Spring Wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains....

Spring is springing.  My land neighbors the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  The wildflowers here are some of the most abundant in the world.  We are well known for them.  I am so fortunate to have many many natives growing here in the woods.

Here are some violets and wild hyacinth or Grape Hyacinth

         And a few cultivated varieties too!!  Lots of color is in the garden beds here @ MoonMaid

 Trilliums are one of my great joys.  Here is a baby just unfolding.  I await the lovely yellow blossoms.  There are also other rare species here.  Surely trilliums, which are endangered, will deserve there own blog post.

 And the lovely dainty white ladies of the garden beds.  Snowdrop, bells and narcissus, just in time for Equinox and Easter.

And the yellows of Dandelions, one of my FAVORITE flowers.  And a lovely Forsythia, which my brother calls ForCynthia.  

And that is just the beginning of what's to come in the garden.  Coming soon - a YouTube channel with videos both of the gardens and "DIY's" for infusions, creams and much more.

Until next time - Cynthia @ MoonMaid Botanicals

International Woman's Day.....

I think about women a lot.  MoonMaid's product line is for women, generally speaking.  As I deal with what I call "estrogen toxicity" in my work, on a daily basis.....men have come up to.  If the stuff in the environment is bad for we women....what's it doing to men? I have pondered for many a year.  Well that's another post....for the moment back to women.

I heard many "things" during this day.  NPR stories, moving posts on Facebook etc, and I observed the women around my community.  I thought of the many women I know, strong capable women in all sorts of ways.  Women who are running businesses, raising children, preparing for weddings, dealing with major health crisis.  So many women.  I have certainly pondered, how would the world look if women were in charge of things - and I am not talking about the current election cycle.

Instead, women are "kept out of", subjugated, controlled, belittled, and on and on.....in all sorts of ways in all types of circumstances (ie work, relationships etc), by our families, by our own beliefs.  I marvel at women who do it "in spite of."  The civil rights movement, young women in India, Afghanistan, mothers in Mexico who want more for their children, mothers escaping violence with the clothes on their backs.  It happens here, it happens everywhere.  Again, I wonder, if women were running the show.  Maybe someday.

At the end of this day I was reading, and getting ready to lay down and for some reason, I grabbed a pile of "tiny books" I have.  I was shuffling through them and I found this little gem.  I was filled with joy to hold it, to read the simple thoughts on each page, loving the simple art work.  A gift for me for this International Day of Women.

Until next time - Cynthia @ MoonMaid Botanicals

Botanical Sanctuary - Trees, Flowers and Herbs

Nettles are waking up under the leaf litter.  I could not be happier.

Mossy tree with baby wood nettle popping up underneath

This land, MoonMaid's Botanical Sanctuary, is expriencing a burst of Spring.  I have no doubt we will have another splash of Winter, as it always snows on the daffodils.  But meanwhile, it has been lovely.  

We have made some progress on getting our "Eco-Glamping Air B & B" going, and it won't take as much "resources" as first were indicated.  My friend from Arkansas, Leon, came for a week long visit and got so many things done.  He helped to create a space for the dry sauna I was given, from an already existing structure.  In fact, it was a structure I was going to tear down.

Leon and the CamperCarPort he revitalized!!!

Since I first moved here, I have tried to incorporate as much of what "is" into what this land is becoming, and this was another opportunity to do that.  The fact is, the pre-made shed I had in mind, could not be delivered down my rural driveway.  And, it turns out, I ultimatly need the "space" to encompass much more then I had anticipated.  That new office/massage/production facility is sometime down the road.  For now, the old camper will make a great space for the sauna.  By mid- June it should be delivered and installed!!  I can't wait.

The sauna that awaits in Florida

Additionally, I have found a local Yome, or dome tent, manufacturer!!  The cost is 1/2 that of those I had previously checked out.  The look of these is much lighter and brighter and I just love it.  It has allowed me to bring down the GoFundMe site, from 15K to $7,000.00.  Makes it feel more like I can get it done sooner then later.  The tent is just about $3000, then delivery, set up and all this clean-up!!!  I love a wind......but I hope they will keep at bay for just a little bit...........

Yome, Asheville North Carolina

I feel very excited and hopeful about all that can happen here on this land.  One "guest" at a time I look forward to sharing how I compost, recycle and support clean and green in as many ways as possible.  The opportunities to introduce folks to wonderful herbs and flowers makes my heart sing.   Check out the GoFundMe site  - if you care too.

Until next time - Cynthia @ MoonMaid Botanicals