Floral Awakening

The Herban Corner - Floral Awakening

by Karen Hegre

Embrace the miracle of spring's renewal...let it take you along a garden

path that leads to awakening. Surround yourself with fragrant,

pastel-hued flowers! Rejoice with the scent, hue and texture of flowers.

I absolutely love this time of the year! Tomorrow is the first day of

spring and to me the following says it best:

"Tis like the birthday of the world,

When earth was born in bloom;

The light is made of many dyes,

The air is all perfume;

There's crimson buds,

and white and blue...

The very rainbow showers

Have turned to blossoms where they fell,

And sown the earth with flowers."

~ Thomas Hoods

Awaken your senses by surrounding yourself with a bouquet of floral

accents. Freshen the air with jasmine perfume, sip a blend of

floral-flavored tea and enjoy the scent of a jasmine topiary.

Are you having 'spring guests'? Delight them, or yourself, with a basket

of fluffy towels scented with a linen spray. Be aware of Nature's beauty

and indulge yourself with fragrant flowers...Her most precious perfumes.

To make visitors, and yourself, feel very special, leave a basket

brimming with plush towels in the bathroom. Enclose a bottle of jasmine

linen spray to freshen and scent the towels. To make the spray, simply

add 6 drops jasmine essential oil to four ounces distilled water. Pour

the mixture into a spray bottle and tuck into the basket of towels. Add

a sprig of fresh jasmine, if available. The spray also makes a

wonderful, effective room freshener.

Jasmine in a Jar:

To one cup boiling water, add four packages unflavored gelatin and two

tablespoons salt. Stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Add 15 drops

jasmine oil and one drop food coloring. Pour into a jar and cover with

plastic wrap; let set overnight. Remove plastic, place a doily over jar

and set on table to use as an air freshener. The scent will last for

about two weeks.

Jasmine Eau De Toilette:

For a beautifully scented toilette water, pour the following ingredients

into a glass bottle and shake well; Three fourths cup citrus-flavored

vodka, one fourth cup orange blossom water and six drops jasmine

essential oil. Allow to steep for one week before use. This eau de

toilette is deliciously fragrant and pleasant to use.

White Stars Topiary:

Entwined in an imaginative shape, a jasmine vine creates a perfect

topiary. Place the jasmine plant in a terra-cotta pot and insert the

round wire topiary form....gently wrap vine around the wire until it's

covered completely. Water well and trim occasionally, shaping as you go.

Jasmine Tea:

Enjoy a delicious tea blend made with one cup black tea leaves and two

cups fresh jasmine flowers. Scoop a one inch layer of tea leaves into a

jar; place a one inch layer of jasmine flowers on top. Alternate layers

until all ingredients are used. Secure lid on jar; let jasmine permeate

tea leaves for a few days, then remove flowers from loose tea by hand.

To use, add one teaspoon tea to one cup hot water; let steep a few

minutes.

Jasmine essential oil has an exotic fragrance, making it a popular

choice for perfumes and colognes. Because of its softening effect, the

oil is often found in skin-care products. Jasmine oil is used to relieve

depression, tension, fear and listlessness.

About the author:

Karen is a master gardener specializing in herbs and a crafter. She and her husband have

a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, plus 'Fairy Gardens' where

the children can learn about different herbs and hear Karen read a story about the Garden

Fairies and Flowers.