LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Chamomile

I am almost embarassed to be blogging about this because, as you can see, there really isn't much to blog about... but there they are... my little chamomiles. For these few days, I am completely fascinated with them. There is so little space in my garden now that I have resorted to hanging pots on the back support of my trellis. Therefore, these pots of chamomile are actually above where I can comfortably reach with my eyes even when on tiptoe. Nonetheless, I am not deterred from making like a monkey twice a day, hanging from one arm and with one leg perched precariously atop a shaky pot, to examine my chamomile seedlings. And yes, I do understand that at this stage, they have a demeanour that only a mother can love. In a sense, I am their mother, and I find them absolutely adorable. If you don't share my sentiments, I quite understand. But if you think instead of what these skinny seedlings might come to be, you will understand my bubbling excitement. When a tiny leaf reared its minuscule head, I fell off the pot!

The chamomile flower has both of my favourite colours. The bright and sunny yellow. The pure and joyful white. If God had a cheeky smile, I imagine it would look like the chamomile. I read somewhere too, that one chamomile flower in a mug of hot water is far more fragrant than a whole teabag of commercial offerings.

Chamomile tea is most often recommended for relaxing the mind. Few people know though, that chamomile also soothes the walls of the intestines and is an anti-spasmodic, i.e., it prevents muscle spasms, whether in the legs or the intestines. For this reason, chamomile is also great for irritable bowel syndrome and a whole host of digestive discomforts such as diarrheoa and gas. Its ability to ease both mental and physical tension makes it one of the most popular herbal teas at breakfast parlours. Mostly though, I drink it for its taste. It tastes the way it looks - cheerful and smiley.

9 comments:

Blur Ting said...

A charming little post. Yah, I understand your joy. :-)

Petunia Lee said...

Thank you! Would you like some seedlings?

Blur Ting said...

Oh, that's very generous of you! If you could spare one or two, that would be great. I can pick up from you.

Petunia Lee said...

Are you on the GCS Forum? If so, can you PM me? I can give you my address and stuff there?

lavender said...

Hi Petunia,

I came across your blog when i was searching on how to grow chamomile. Can this plant grow very well in Singapore? Is this German or Roman chamomile? Sorry for so many questions, may i know where you get the seeds from as i couldn't find in Malaysia, TQ so much.

Petunia Lee said...

Hi Lavender,

My chamomiles grow quite well in Singapore in half compost and half perlite (or indonesian burnt earth mix). I am so sorry that I took so long to reply... I didn't know the post had a new comment. I got the seeds sent from USA. Search for Swallowtail seeds.

Pet

Crazy "Blur Queen" said...

Hi Petunia, I would like to ask how about seed spacing for Roman Chamomile. How many inch part must be the seed be sown?

Petunia Lee said...

Crazy "Blur" Queen - About 12 cm apart is good. They grow quite wide and bushy eventually.

Anonymous said...

I had bought a pack of chamomile seeds online. After waiting for 2 weeks. There is no sign of life... sop sop sop