| Author | Content |
dave
Jacksonville, TX
(Zone 8a)
 December 24, 2007
5:50 AM Post #4323924
| There are a total of 287 votes:
| Related to heather
(15 votes, 5%) |  |
| The state herb of Maine
(3 votes, 1%) | |
| A source of wintergreen flavor; hence it's name
(33 votes, 11%) | |
| Used to flavor ice cream and soft drinks
(2 votes, 0%) | |
| An endangered species
(4 votes, 1%) | |
| All of the above
(230 votes, 80%) | |
|
Previous Polls...and the answer is: all of the above! |
Resin
Northumberland
(United Kingdom)
(Zone 9a)
December 24, 2007
6:45 AM Post #4323955
| Knew it was both 1 and 3, so therefore it had to be all of them, as the option for 'just 1 and 3' wasn't available ;-)
Resin
|
LenaBeanNZ
Palmerston North
(New Zealand)
(Zone 9b)
December 24, 2007
6:57 AM Post #4323961
| I didnt know much about this plant at all, but a quick google search helped me out :-)
Lena
|
joycet
Franklin, OH
(Zone 6a)
December 24, 2007
7:56 AM Post #4323998
| I didn't know states had "State Herbs"... =o) |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
December 24, 2007
8:11 AM Post #4324008
| This was too easy. :~) |
MySharona
Fernandina Beach, FL
(Zone 9a)
December 24, 2007
8:26 AM Post #4324017
| joycet - Neither did I! LOL! |
grampapa
Wheatfield, NY
(Zone 6a)
December 24, 2007
9:05 AM Post #4324051
| OK, I'm the only dope who didn't know it was 'all of the above'. I almost clicked it. That answer is rarely there if it isn't true. Does anybody grow it? I've been wanting to plant some for a while now. |
Todd_Boland
St. John's, NL
(Zone 5b)
 December 24, 2007
9:15 AM Post #4324063
| I knew it was related to heather and a source of flavouring, so figurd it must be the State flower of Maine and and endangered by default! |
podster
Deep East Texas, TX
(Zone 8a)
December 24, 2007
9:33 AM Post #4324096
| BOOOOOooooo HiSSSSSssss!
LOL this is the one time I didn't look for an all of the above!
Dangnabit! LOL |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
December 24, 2007
9:42 AM Post #4324107
| Same here and when I googled it I could find no reference to scarcity of the plant...so I am confused yet again...LOL |
Mibus2
Flint, Tyler, TX
(Zone 7b)
December 24, 2007
10:53 AM Post #4324255
| Well I didn't google it I just knew the flavoring as I use it to make hard candy every Christmas so I just guessed on the rest and picked all the above...learn something new everyday *S* |
AYankeeCat
Fairfield County, CT
(Zone 6b)
December 24, 2007
12:46 PM Post #4324450
| I am using wintergreen as a ground cover under black elderberries. IMHO they spread slowly. I was able to buy plants on eBay that were rescued from construction sites in Maine and planted them in my acid soil with lots of leaves and compost mixed in and they seem to be thriving! I had no idea the plant is endangered! |
bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)
December 24, 2007
1:26 PM Post #4324529
| I knew a couple fit - so I guessed all the above.
This message was edited Dec 24, 2007 11:31 AM |
JaxFlaGardener
Jacksonville, FL
(Zone 8b)
December 24, 2007
1:30 PM Post #4324537
| I, too, deduced it must be "all of the above" because I knew more than one was correct, but not that it was Maine's State Herb and that it was endangered. Thanks, Terry and all at DG, for another educational poll!
YankeeCat -- from what I read in the Plant Files notes for this plant, it needs highly acid soil. You might try acidifying your soil more to see if that helps it spread faster.
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
I also note that it may possibly be able to grow in my climate (8b is the upper range, and my garden is exactly on the dividing line of Zone 8b - 9a). Another plant to add to my wish list. I notice quite a few DGers list it as wanted or have to trade on the DG page, and a few vendors are selling it. Maybe I can trade some of my Twinberry/Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens) for a sprig of Wintergreen?!
Jeremy
|
imapigeon
Gilroy, CA
(Zone 9a)
December 24, 2007
1:37 PM Post #4324555
| Oil of wintergreen was also used for muscle pain in the "olden days". My grandma had a bottle of it in her medicine cabinet when she passed away; my mom accidentally spilled some on the wooden floor of her closet. I used to go in there and close the door and just breathe----one of my FAVORITE fragrances! But I think it's regulated now by the feds. I believe it's still a component of White Flower Oil. |
JaxFlaGardener
Jacksonville, FL
(Zone 8b)
December 24, 2007
1:41 PM Post #4324572
| I think wintergreen oil is still available in some pharmacies. It comes, along with other essences like eucalyptus and mint, in bottles of about 1 oz for about $7 or so. I tried to keep it around to add to the steam room at our local Y (sure smelled better than rank male sweat, though some guys didn't think so!) LOL
Jeremy |
Kelli
Los Angeles (Canoga , CA
(Zone 10a)
December 24, 2007
1:48 PM Post #4324589
| I know this plant as teaberry. I didn't know it was endangered. We used to see it from time to time in northern Pennsylvania. |
mistygardener
Saint James, MO
(Zone 6b)
December 24, 2007
2:26 PM Post #4324674
| I just can't believe "I" got it right! LOL |
Sofonisba
Putnam County, NY
(Zone 6a)
December 24, 2007
3:40 PM Post #4324785
| I had no clue, but I guessed right. Must be my lucky day!! |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
December 24, 2007
5:29 PM Post #4324950
| I guessed right! When I was a teenager I mistook a bottle of wintergreen for witch hazel and used it on my face! It really burned. I was so embarressed I didn't want to say what I had done but everyone knew from the smell! |
Mibus2
Flint, Tyler, TX
(Zone 7b)
December 24, 2007
10:21 PM Post #4325334
| *giggles* roybird ...funny now but not then uh
I use the oil that I get from Lorann
[HYPERLINK@www.lorannoils.com]
|
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY
(Zone 6a)
December 25, 2007
2:55 AM Post #4325695
| I actually researched this plant a while back, because it's one of my favorite flavors--I was surprised and saddened to learn then that it was endangered! I hope it makes a comeback! |
pixie62560
South China, ME
(Zone 5a)
December 25, 2007
8:49 AM Post #4325818
| Todd_Boland, it is not the State Flower for Maine it is the States Herb. The State flower for Maine is actually the white pine cone. Go figure!
This was an easy one for me! LOL |
rutholive
Tonasket, WA
(Zone 5a)
December 25, 2007
12:03 PM Post #4326079
| I tried to grow it many years ago, won't do well in this alkaline soil. Didn't know it was endangered. Donna |
Chills
Saint Clair Shores, MI
(Zone 6b)
December 25, 2007
12:36 PM Post #4326127
| I've had limited success growing this under blueberry bushes.
~Chills |
Resin
Northumberland
(United Kingdom)
(Zone 9a)
December 25, 2007
2:19 PM Post #4326321
| Checked up, seems it is endangered in Illinois, but not elsewhere:
[HYPERLINK@plants.usda.gov]
Resin
|
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY
(Zone 6a)
December 25, 2007
2:31 PM Post #4326334
| Hmm, according to the map in that link, it's growing in nearly the entire eastern half of the continent--yaaaay! Thanks for the link, Resin! |
stogeo
Hermitage, TN
December 25, 2007
6:36 PM Post #4326650
| Lucky guess on my part.
I grew up in Maine, but had NO idea there was such a thing as a state herb!
I suspected it was related to heather, and knew it was used in flavorings... I almost googled it, but just decided to hit "all of the above". lucky me! learn something new every day. |
FlowrLady
Olive Branch, MS
(Zone 7b)
December 25, 2007
9:46 PM Post #4326984
| Got it right for once! Happy New Year everyone. |
Garden4ever
Plymouth, WI
(Zone 5a)
December 26, 2007
1:57 PM Post #4328568
| Oh yea! Got it right! Happy Holidays everyone! |
posyblossom
Athens, PA
(Zone 5b)
December 27, 2007
8:35 AM Post #4330760
| I use a teeny weeny drop in Vanilla Icing on the Sugar Cookies I make for the Holidays,it adds a yummy zip to the icing☺It is a poison though,so I watch out how much I use. I tried doing it with regular wintergreen flavorings, but the zip comes from the real Oil of Wintergreen☺ |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
December 27, 2007
11:08 AM Post #4331122
| Oh yes. I remember this plant well from growing up in the woods in northern Michigan. They grow low to the ground and you find them among pine needles in the woods. They have ovate waxy green leaves. And in summer they get tiny red berries that look like and taste like miniature apples. At the right time of year you could pick a small bowl full and if you didn't tell anybody you could eat all of them all by your self.
There is no comparison of wintergreen oil or flavoring to real wintergreen berries picked fresh from the woods. |
MarilynneS
Thunder Bay Ontario
(Canada)
(Zone 3a)
December 27, 2007
8:33 PM Post #4332788
| I was correct in my 'guess' as well :-)
I am a WinterGreen 'UNLOVER' ... I find the taste kind of overbearing, especially if it's in an after dinner mint/candy .. because I have a woodstove .. I wonder if the LEAF would simmer well in the teapot on top of it .. the fragrance of it simmering would be nice :-)
~M~ |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
December 27, 2007
8:41 PM Post #4332824
| MarilynneS:
These grew in our woods in Northern Michigan. As a kid I would chew the leaves like chewing gum. So there is quite a lot of the wintergreen flavor in the the leaves. I would imagine that's where the scent is mostly also. I should think it would be quite pleasant simmering on a wood stove. |
MarilynneS
Thunder Bay Ontario
(Canada)
(Zone 3a)
December 28, 2007
8:59 AM Post #4334219
| I'm always looking for something 'aromatic' to put into the pot .. makes the house smell "homey' instead of 'housey' :-)
Will google WinterGreen for a pic of the leaf .. I'm pretty sure it grows in Northern Ontario .. I know mint does ..
~M~ |
wrightie
Metro DC, MD
(Zone 7a)
December 28, 2007
11:11 PM Post #4336711
| Grampapa, I planted some under my mature Oak trees, but the jury is still out regarding whether it will make it or not. I don't think this past year's weird weather helped it much. I'm going to keep trying until I get it right - I've been wanting to grow this guy for a long time. |
MarilynneS
Thunder Bay Ontario
(Canada)
(Zone 3a)
December 29, 2007
1:10 PM Post #4338015
| YUMPIN YIMMINY :-) I did finally do a Google search .. and .. we do have Wintergreen on the property .. I always thought it was some type of wretched weed .. guess not :-)
Sharing the web addie ... [HYPERLINK@ontariowildflowers.com]
~M~ |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
December 29, 2007
3:15 PM Post #4338360
| MarilynneS:
Oh. That is Them. You can start a business! They are just wonderful.
I hope you get a chance to eat some of the berries this year.
gloria |
MarilynneS
Thunder Bay Ontario
(Canada)
(Zone 3a)
December 29, 2007
5:06 PM Post #4338615
| Hmmmmmmmm .. not so much wanting the 'berries' as the scent of the leaves when placed in the simmering pot on my woodstove :-) I'd have to dig through about 4" of snow to get at the plants right now .. but .. goos things come to them that wait :-)
I am not a fan of Wintergreen flavour .. find it gives me a headache .. odd huh ??
:-)
~M~ |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
December 29, 2007
5:18 PM Post #4338636
| I wonder if the fresh wintergreen would be the same. I can't imagine some one not wanting the berries - - they are really sublime morsels and so rare. |
mayflwrhem
Wareham, MA
December 29, 2007
9:19 PM Post #4339219
| I got it wrong because I have so many millions of them that I didn't dream that they could be endangered!! Plus I thought that most commercial flavoring didn't come from them anymore.
I have very acid soil. More are growing under the pines than under oaks.
I have been eating the berries and leaves all my life and love them. We've always called them checkerberries here (MA) although I knew the species name and the other common names. Recently I heard that the roots help against arthritis, haven't tried it. I would love to learn how to extract the oil! |
marsidoats
San Clemente, CA
December 29, 2007
9:53 PM Post #4339311
| yippee I got it right,
Does anyone out there have a Strawberry Tree? My son just got one as a Christmas Present and as a Friendship Tree. He lives near the ocean, will it thrive there, and would it do best in the earth or in a pot It is currently about 6 ft. tall and in a pot.
Thanks for any/all help! |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
December 29, 2007
10:02 PM Post #4339339
| I think you extract the oil by throwing the leaves in a small amount of boiling/simmering water, then reducing the water until only the oil is left. |
JaxFlaGardener
Jacksonville, FL
(Zone 8b)
December 30, 2007
3:06 AM Post #4340169
| A friend of mine does lots of soaps and lotions using herbal and other natural oils. Her method of extracting the oil is a little difficult to explain, but... you use a double boiler so the pot with the herbs is inside another pot of boiling water, then you have an inverted glass bowl over the pan of herbs, with the lip of the bowl wider than the pot the herbs are in. The oils evaporate out of the herbs, condense on the bowl and run down into a collection pan. I'm not quite sure how that last step is achieved.
Hmmm... sounds like the basis for a DG Article. If none of the other writers have spoken for the topic, I may interview my herbalist friend, get lots of photos, and give it a whirl.
Jeremy |
MarilynneS
Thunder Bay Ontario
(Canada)
(Zone 3a)
December 30, 2007
9:34 AM Post #4340373
| Hey Jeremy ..
That sounds so way interesting !!! I know here in Canada .. Essential oils . probably extracted in the way in which you described .. are quite expensive.. that said .. the ONLY oils that produce the wondrous aromatic fragrances ARE the Essential oils.
Great info .. :-)
~M~
PS .. it would make for a very informative DG article as well |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
December 31, 2007
6:33 PM Post #4345173
| It sounds like distilling. I've seen articles about making small essential oil stills; probably in a Jeanne Rose herb book. I'd like to know more about it. I did some research online about larger distilling apparatus for perfume. These take a whole lot of plant material and are, in my opinion, very expensive. I believe they are based on condensation, separating oil from liquid., as Jax pointed out. |
mayflwrhem
Wareham, MA
January 2, 2008
12:28 AM Post #4350327
| Jeremy and Gloria, thanx for the info. Silly me, I used to do lots of distillations as a chemist. I used to look for home distillation set-ups (like copper stills) but they were too expensive. Your solutions sound great! |
