Thought you might like to read this: History and Uses:Heal All,All Heal and Self Heal Prunella, a powerfully astringent herb, is also known by many names including Heal All, All Heal and Self Heal, and as most of these alternate names imply, this plant was used extensively as a healing herb, particularly when used topically to stanch the bleeding of wounds. In poultice form, it was also used to treat bruises, burns, sprains, cuts and hemorrhoids. Prunella was also used as a mouthwash for sores and gum problems, as well as a gargle for sore throat and thrush. It was also used in a douche for leukorrhea. The herb is often useful for treating liver disorders, and it has been prescribed by herbalists in cases of jaundice, hepatitis and general weakness of the liver. Prunella is beneficial for limited internal bleeding and can also be valuable in cases of diarrhea, flatulence and gastritis, as well as the expulsion of intestinal parasites. Prunella is believed to have antibacteria and strong antiviral properties; and in the treatment of Grave's disease, the herb has been effective in combination with Bugleweed. Prunella is also high in antioxidants, and it has been made into a tea with Oregano as an immune system booster.Constituents of Prunella include essential oil, Rutin, tannic acid, beta-carotene and vitamins B-1, C and K. The herb has had some success in treating vertigo, hypertension, gout and conjunctivitis. Prunella is truly one of the most versatile, safe and effective of nature's medicinal plants. Prunella Vulgaris Folklore and History: The common name "self-heal" derives from the use of some species to treat a range of minor disorders. It is reported to have an antiseptic and antibacterial effect, and to be particularly good in cases of food poisoning. In the Pacific Northwest, its juice was used by the Quinault and the Quileute on boils. They also used the whole plant to treat cuts and inflammations. Some people even fixed it with grease to form an ointment. It is also used as an herbal drink in China to treat minor bodily disorders. Prunella Vulgaris was once proclaimed to be a Holy herb and thought to be sent by God to cure all ailments of man or beast, and said to drive away the devil, which lead to the belief that Heal-All was grown in the Witches garden as a disguise. The root was used to make a tea to drink in ceremonies before going hunting by one Native American tribe to sharpened the powers of observation. Prunella Vulgaris Edible Uses: Edible Parts: Leaves. Edible Uses: Drink. Leaves - raw or cooked. They can be used in salads, soups, stews etc. Somewhat bitter due to the presence of tannin in the leaves, though this can be removed by washing the leaves. A cold water infusion of the freshly chopped or dried and powdered leaves is used as a refreshing beverage. Very tasty. Self-heal is a mint relation, and as with all the other mints, if you plant it once, you never have to plant it again. Incredibly vigorous, the plant spreads by underground stems that shoot out in every direction once the first root is stuck in the ground. If there is anything to the doctrine of signatures, prunella should make anyone who takes it into his or her body stronger than an ox. In the southern United States, ground-hog plantain, or square weed as it is called, is collected in the spring as a tonic plant. It is also eaten as a spinach substitute, prepared in a big pot with a piece of hog meat by cooks who follow the traditional southern style or with a little vegetable oil by more modern cooks concerned with the bad publicity animal fats have received in recent years. Prunella Vulgaris is an edible and medicinal herb, and can be used in salads, soups, stews, or boiled as a pot herb.Used as an alternative medicine for centuries on just about every continent in the world, and for just about every ailment known to man, Heal-All is something of a panacea, it does seem to have some medicinal uses that are constant. An olive-green dye is obtained from the flowers and stems. The plant is a good ground-cover in sunny positions or light shade.The mildly bitter leaves are also good as salad greens.

Thanks to all for your nice comments. If anybody wants seed e-mail me at goshawk@redwing.net. The rattlesnake master takes 3 years to get a bloom, it doesn't smell bad and if you cut it off at the base it will re-grow another stem in about a month. I sell the two kinds of Asclepias to the florists, Tuberosa(butterfly-orange)and Incarnata(Swamp-pink). I sold 600 stems of the orange before we left but it was too far into flower to cut when we got back so the rest will be for seed. The Incarnata is just starting to bloom now. The cream Indigo is just for seed. I use Blue and white for cuts and seed. I've got Baptisia Spherocarpe and Tictoria (large yellow and small yeallow) that are just for seed but once I have a 1/2 acre of each of those they will be used for cuts too(about 4 more years). I haven't used leadplant but I think it could be used. I just don't have enough to sacrifice the seed for the flowers at this point, Ive got 1/4 acre in production but it is just as slow as the Baptisia's, about 5 years to maturity. Compared to some, my ground is flat. It's actually gently rolling and hasnice drainage, except where I planted my Zinnias. Josh, Read a book called "Where the sky began". It's a great natural history of what the pioneers experienced as they ventured out of the woods of the eastern U.S. and tried to tame the Prairie. I'll send a few more pics to Pooch tonight. TIme to go use the neighbors pool, it's 92 degrees, 85% humidity and a 67 dewpoint, too sticky to work, oh darn. Steve

This is all so timely for me. After 15 months on the market and a 30% price reduction, I actually have an appointment at 3:30 today with the realtor to sign the contract to sell my beloved painted lady. She's going to a property investment company. They have close to a million dollars in property assets (they had to provide a balance sheet to us with their offer as proof of funds) so I'm guessing the chances of her becoming someone's beloved long term family home are slim. Her fate is more likely a rental, or worse, being chopped in to 3 or 4 studio type apartments. It makes me a little sad, but the dire financial situation this whole divorce/sale ect has put me overshadows all of that. I NEED it sold. I hadn't mentioned anything to my realtor about how I was feeling. Last night on the phone he said to me, you know, every Sunday I'm going to force myself to not look at the house when I got to church (his church is directly across the street). It'll make me too sad if it becomes apartments. He went on to say he doesn't get emotionally attached to properties - he's one of the highest grossing realtors in our metro - he can't afford too. This time he has. He's gone to that church for many years and always admired the house. When we bought it, it was covered in various colors of vinyl siding with half it's fishscale siding missing or covered. It had drop/grid ceiling tiles and 70's wallpaper everywhere, but you could still see how pretty she was underneath all of that. I'm very excited about my new little cottage. It's no where near as grand as the victorian, but it's very "me" and it fits my lifestyle as it is now quite well. I haven't even moved in yet and it already feels very much like home. I will probably, however, not drive down the street where the victorian is, again.

The layout of the great room should determine the placement of the doors. Will there be a TV or fireplace on the wall opposite the doors? If so, how will the furniture be placed? Can sofas be positioned away from the wall so that kitchen traffic flows without affecting TV viewing in the great room? Will sofas have to be placed off center to accommodate for centered French doors? Or will the TV/fireplace be placed on the north or south walls, and then, how will traffic flow around furnishings to get to the kitchen? Better to have the doors off center than to have to place your furnishings awkwardly to accommodate kitchen traffic. Your great room will never look right if your furniture is badly placed. If the doors are off center for better traffic flow, you can always balance that visually with a wall table, framed family photos, a mirror or artwork.