground, as most Morning Glorys do not survive transplanting. The seeds are hard, have a tough skin, and thus, you will have better luck if you soak the seeds over night in tepid water. Since Morning Glory’s are known to have at least 200 different varieties, I recommend that you choose the following: #9850 Pearly Gates -- a vigorous growing vine that will reach 12 feet with beautiful all white flowers. #9851 Scarlet O’Hara -- an unusual crimson-carmine colored flower that is a fast growing vine that reaches 10 feet. #9853 Clarke’s Early Flowering Heavenly Blue -- This all time favorite has bright blue flowers, shading to a lighter blue toward the center of the bloom. It is very easy to grow. Grows to twelve or more feet. #9859 Giant Flying Saucers -- a fast growing vine up to 15 feet with huge five inch blooms of pure white, brushed with lavender- lilac in a pinwheel pattern. Has lush tropical like foliage. Excellent for window boxes and planters and along fences. #9877 Giant Fragraant Moon Vine -- This pure white flower opens in the evening to release a sweet smelling perfume like fragrance. This annual vine is great for fences or trellis’s. http://www.rexseedco.com/vine.htm 7) What Makes Popcorn Pop?You may not know it, but all seeds contain a tiny bit of water. This water helps to keep cells alive until it sprouts. This little bit of moisture makes the "popping" of popcorn possible. When the kernel is heated, the water becomes steam that exerts enough pressure to burst the seed covering. The expansion allows the soft inner material to puff and the seed basically turns itself inside out. 8) Subscribe/UnsubscribeThis newsletter, the Green Thumb Times, is sent out only to those who have requested a FREE subscription by signing up at http://rexseedco.com or specifically asked to be added PRIVACY: Your email address is held in the strictest of privacy. It is never traded or sold to anyone else. To subscribe to The Green Thumb Times To unsubscribe Rex Gregor, Editor Please feel free to forward The Green Thumb Times to a friend. Rex’s Seedco has searched the world for quality
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