Kentucky Wild Weeds-Bloodroot

My flower feel apart from the cold weather so I borrowed a picture from the internet.  I wanted to talk about bloodroot because it's one of the earliest blooming plants and much of the supply of this herb comes from eastern Kentucky.  It's unusual because the flower appears before the leaf.  It likes moist rich soil and grows easily in areas like the Daniel Boone National Forest where there is rich leaf litter to nourish it.

Bloodroot is a low dose medicinal and is used as an expectorant in cold formulas.  It's caustic to the skin and can actually kill skin cells.  This makes it useful in treating skin cancer and is a common ingredient in black salves.  Fresh root juice, which is blood red, can be applied directly to skin tags and warts.  I have even had luck applying the extract to a freshly forming skin tag. The skin tag dried up and fell off in a few hours.  Bloodroot extract is also included in some commercial toothpastes because it prevents tartar from forming on the teeth.

Happy Spring!

Be Back Soon!

My roots are starting to sprout up so I will be posting soon!  Pictured above is Blue Cohosh.  When it comes up all the way it will have a cluster of green leaves and will make a flower and then blue berries.  Right now it's just blue.

This is my bloodroot which is making a flower for the first time in four years.  I think that will be my first post after the flower opens up all the way.  Be back with you soon!

Jackie (Glory Be Herbals)

Our Sweet February Giveaway!

Congratulations to our January winner of the Glory Be Herbals giveaway, Katie from Australia! We've had lots of international winners lately! Thanks to Jackie for sponsoring our January giveaway.

For the month of February we have a beautiful pink mosiac frame created by Do Mosaics.

This frame has been created mosaic style with pink iridescent tiles. Each frame is a one of a kind. A virtual rainbow of colors appear when the light hits the tiles. Makes a great gift or for the baby girl arrival. The picture has been finished with a medium gray grout and has a smooth finish. This is also a wonderful idea for Breast Cancer Awareness! A must have for the absolute pink lover!

- This mosaic frame holds a 5x7 photo.

- The measurement of the frame is 9 1/2 x 7 inches and the mosaic border measures 1 1/2 inches.

-Can stand alone or wall mounted in horizontal or vertical direction

- The wood frame has a medium to light maple finish.


The value of this beautiful frame is $30.

Here are the ways to enter!


1. Visit the Do Mosaics etsy shop and leave a comment here about any of the items the shop. Or tell us something you would like to see Shaun create.

2. Follow the Bluegrass etsy team blog if you are not already a follower. Let us know you are following by commenting below. (one chance to win)

3. Subscribe to the Bluegrass etsy emails from this blog if you are not already a subscriber. Let us know you have subscribed in a comment below. (one chance to win)


4. Post about this contest on your own blog and leave us the link below for your blog. (one chance to win)


5. Tweet about this contest from your twitter account and leave us your twitter name. (one chance to win)


6. Make a purchase from Do Mosaics for 3 chances to win. List the transaction ID in three separate comments below.

This contest will end at midnight on Monday, February 28. The giveaway for this month is open to US residents only.

Good luck to all!