A cool July -

It has been amazingly cool around the Smoky Mountains this summer.  It is not that there have not been hot days.  There just have not been many.  Or, hey have been interspersed with cool days.  It is only 58 here this evening.  I have on a light coat - in July.  Weird.  But, so it is.  The gardens have loved it.  Grass has grown slowly.  There has been a splendid array of color.

The goldenseal and ginseng are showing berries.  Bright red on the goldenseal - still green on the ginseng.  I await the "turning" of color so I can spread the red berries around the hillside.  This year on the land I have counted over 50 ginseng plants.  I love this plant.  It is magical.

This gourd plant appeared at the office garden.  Planted by birds I imagine.

It is getting so big it may need it own parking space.  It makes me smile.  I love the feel of these gourds.  Smooth and bumpy.  And such cool colors.

As July turns to August I begin my birthday month.  Anyone who knows me knows that I celebrate "me" the entire month.  That means I take care of myself.  Get my teeth cleaned, get a facial, or a massage.  Meet friends for lunch.  And go somewhere I have not visited in my 11 years here in the Smoky Mountains.  And there are many places.  I have been busy "setting up camp" so to speak these years and not appreciated the wonder of the surroundings all around me.  I have begun the exploring.  This year Cades Cove.

MoonMaid is now on Instagram.  I take pictures constantly and it encourages me to share them more then I had previously.  It is easy and I am enjoying this format.

I got early drawings of the CottageClassroom building from my friend Corvus.  It is exciting to be in the planning stages of this new structure that will serve as classroom, guest cottage, and office.
I hope to be started with deconstrution of an existing building by late fall.  It won't be done in time for the Gals Glampout, but it will be in progress.  GlampOut you say.  What's that?  Fancy camping here @ the Botanical Sanctuary, which has officially been named MoonMaid's Botanical Sanctuary - Preserving, Protecting, and Propagating Native Medicinal Species.  It has taken a long while to find something that just rolls off the tongue.  I think this does.  Back to the GlampOut, You can find more information here.    We will provide you with all the gear and food you need to enjoy a night or two here with me and learn about this living breathing classroom.  There is info about other classes as well.  I am also excited to be the herbalist for a Women in Wilderness Weekend with my friend Vesna Plakanis of A Walk in the Woods.

I hope you will sign up for my newsletter.  I have a monthly special that is always worth taking advantage of.  A free product, free shipping, or who knows.  This month it has been 20% off all wild yam products and free shipping.  You still have a few days to take advantage of that.  The discount is automatically given @ checkout.  I will never share your information nor will I bombard you with emails.  Just one email at the beginning of the month and a reminder 1/2 way through.  I think you will appreciate the specials.

That's the news for this week.  I it is a good one for you.  Cynthia @ MoonMaid Botanicals

The Art of Simpling - a DIY Manual to create you own herbal goodies is now available

Sign up for MoonMaid's monthly newsletter and receive this Ebook The Art of Simpling - a DIY Manuel of Herbal Goodies for Free!!

We offer it for $9.99 on our website. Now can get it now just for signing up.  It is a great little tutorial that will coach you through how to make herbal goodies of many kinds.  Everything from a room spritzer to an herbal cream.  It is fun and easy.  I have been wanting to offer this for years and now I am.   

The newsletter is a once monthly email detailing our monthly specials.  A free product, a sample of something new, free shipping or who knows.....   In July we are offering 20% off all wild yam products and free shipping!  Join the list here and take advantage of the offers.

4th of July on the Mountain

It was a wonderful holiday weekend on the Mountain where MoonMaid's Botanical Sanctuary resides.  Located at the top is the Cosby Sound Chamber.  Here we had a sacred fire presented by Bo Deatherage and a sweat lodge presented by Marty Jones and Trei Hill in a South African format.  Different, yet the same, as a traditional Native American sweat lodge.  I love heat, I love to sweat, so this was a great gift to me to have it all so close to home.  I gave my very first plant walk through the woods and the cultivated gardens.  Here are some pictures of what we saw.

The woodland gardens are in glorious splendor.  Blackberries, raspberries and gooseberries are all ripening.  Ginseng is getting ready to berry, as is the goldenseal.  It is amazing how it all changes each and everyday.  As I walk with my dog, listening to the birds who are always singing, I am immensely grateful that this California girl found her way to the mountains to become a wise woman of the Smokies.  I feel grounded here.

Wild Yam

MoonMaid's monthly special for July was just announced today.  20% off and free shipping when you order one of our wild yam products; ProMeno Women's Wild Yam Cream, Vital "V" Wild Yam Salve and ProAndro Men's Wild Yam Cream.  These products are my hormone and chemical free alternatives to bio-identical products.  They are a great benefit to women who want something completely "natural" and "hormone free" if they have, for instance, experienced cancer or fibroid issues.  See the latest newsletter here and sign up for future publications here.

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It is a great gift to have my land, my products and YOU my customers!!!!  I thank you for all the gifts you give me with your phone calls of praise, your emails and comments on Facebook!!  Until next week - Cynthia