be in your pleasure …

 

And now you ask in your heart,
“How shall we distinguish that which is good in pleasure
from that which is not good?”

Go to your fields and your gardens,
and you shall learn that it is the pleasure of the bee
to gather honey of the flower,
But it is also the pleasure of the flower to yield its honey to the bee.

For to the bee a flower is a fountain of life,
And to the flower a bee is a messenger of love,
And to both, bee and flower, the giving and the receiving of pleasure
is a need and an ecstasy.

People of Orphalese, be in your pleasures like the flowers and the bees.

Words by Kahlil Gibran

Sketching by Larra – bee or hornet(?) on Agastache flower in Herb’s garden. I can’t figure out what is this hairy guy , no black/yellow stripe on the body …. hmmmmmm

Seducing bergamot

Bergamot (Monarda didyma) also known as Oswego tea, Bee balm, Blue balm, High balm, Low balm, Mountain balm and Mountain mint. From the family Lamiaceae.

It bears no resemblance or similarity to that of Bergamot(Citrus bergamia), a small fruit tree, predominately found in Italy, from which Bergamot essential oil is extracted.

This beautiful plant with its flamboyant flower is a natiove of North America and is now grown horticulturally in many countries throughout the world.

Bergamot in Herb's garden

The species name Monarda (the one in Herb’s garden) honours the Spanish medicinal botanist Dr. Nicholas Monardes of Serville who, in 1569 wrote a herbal on the floral of America. The common name Bergamot, is said to have come from the scent of the crushed leaf which resembles the small, bitter Italian bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia,) .

Dried bergamot flowers keep their fragrant and colors so well, therefore they are important ingrediants in potpouris.

Although not used in aromatherapy for its therapeutic properties, the Bergamot does have other medicinal values; the leaf of Bergamot is used as an infusion in tea to help in the relief of insomnia, menstrual pain, nausea and flatulence. A fresh leaf of Bergamot infused with China tea will produce a flavor of Earl Grey Tea. Steam inhalation of the Bergamot is helpful for sore throats.

Bergamot flower painting by Larra

 

Note: Information from Jekka’s Complete Herb Book by Jekka McVicar; Photos by HerbMaster.