My Journey At the Learning Garden Begins....

I am  interested in starting to produce the Visual Materia Medica concept first.  Having a visual guide to the herbs is important for me to identify and memorize the actions and indications of individual Chinese herbs.  Having a solid herbal foundation will assist me greatly in recognizing how to construct and use herbal formulas.

My initial attempt began Saturday, September 10th at 3pm in the Learning Garden on Walgrove and Venice Avenue in Los Angeles, CA.  Armed with my point-and-shoot camera, a notebook to record the herbs I would photograph, and my photographer boyfriend, I was ready to attack the project head-on. Prior to my arrival I had taken both benydryll and Zyrtec for my allergies in the garden.  My allergies held up for only 45 minutes and in that time, I shot about 15 plants and recorded them.

Unfortunately, the Chinese Herbal section of the Learning Garden was in serious need of some TLC.  Weeds were overgrown, the signs posting most of the herbs were illegible and printed in small, faded type.  Many of the herbs were not even blooming and there were postings for the herbs, but no plant to accommodate it.   I worked with what I could, and left after my allergies began to flare.

The true magic revealed itself when we returned home and my partner, Darren Murtha, downloaded the herb pictures he had taken on his professional Nikon D60.  The photos were beautiful, and he was able to clearly photograph the small labels on the herbs that my cheap point-and-shoot could not clarify.  So the first process of my journey was not only to take the photos, but to arrange and set up this blogger for my project.

I have worked on the blog for 3 days now to have it uploaded and running, spell checked and ready for action!  I hope that you enjoy the pictures of the Chinese herbs we have included.  Just click on the name of the herb on the right hand side of the blog page and the link will send you to a page where the herb is both photographed and named.

This is just an initial attempt at the Visual Materia Medica.  I will send both my teacher, Julia Chambers and my administrator, Lawrence Lau e-mails updates with a link to this blog so that my progress can be charted.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  ~John Muir