SUSAN SAYS Taking advantage of spring

Spring has sprung! The first day of spring officially arrived on Sunday and Mother Earth is responding to the warm, sunny days.

Lemon-yellow forsythia, spirea and japonica have started to bloom and pink hyacinths have blossomed beside the cellar, scenting the air with their sweet fragrance. Leaves of lemon mint are reviving behind the cellar. Crushing these leaves slightly will produce another pleasant scent, and a sprig or two adds a refreshing note to a glass of iced tea.

Several dandelions are scattered around the lawn. Most folks consider them a troublesome weed, but I’ve learned in my reading that the dandelion was considered by ancient herbalists to be one of nature’s best curatives. Also known as priest’s-crown and blowball, dandelion was used in folk medicine to remedy everything from itchy skin to liver and gall bladder ailments. Folklore reveals that a syrup, believed to be wholesome, was made from the flowers. Women also boiled the leaves and roots, using the strained juice on their faces to promote a youthful appearance.

We got the jump on the traditional St. Patrick’s Day planting date and planted our potatoes on Saturday, the 12th. Jim tilled the garden, laid out the rows and cut up the seed potatoes, and I put the cut pieces into the rows. We purchasedBrussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage plants the next day and planted them Tuesday afternoon. These cole crops are good cool-season vegetables and can be planted a little earlier than most. Jim also put out our strawberries in the bed beside the shop.

Jim mowed the lawn for the first time at midweek, and I planted sunflowers behind our recently-installed trellis and a variety of ornamental gourds in front. There’s something satisfying about digging in the dirt, listening to the cheery songs of our resident birds and soaking up the sun on these first warm days. I discovered the reddish-tinged foliage of peonies emerging in the back yard and south of the house, so I cleared the dead leaves, weeds and dried stalks from their beds. I’ve spruced up the inside of the house, too, with a new rooster motif rug in the kitchen and a horse-head plaque and horse-scene print added to my “gallery” in the hallway.

Jim bought onion sets and we planted them on Friday. We use lots of onions, both raw and cooked, and the National Onion Association confirms they’re the fourth biggest selling fresh vegetable. Ancient Greeks and Romans consumed onions in huge quantities, and the first Olympic athletes were advised to eat onions to “lighten the balance ofthe blood.” Doctors recommended onions in the Middle Ages to alleviate headaches, snakebites and hair loss. Scientists confirm their power today, when they can treat diabetes by equalizing blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of some forms of cancer and heart disease and thin the blood, which lowers bad cholesterol.

We enjoyed an outing Saturday to the home of a friend near Wyandotte, Okla. The day was a bit cloudy and cool and we received some rain and even a little hail, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of those attending. We sat around the stove visiting with our host, his sister, cousin and other guests. I took a camera and snapped shots of the old barn, horses, the dog and Indian art. Jim strummed a little on our host’s twelve-string guitar, and I sampled the jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce, a couple of bowls of spicy chili and two pieces of lemon cake.

Sunday was great-nephew Austin’s 10th birthday and I attended his party at Kindley Park. His Grandpa Smith grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for family and friends gathered under the pavilion. The weather was warm, but gusty winds threatened to blow everything away; so we taped the tablecloths to the tables and hung on tight to our plates and cups. Austin and his friends romped on the playground equipment; then he opened gifts, and his dad cut and served pieces of his football theme cake.

Susan Holland, who works for the Westside Eagle Observer, is a lifelong Benton County resident.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 03/23/2011