Green Bells

     It’s not very often you see green flowers and the Irish bells are not that common in this part of the country but somewhere we got some seeds and planted them along the driveway where the cosmos are growing.  They came along very well and soon these stalks had their green bells giving us the most refreshing aroma.  You will love this fragrance.  They seed the ground nicely in the fall and they will come up in the spring to delight you again.




 

  




"Moluccella laevis (Bells-of-Ireland, Bells of Ireland, Molucca balmis, Shellflower, Shell flower) is a summer flowering annual, native to Turkey, Syria and the Caucasus. It is cultivated for its spikes of flowers. In the language of flowers, it represents luck.

The tiny white flowers are surrounded by apple green calyces which are persistent. The rounded leaves are pale green.

Fast growing, Moluccella laevis will reach 1 metre and spread to 30 centimeters with an erect, branching habit. 

A member of the mint family, the blooming stems can be cut and used in fresh or dried flower arrangements. The domestic plant is self seeding, prefers full sun and regular water and are unlikely to do well in hot, humid climates."




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February 10.



 "I arose at half past four a.m. At five I was at work spading up ground and preparing to set out my flowers. I worked one hour alone, then Edith Ward and Ella May White united with me, and we planted our flowers. Then we set out twenty-eight tomato plants, when the bell rang for morning prayers and breakfast. . . . After breakfast I read manuscript. . . . Grounds are prepared for vegetables to be put in--potatoes, beans, peas, and other things. . . .   

     Tuesday morning I rose at half past three o'clock and again wrote a little in my diary. Worked some in the orchard, tying up the trees. A tuft of grass is put between the stake and the tree so that the tree shall not be marred. At five, Willie and I walked down to our garden, which is some distance from the house, and planted peas. We worked until seven a.m. and were prepared for our morning family prayer and for breakfast. I felt too weary to do more out of doors. We planned about many things that must be done to our ground. 

     We decided to go with the train as far as we could go and in the name of the Lord do our part to get to the meeting, for we believed we were in the way of our duty. 


 A neighbor said he would take us down. We then said we would go, and the luggage was placed in the two-wheeled trap, and the main luggage, Sister Rousseau, Sister Maude Camp, and May Lacey, piled in amid the baggage--three trunks, baskets, a telescope trunk, satchels and bundles. Brother Lawrence was seated on a trunk, and the women on the trunks behind, all wrapped up in shawls and blankets, and with three umbrellas. It was quite a picture.   

     I had an easy carriage, but the toggling of it was after the backwoods style--ropes for lines, wire for traces, and all things in the same order. But the carriage was easy. We made the journey to the depot. . . . I had just got under the shelter of the depot piazza when the rain came down much heavier. I then tried to take off my rigging, which was a gentleman's rubber coat held together by the buttonholes with strings. In this way I was protected. I had on no hat, but a little shawl over my head. The hat was in safety with Sister Rousseau and Maude, in a tin hat box. I scarcely knew myself, I was so togged up, but I felt grateful to my heavenly Father that we had progressed thus far toward home. We were soon on the cars and came on to Granville safely. We felt that we were under the protecting care of our heavenly Father. We saw swollen streams, the rivers rising nearly to the bridges and the carriage roads, but we were all safe and comfortable. . . .  

     We have canned no less than three hundred quarts, and no less than one hundred quarts more will be canned. If I continue to keep open, a free hotel, I must make provision for the same.   

     Emily has canned fifty-six quarts of apricots today, and we have twelve cases yet to can.


                                    

     We had company of an important character all through our moving process, which we were glad to entertain. We had fourteen and fifteen seated at our table. These to cook for and to entertain made the moving problem much more difficult."




  3MR 410