Let's Hear it for the Trees! In Celebration of Arbor Day!

Spring is well in. We can tell by the greening of the grass, the cheerful flowers that appear, and, perhaps, the most heartening sight of all - the greening of the trees. How appropriate that as the spring comes full sway, we celebrate Arbor Day!

Angel Oak of South Carolina - she's a beauty, isn't she?

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."
-   Robert Louis Stevenson 

We can thank a journalist and nature lover from Nebraska, J. Sterling Morton, for this annual celebration of our most sustaining an valuable natural allies. He recognized the importance of trees to all of nature, and made it his calling to see that everyone understood their importance to our existence. 
"The cultivation of trees is the cultivation of the good, the beautiful and the ennobling in man." 
-   J. Sterling Morton  

Trees have so much they give to the world, it IS an important thing to remember. They provide air, food, prevent erosion, and so much more. Some of the worst environmental damage is when swaths of forests are destroyed.

"Trees can reduce the heat of a summer's day, quiet a highway's noise, feed the hungry, provide shelter from the wind and warmth in the winter.  You see, the forests are the sanctuaries not only of wildlife, but also of the human spirit.  And every tree is a pact between generations." 
-   George Bush, U.S. President, 1989  

Thank you Ents (from Lord of the Rings)

There certainly is a magic in trees. Walking through an old forest does something for your spirit. Everything feels different. Trees can tell the history of an area in their growth and in their very being - within their rings. You can almost hear them whispering their stories as you walk along. You can hear their warning as well.

We haven't always been careful or considerate of their presence because we want their space for concrete that keeps the earth from breathing. They're in the way. But if not for them there'd be no way. 

So this Arbor Day, if you don't want the Ents to get you, take some time and plant a tree, or tend some trees. Walk in one of our amazing parks, or really take a look at the New Jersey Pinelands. Feel the magic that the trees provide, and carry that with you throughout the year. They are a precious commodity that should be listened to. 

We are Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy)

From the Earth to Arbor - Help Us Give the Gift of Trees

Spring! Time for flowers and trees and grass and waking up from the chill and darkness of winter. It's the perfect time to celebrate home base.

Monday was Earth Day. Hopefully, we find time to celebrate and take care of this big spinning ball we ride everyday. But Earth Day helps us bring the focus to areas of concern and still needed care.There are events and festivals all week where you can find out about local programs that focus on keeping the environment healthy, healing and strong.


To round out the week - we celebrate National Arbor Day. I love trees. And they must love us. They filter water and the air, provide food and shelter, prevent erosion, and look beautiful. You can find out about the history of Arbor Day (over 100 years of tree planting!) at the National Arbor Day Foundation site. 


We want in on all this celebrating! So, until the end of April, we will donate a tree to the National Arbor Day Foundation for every new Like on Facebook, new email subscriber, and each order we receive. We know we may not be able to replant a whole forest, but hopefully we can help get a nice patch of planted to be there for future nature lovers.

I've got good news, and...

We're coming up on our first event of the season, which is very exciting and I'll share more news on that within the next few days. But in the mean time, I wanted to let everyone know that we've got some good news ... and some bad news.

The bad news is that we have to adjust some of our prices, particularly on our body butters. Supply costs have risen tremendously over the past few years. We've maintained our prices as best we can, but it just isn't feasible any more.

The good news is that we've added a 4 ounce size to our body butters! This special size is only available on our website. It's perfect for those who love to indulge their whole body in these moisturizing and wonderfully decadent butters.

We're going to continue to add some new items over the next month or so. And we will continue to give you exciting, skin loving, magically inspired and wonderful products with reasonable prices.

A Dandy of a National Dandelion Day!

Spring is here, and with it the glory of those early blooming herbs and flowers. And what looks as cheery as the amazing little yellow flowers popping up every where - the lovely little dandelion!

There are many who look at this versatile and nutrition packed little herb as the bane of their existence. Not me - I love them! There is a plethora of information out there about the hardy dandelion, but here are a few of my favorite things to do with them:

• Feed them to my cat. Yep, that's right. My one cat, Sinbad (actually my daughters cat, but that's another story) LOVES dandelions. Any time he sees us go outside, he'll sit in the window and meow rather loudly until we bring some tender greens in for him. We think he learned about them when he used to share a nibble with our rabbit, Nibbles, when we used to bring them in for him. (Nibbles was my daughters, too). Dandelion is a great addition to your cat or dogs food. Just occasionally chop up some dandelion greens to toss in to their food. It will help keep their coats nice and shiny.
• In salads and recipes - replace some spinache with dandelion greens. Younger leaves are as bitter as the large, later season leaves (although I'll occasionally use them, too). They work very nicely in Quinoa Salad or lightly sauteed in a little oil, then tossed with cranberries and walnuts. Yum!
• I like taking the flowers and flower petals and tossing them in with scrambled eggs or omelets.
• Infusing apple cider vinegar with dandelion flowers, leaves and roots make a very nourishing addition to salads, seltzer spritzers, and a refreshing toner for your skin!

For more scoop on this prolific herbal wonder, try check the Herb Companion articles like this, the Herb Quarterly, Learning Herbs - or go on your own dandelion hunt! It's a dandy thing to do on a spring day!

Happy Arbor Day!

Happy Arbor Day!
Today it is officially OK to hug a tree.
Or better yet, plant one for future hugs.
To find out more, go to The National Arbor Day Foundation.