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I have this bush out by the pond that is very fragrant and beautiful in the springtime. I was here when we moved, but I really haven’t done much with it. This year in my effort to make the most out of my property, I decided to see what I could do with these beautiful blossoms.
Turns out these fragrant blossoms are not only good for flower arrangements, but they are also edible! After looking I decided to make 3 simple recipes to start: Lilac infused honey, lilac infused sugar, and lilac jelly. The first two simple, the third, more steps, but fairly simple.
First for anything you have to pick the blossoms when they are in full bloom. If you are picking with small children, place the blossoms in a bucket so you don’t lose them. After you are done picking, place them in a shallow pan OUTSIDE for an hour. This will let the bugs crawl away without bringing them into your house. I made the mistake of not waiting and spent just as much time smashing bugs as I did separating the blossoms. 
While you’re waiting, you can get your supplies ready. You will need sugar, honey (local is best, especially if you're dealing with seasonal issues), air tight jars, and hot water. Once the bugs have left, you can start the process. I stripped the blossoms off the bush, then had to pick the stems and leaf pieces out. Possibly took more time, but easier and safer with little ones than doing it all by the pond.
The water should be boiling by now. Pour 2.5 cups over the blossoms destined for jelly and let sit overnight. Add honey to your jar slowly, it will take a long time to filter down through the blossoms. When you come back the next morning the honey blossoms will have floated to the top, simply stir and use. You can use the honey right away or let it sit and no need to filter out the blossoms!
Lilac Honey
Blossoms
Honey
Pack the jar with blossoms. Slowly add honey letting the honey settle amongst the blossoms. Fill until all blossoms are covered. Stir before use to distribute the blossoms and enjoy.
This is great over biscuits, toast, scones, and more!
Lilac Sugar
Blossom Petals
White Sugar
Seal able jar
Fill the air tight jar ¾ with sugar. Place petals on top of the sugar. Add more sugar to weight down to petals. Seal the jar and shake to mix.
Add to tea or coffee for a slight floral taste. Add to your cupcakes or desserts for a lovely lilac flavor.
Lilac Jelly - ~ 8 4 oz jars
2 c packed blossoms (no leaves or stems)
2.5 c boiling water
¼ c lemon juice
3 c sugar (lilac sugar is amazing)
1 box Jello pectin (4 T)
Place blossoms in a jar and add boiling water. Allow steep 8 hours or overnight
Strain the water. You should be left with about 2.25 cups of lilac infused water.
You can then start the Jelly making, or let the strained water sit in the refrigerator overnight.
Sterilize 4 8oz jelly jars. Heat the lids and rings, but do not boil
Place water infusion, lemon juice and pectin in a pot and bring to rolling boil
Add all the sugar and return to boil for 1 minute stirring constantly. Skim Foam if needed and remove from heat.
Ladle jelly into hot sterilized jars leaving ¼” headspace. Wipe the rims and screw on the lids.
Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes (add 1 minute for ever 1,000 feet above sea level)
Remove and cool overnight. Label and store.
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I have wanted to make my own fly spray for my horses for more than a year now. The one fly spray I found that actually works for an extended period of time, was loaded with stuff I didn’t want around my kids. I had to make sure my 3 year old didn’t get a hold of the bottle to “help” and had to make sure I sprayed the horses down after my special needs riders were done brushing and picking the horses feet. Mostly I just wasn’t using it unless absolutely necessary (like the horse would not stand still due to the flies biting). Read all the way to the bottom for the recipe I found to work.
Looking this spring, I found a “greener” spray that had peppermint, rosemary, citronella, lemongrass, and geranium. I had talked with my sister, in Oklahoma, and she was using lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and citronella in a spray, while feeding lavender and citronella, with good success. I also found a recipe calling for peppermint, citronella, purification, eucalyptus globulus, tea-tree, cedarwood, and thyme.
So I mixed my own to test it out. The first batch I made had peppermint, citronella, purification, eucalyptus, tea-tree, cedarwood, and thyme (it had most of the other recipes plus). I then tested it against the old spray, left legs with the mix, right leg with the old stuff. Day one, by the end of the day the old stuff was still working.
So I added a little rosemary, lemongrass, and geranium (may as well right). This combination seems to last almost as long as the old stuff. WIN! Now I just have to keep it out of my daughters reach.
Fly Spray of Horses (16 oz bottle)
1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner
15 drops Citronella
10 drops Purification
7 drops Eucalyptus Globulus
5 drops Tea Tree
7 drops Cedarwood
6 drops Thyme
6 drops Rosemary
6 drops Lemongrass
6 drops Geranium
Fill with water and gently shake before use.
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This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with no additional cost to you. This blog was updated August 15, 2024. You can read that here.
We already use fly predators for the stable flies, which helps immensely for the horses. I also plan on getting guineas and other birds this summer to further take care of bugs around our house, without having to apply chemicals. My kids love to be outside, so I don’t want to have to worry about what has been applied to the yard that they will be running barefoot through.
This year I decided to try something different. Something that would hopefully prevent the problem from ever starting. I went searching and found spray for the pesky flies, that like to eat the dog’s ears, and a dropper for the fleas and ticks. The dropper I applied it like you would frontline, down their back, starting at the end of April. I did a slow jumpstart of sorts for both dogs, applying it every couple days for a week, then once a week, then once a month (I’ll adjust if needed as the summer progresses). So far the dropper has been working to keep the ticks at bay and I really haven’t noticed the flies yet. The best part is it doesn’t matter if my two little kids are climbing and petting the dogs right after, because any of these oils are safe for my kids when they are pure.
Spray Dropper
4 oz Bottle 2 oz Dropper bottle
4 drops Purification 9 drops Palo Santo
4 drops Citronella 6 drops Peppermint
1 drops Cedarwood 6 drops Citronella
2 drops Palo Santo
1 drop Thyme
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We started using the new spray whenever my little girl would go outside, just a quick spray down her arms and legs as she went out the door. The results? Whenever she would slip out without the spray, she would come back with at least one bite. She then started asking for it whenever we went outside. No more mosquitos, or flies, or gnats! Win! The next spring she was swinging with Grandma and informed me she needed to be sprayed because the flies were bothering her.
Keep off Me Bug Spray
- 5 drops of each
- Purification
- Peppermint
- Citronella
- Lemongrass
- Eucalyptus Radiata
- Thieves
- 2 oz Witch Hazel
- 2 oz Water
- Shake before each use
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- Soaps: sodium laureth sulfate - chemical used to remove car grease off floors. It can be damaging to the skin and disruptive to immune and hormonal health.
- Shampoos: phthalates - banned in children's toys, but still used in cleansing products. It is a known endocrine disruptor and very hard for the body to break down.
- Candles and Air fresheners: Formaldehyde - #1 cancer causing chemical. This is what they use to embalm at the morgue....
- Household cleaners: 2-butoxyethanol - known to cause sore throat, narcosis, severe liver and kidney damage.
- Laundry detergents and dryer sheets: alpha-terpineol, benzyl alcohol, and camphor - all cause central nervous system disorders, loss of muscular coordination, central nervous system depression, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
- Fragrance: a broad category that hides hundreds of chemicals. Fun fact. Companies are not required to reveal the actual chemicals in each "fragrance", keeping the public in the dark about what the true toxicity of the products are.
- Talc, bismuth, parabens, lead, mercury, and mineral oil: all found in store bought skin care and makeup products. They can disrupt the endocrine system, are highly carcinogenic, and have even been found in tumors.
- Equal parts Shea butter and Coconut oil
- Splash of Vitamin E
- Essential oil of choice
- Soften Shea butter (l like to use a double broiler)
- Mix coconut oil into butter until fluffy (about 15 min)
- Stir in essential oils. I use 15-20 drops of Frankincense, Lavender, and Geranium
- Store in glass container
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