Today we journeyed to People's Park with our professor Dr. Zhang and his family. It's a beautiful huge city park with something for everyone: carnival rides, tai chi practice, karaoke, tango lessons, tea houses, impromptu chorales of traditional Chinese music, paddle boats, and a dedicated grove of trees where parents can scope out potential mates for their children (there are even signs indicating that this is the express purpose of this grove).
As luck would have it, we came to People's Park in midst of the 2-week annual Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua) Festival. The park was positively filled with chrysanthemums - there were thousands of them everywhere.
So here's a quick Chinese herbal lesson (my students should know this - Ju Hua is one of the herbs we learn in my class). Ju Hua is sweet, bitter and cool, and enters the Lung and Liver channels. It releases the exterior, so it's used to treat the common cold. It also benefits the eyes, and can treat red eyes and blurry vision. Recent studies have even shown that Ju Hua is effective in treating hypertension. So what are you waiting for? Celebrate the fall season and immerse yourself in a sea of Ju Hua - it's good for you!
3 comments:
Wow! These are gorgeous. Right now we are immersing ourselves in a sea of falling leaves.
Alexa, These remind me of your colors and the beautiful flowers of your wedding! Gee, I can't believe it has almost been a year. We, Larry and I, are so proud of you and thankful that you have had this chance to do this trip and learn all the new things you have. Just be careful and we will want a full "presentation" when you get home. Love, Sherry
and there is a nice sea - well okay, in light of your stories of their motherland maybe a lake - of ju hua at the learning garden right now too! fancy that!
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