Down To Earth Garden Club

Knock on wood, one of those odd things that people do for which they can not give much of an explanation. We think that it’s just superstition and it prevents bad luck from plaguing whatever is under discussion. Knocking on wood, however, has a long tradition and it has everything to do with trees and their importance in mythology and religion.  Knocking on wood or touching wood was a way of asking for the protection of the spirit of the tree. It was a means of shielding against evil or mischievous spirits that might be lurking about to put a kink in plans and schemes of mankind. Trees were very important in the religion and folklore of ancient peoples especially those who made their homes in the British Isles.

Bacteria can wreck havoc in our bodies or help us enrich our soil; spoil our food or help with our digestion. Mining engineers have come up with a new and fascinating use for them in an effort to reduce the environmentally harmful chemicals that are needed to extract metals and minerals from low grade ores. Low grade ores are those that have less concentrated quantities of metals widely scattered throughout the rock.

Jeanne brought to our attention another garden in Washington, DC that rivals the National Arboretum. Dumbarton Oaks was originally the estate of the Robert Woods Bliss family. Purchased in 1910 the 53 sloping acres, complete with old farm buildings, was transformed by architect Beatrix Farrand  into her conception of an 18th century American estate.