Category Archives: Uncategorized

Things Go Better With Bitters

Posted on December 17, 2012 by

Article published in Pathways Magazine Winter 2012-13 issue: By Jim Duke and Helen Lowe Metzman Jim’s Rant on Bitters: Where once the green trees were kissed by the sunrise There’s a highrise ‘tween the sunrise and the smog in your … Continue reading →

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The HerbalBum, HerbAlbum, and Basilio Day

Posted on November 11, 2012 by

From the HerbAlbum: Basilio Day A memorable Basilio Day. Oct. 10, 2012, has come and gone. I already miss the warm feelings, on our first day of frost. Only a handful of my Amazonian friends will know what the blazes … Continue reading →

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Plant Rant: An Elder Spokesman on Elders

Posted on September 9, 2012 by

Our elder, Jim Duke, waxes poetic on the lovely elderberry in the below ditty: Elders for the Elders  (ca 2009) Parody on Bobby McGee Elderberry, like black cherry, it’s extraordinary, very good for you, and tastes good too. My elders … Continue reading →

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Plant Rant: Jim Duke’s Herb a Day on St. John’s-[Wort] Day

Posted on July 2, 2012 by

Celebrating Saint John, June 24 (adapted, edited and updated from Jim’s “electronic online newsletter” archives from 2001 and 1989) The week spanning Father’s Day (June 17, 2001) to St. John’s Day (June 24, 2001), stresses a saintly plant, St. John’s-wort, … Continue reading →

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Plant Rant: Jim Duke on Thebaine of Iran

Posted on May 8, 2012 by

8 May 2012, Jim Duke writes on Papaver bracteatum ~ Thebaine Poppy Though this beautiful ephemeral poppy is more appropriately known as the Great Scarlet Poppy, I reminisce about it as the Persian Poppy, as I spent nearly a month … Continue reading →

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Jim Duke’s Cuban Food Farmacy Trip Report

Posted on April 22, 2012 by

CUBAN TRIP REPORT April 2012 Jim Duke At the luncheon we enjoyed at the Cuban Botanical Gardens, there was a healthy and delightful array of fruits and veggies, many not emphasized in the handout I sent you before our Cuba … Continue reading →

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Plant Rant: Skunk Cabbage – Passing the stink test.

Posted on March 8, 2012 by

10 March 2012 Time to get back to the garden begins in early March. One of our two new head gardeners, Anna Wallis, started with me this week, and together we have been cutting down the winter botany stubble, weeding … Continue reading →

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Plant Rant: Frost Flowers!!!!

Posted on December 30, 2011 by

29 December 2011 This morning’s email report from Jim regarding the garden and the greenhouse: “At 7:00 I was surprised that there are white conical and ribbonlike frost flowers, not a full inch tall but impressive. No frost on my … Continue reading →

Posted in environmental education, medicinal and edible plants, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Plant Rant: Diggin’ Groundnuts

Posted on November 6, 2011 by

Peggy’s favorite saucer magnolia sits between the Duke’s house and the driveway that takes visitors down to the Green Farmacy Garden. Peggy likes to sit in her sunroom during the early spring and admire the tree’s dramatic profusion of pale … Continue reading →

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Creme de’mentia and more on mints

Posted on October 2, 2011 by

1 October 2011, After working outside on this raw, bone chilling day, I find myself  sipping on peppermint tea to help ease into this soggy autumn and attempt to ward off what feels like an impending cold.  Being that it … Continue reading →

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