Atlanta Botanical Gardens

I always love going to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens particular for the spring time. This time at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens was the Georgia Herbalist Guild monthly meeting. I had the opportunity to listen to Jen Stovall, RN, Community Herbalist and Health Educator, who spoke about Herbalism on a Food Stamp Budget. Ms. Stovall hails from New Orleans and runs her herbal store in a low-income community. She explained about her customers are having difficulty obtaining health care and they come to her for help. She believes that using kitchen herbs are the best such as fennel seed for digestion, dill seed for cooling, black pepper which is hot invigorating for mucus and chili flakes for stimulating the circulatory system particularly for peripheral neuropathy. The chili flakes placed in between socks and shoes. Turmeric is another herb for liver support and fat digestion which does give a fresh taste. Basil that is fresh and dry is antiviral, boost the immune system for colds and flu. Rosemary used for circulation, thinking and for dealing with grief. Sage is dried or fresh is utilized for an astringent with the throat.

After the presentation I had a chance to tour the Atlanta Botanical Garden grounds and there is a new exhibit is called "The Curious Garden". I love this exhibit where the trees are transformed into pink, lavender, chartreuse and blue-green trees. Adam Schwerner, creator of “The Curious Garden,” is director of horticulture at Disneyland. He explains that he wanted to make the trees more visible and given nontoxic paint jobs.

Another exhibit is the Woven Whimsy where Artist Patrick Dougherty has created one of his monumental sculptures from wood, branches and twigs harvested on site. Below is a picture of one of his exhibit.