SAGE
It's that powdery stuff you sprinkle on your Thanksgiving turkey, right? Well, believe me, it's more than that! While you are looking for it in your garden, you will be looking for a grayish green, growing
12"-30", blue flowered, velvety-leafed plant (and that is if your are looking for the "regular" sage plant called: salvia officianalis.) There are mant different "flavors" of sage including: one of my favorites for teas: pineapple sage.
There is Mexican bush sage which grows to four or so feet and has lavendar flowers. There is a golden sage, a variegated sage--sometimes known as tri-colored sage, clary sage--which has lilac or pink flowers, and of course, the well known purple sage,
which is one of the first herbs grown in my garden. The purple sage re-seeds itself, the "regular" sage comes back after winter, and so did my variegated and golden sage, but I don't think it was suppose to. (It didn't this year.) Other than those few,
the sage plant is not winter hardy.
The history of SAGE refers back to the ancients who say it will cure warts, epilepsy, measles, and worms. After that time, it was mainly used for coughs, colds, and fevers, and as a basic tonic. These days, under scientific studies, sage has been found to have voliatile oils
and tannins which clears up perspiration. These oils have antiseptic, astringent, and irritant properties, which makes this a good herb for treating sores and mouth irritations. This is still listed in the currant British Herbal Pharmacopeia. It is said to keep the blood vessels
soft and supple, helping in the healing of bruises, blood circulation, and helps in dissolving blood clots--keeping them from forming. A simple tea made from sage:
Steep 1 teaspoon leaves in 1/2 cup hot water. Take 1 cup per day, 1 tablespoon at a time.
When using essential oil of sage,
know that it comes from the distillation of the partially dried leaves. This oil blends well with rosemary, rosewood, lavendar, hyssop, lemon and other citrus oils for the making of some wonderful perfumery!
The principal constituents are: Thujone (42%), cineol, borneol, caryophtllene, and other terpenes. It is suggested not to take to much of sage at a time because of the thujone.
You will find the seeds germinate quickly, however, they do not store well. Sow in late spring and transplant 20 inches apart when seedlings are 3" tall. Prune back plants to keep them from becoming leggy, plus you get more to harvest. Spider mites, spittlebugs and slugs like sage, along with the root rot
and wilt. Keep the area clean to help prevent these things from happening. When time to dry, you can bundle them and hang up-side down (in a paper bag to keep dust off) and wait. The leaves are a bit thick and therefore takes more time for this plant leaves to dry. After they are completely dried, you can crush the leaves,
or pack them whole into jars with an airtight lid. Fresh sage and dried sage have difinite different taste.
You can use the dried sage in potpourris, crafts, perfumes, soaps, flower arrangements, aftershaves, and cooking. It can be planted with cabbage and carrots being it helps repel moths and flies. It attracts bees, and beekeepers say it makes a wonderful flavored honey. So...you see, there is more to sage than you think!
It is written: Why should a man die, when he can go to his garden for sage?!"
Write to me, Kathie Schmitt!