Lavender

by Jyll Renee LAVENDER Botanical name:  Lavandula officinalis Common name:  Garden lavender (mint family) Habitat:  Eastern European countries, particularly Bulgaria, as well as France, Britain, Australia, and Russia grow large quantities of Lavender.  It is easily grown in United States; you will find lavender in many home gardens. Info:  The main uses for lavender are [...]

Guarana

by Jyll Renee GUARANA Botanical name: Paullinia cupana Common name: Brazilian cocoa Habitat: Guarana is a creeping shrub native to Venezuela and Northern Brazil in the Amazon rain forest.  The fruit are small, bright red, and contain black seeds.  Guarana seeds are rich in caffeine and contain up to 4-8% caffeine, more than coffee beans, [...]

Chamomile

Chamomile Botanical name: Matricaria recutita Common name:  German Chamomile Chamomile is a member of the daisy family. Habitat: Chamomile is a hardy herb, and can survive a mild winter with very little maintenance.  I have chamomile in my garden and it comes back every year, but has not produced blooms yet.  Info:  Chamomile is one [...]

Mugwort

Mugwort Botanical name: Artemidia vulgaris Common name: Mugwort, Moxa, St. John’s herb (not St. John’s Wort) Travelers herb, Sailors tobacco Habitat: Grows almost everywhere around the world.  Mugwort grows in waste places throughout our cities and particularly along all the roadways.  This is not an accident for 2 reasons.  The first being Mugwort protects the [...]