When I think about Saint Patrick’s Day, the
first thought that comes to mind is the famous legend of him driving the snakes
out of Ireland. I wish he would come and drive them out of my yard! I am not a
big fan of those slithering reptiles, although I understand they have an
important ecological role. I simply wish they would set up shop elsewhere to do
their thing. I thought about erecting a statue of Saint Patrick in the backyard,
but apparently there were never any snakes in Ireland at all. Thank you
National Geographic for blowing up that idea.
I was curious why the color green was associated
with Saint Patrick’s Day. Did you know traditionally it was blue? Apparently
due to the popularity of Ireland’s nickname as “The Emerald Isle” and the
clover that St. Patrick used in his teachings, the color green became more
widely associated with this holiday.
Speaking of green, the University of Nebraska –
Lincoln Extension promotes eating green on this occasion and throughout the
year. They state “green fruits and vegetables contain many health-promoting
phytochemicals” that can help protect against certain cancers and maintain
strong bones. They suggest corned beef with cabbage, adding avocado slices to a
sandwich, making a dip for green apple slices, and even spinach noodles.
https://food.unl.edu/go-green-st-patricks-day.
Just in case you were wondering -- putting green
food coloring in your beer, as my husband likes to do on this momentous day,
does not count towards your veggie intake for the day.
Shamrocks are another icon associated with this
day. One of the most popular stories of how this clover became associated with
this celebration is that Saint Patrick used one to symbolize the doctrine of
the Holy Trinity to his congregation. Have you ever grown one? According to
University of Vermont Extension, they can be easily grown indoors.
A member of the Oxalis (wood sorrel) family,
shamrocks grow from either small bulbs or tuberous roots. This time of year,
you can easily find one at the local florist or grocery store. Their leaves are
small, dark green and triangular. These plants grow to a height of about six
inches.
Shamrocks like cool air, moist soil, and bright
light. Due to the lack of an extensive root system, they prefer crowded pots. Care
includes fertilizing them every two to three weeks while they are actively
growing or flowering. Word of caution so you don’t toss the little booger in
the trash – shamrocks go through dormant periods a few times a year causing them
to look sick and lose their leaves. For more information: https://www.uvm.edu/pss/ppp/articles/shamrock.htm.
If you got pinched yesterday, then perhaps you
weren’t wearing green. Green makes you invisible to the leprechauns. Happy
Saint Patrick’s Day! I will leave you with this Irish blessing Xavier
University shared online.
“May
your blessings outnumber
The
shamrocks that grow,
And
may trouble avoid you,
Wherever
you go.”
Kelley
Rawlsky has an M.S. in horticulture and is the director of Bringing People and
Plants Together, an organization dedicated to bringing horticulture education
and therapy to the community. For more information: PeopleAndPlantsTogether@gmail.com or follow us on
Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment