June 7, 2024

Strawberry Moon and Cherry Blossoms

Overview for this week.

1. I feel the most beautiful annual is the mountain peony. You will learn more about this annual below. Our roving photojournalist and floral artist Cita Scott brought this to my attention with hope it could be gently shared with each of us.

2. In the last few weeks, I've been privileged to spend some time in Manhattan and revisit a few of my favorite spots. This week I thought I’d take a little look at the early history of this island and who the first residents of Manhattan were.

3. Continuing in that vein, I wanted to include the Hudson River Park this week, another gem on the Lower West Side.

4. June's full moon, the Strawberry Moon, will be here in two weeks. It's expected to hang low on the horizon and appear a little bigger than usua with a golden tint.

5. Since this is the first issue of the month, I've included our Religious Calendar for June 2024.

6. The start of the Jewish holiday Shavuot is coming up next Tuesday, June 11, I have some background on this important, but lesser-known holiday.

7. This week for Father's Day, I have a poem for dads. 

8. Tuesday of this week marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the invasion of Normandy that was the beginning of the end of World War II.

9. In Wellness, My fellow tennis friend Jamie very recently introduced me to fresh turmeric root. Since then, I've been gnawing like a little bunny on very small pieces of the turmeric root. I feel it helps. Thank you, Jamie.

Now, to this week's Flock.

Tap to view past issues.

Flock reader and contributor Cita Scott sent me a link to this timelapse of five varieties of peonies blooming from Galena Berkompas of Micro Flower Farm.

The Sarah Bernhardt peony is legendary for its beautiful, fragrant pink flowers. Find out how to grow these perennials in your garden.

From: Birds & Blooms, By: Lori Vanover, March 29, 2023

Like other peonies, Sarah Bernhardt prefers rich, well-drained soil and full sun. Plant peonies in fall for the best results. They need a period of cold weather (but not ants) in order to bloom.

Water deeply and regularly in the first growing season to develop a substantial root system. Once your new plant is established, you can water less frequently. Trim off spent blooms after the glorious late spring flower show and cut the foliage back in fall.

Red Sarah Bernhardt Peony

From: El País, By: Isabel Ferrer, May 26, 2024

The Lenape people, who lived in the area before the arrival of the Dutch settlers, are at the center of an exhibition in Amsterdam. They also want an apology from the Netherlands for its colonial past

The Amsterdam Museum and the Museum of the City of New York, together with representatives of the heads of the four Lenape Nations, have joined forces to organize the exhibition, called Manahahtáanung or New Amsterdam? The Indigenous Story Behind New York. Through objects, clothing, historical documents and testimonial videos, the voice of a community is recovered “that returns 400 years later to engage in dialogue because with colonization we lost connection with our land and our culture, and language suffered,” explains Brent Stonefish, a member of the Delaware Nation, one of the four Lenape.

Map of New York showing the names of the native tribes (1614),

belonging to the National Archives of the Netherlands.

The Lenape lived on the Atlantic coast, in the northeast of what is now the United States. The men fished and hunted and the women dedicated themselves to agriculture. Their dome-shaped houses were covered with tree bark and they also built large wooden structures. In 1609, the Dutch East India Company commissioned the English explorer and navigator Henry Hudson to search for a possible northeastern passage to Asia...

In 1624, Dutch settlers, called by the Lenape “the people of salt” because they emerged from the ocean, brought there by another Dutch firm: the West India Company to populate the colony. They were about 30 Protestant families from France and what is now Belgium, persecuted for their Calvinist religious beliefs. Over time, the settlers included other Europeans, as well as enslaved or indentured people. A year later, Fort Amsterdam was built near the island of Manhattan, later converted into the city of New Amsterdam.

In last week's Flock, we visited the elevated High Line that runs through the heart of Chelsea. Just a few blocks to the west of the High line is the Hudson River Park that spans four miles of the Hudson River waterfront on Manhattan's Lower West Side, and includes the Little Island at the southern tip of Manhattan. The Hudson River Park's esplanades and landscapes boast sunset views, stunning gardens, scores of recreational and play spaces, multiple athletic fields, tennis and basketball courts, boathouses, a skateboard park, and much more.

From: Hudson River Park

Hudson River Park was created by a New York State law as a partnership between New York State and New York City. The same law created the Hudson River Park Trust as a New York State public benefit corporation to design, construct, operate and maintain the Park, with Board Members appointed by the Governor, Mayor and Manhattan Borough President. Hudson River Park Friends is the Park’s independent nonprofit partner dedicated to fundraising, advocacy and supporting volunteerism in the Park. Funds raised by Friends support the care, enhancement, sustainability and public programs offered throughout the Park.

Where the City Meets the River

Boating at the Hudson River Park

Whether you’re a novice or a pro, Hudson River Park’s numerous water activities are a great way to spend a day in New York. And with a combination of free and expert lessons offered at several locations, there’s no excuse for not giving it a try. Experience the joy of kayaking, sailing and rowing on the Hudson!

Hudson River Park’s four boathouses were constructed as part of the Park and are operated by Park Partners selected by the Hudson River Park Trust for their expertise, capacity and other factors. Please note that dates and times are subject to change. For the most up to date information on programs and hours, please visit each boathouse’s website directly.

The Hudson River Park is working with the Billion Oyster Project to restore the oyster population of Lower Manhattan's coast. The water is still too polluted to eat any oysters harvested here, The oysters, which act as nonstop water filters, were added to the Hudson River as part of an ongoing project to rehabilitate the polluted waterways around the city. They also provide reef habitat for other species and protection from erosion and flood damage.

Oysters are ecologically-critical filter feeders that support life in our local waterways by building habitat. Though the wild oyster population is a fraction of what it once was due to centuries of overharvesting and water pollution, organizations such as Hudson River Park and Billion Oyster Project are working to restore the bivalves to Billion Oyster Projectour local waterways.

Oyster Stewardship

Hudson River Park hosts 15 Billion Oyster Project (BOP) oyster research stations at various Sanctuary locations monitored by teachers, students and community organizations. Hudson River Park’s four miles of waterfront esplanade and piers provide space to collect data on oyster growth, biodiversity and water quality.

June's full moon, the Strawberry Moon, is coming up in two weeks on June 21. Due to its proximity to the summer solstice the moon will appear closer to the horizon than normal giving it the effect of looking larger and exhibiting a slight golden hue.

From: The Old Farmer's Almanac, By: Bob Berman, June 6, 2024

When to See the Full Moon in June 2024

This year, the Full Moon coincides with the summer solstice! On the evening of June 21 —just after sunset—look towards the southeast to watch the full Moon rise gently above the horizon. There, it will appear large and golden-hued.

Why Is It Called the Strawberry Moon?

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from many places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Historically, names for the full or new Moons were used to track the seasons. Today, we think of Moon names as “nicknames” for the Moon.

June’s full Moon—typically the last full Moon of spring or the first of summer—has traditionally been called the Strawberry Moon. This “Strawberry Moon” name has been used by Native American Algonquian tribes that live in the northeastern United States as well as the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples to mark the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries that are ready to be gathered. The Haida term Berries Ripen Moon reflects this as well. As flowers bloom and early fruit ripens, June is a time of great abundance for many.

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus June 7, 2024

The Feast of the Sacred Heart is a solemnity in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. According to the General Roman Calendar since 1969, it is formally known as the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Latin: Sollemnitas Sacratissimi Cordis Iesu) and celebrated on the second Friday after Trinity Sunday. Some Anglican Franciscans keep the feast under the name of the Divine Compassion of Christ.

Affiliation: Christian/Catholic

Source: Wikipedia

Shavuot

June 11 - June 13, 2024

Shavuot, or Shvues in some Ashkenazi usage, commonly known in English as the Feast of Weeks, is one of the biblically-ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan; in the 21st century, it may fall between May 15 and June 14 on the Gregorian calendar.

Affiliation: Jewish

Source: Wikipedia

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib

June 16, 2024

On June 16 annually, members of the Sikh religion remember the martyrdom of Guru Arjan. Guru Arjan Dev Ji who is the fifth Guru and first martyr of the Sikhs died through torture after pursuing his task of preaching about God, solidifying the members and expanding the Sikh faith during its early years.

Affiliation: Sikh

Source: Harvard University

Eid al-Adha

June 16 - June 17, 2024

Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is the second of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam. In Islamic tradition, it honours the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God's command. Both Ishmael and Isaac are referred to with the honorific title "Sacrifice of God".

Affiliation: Islam

Source: Wikipedia

Nativity of St. John the Baptist

June 24, 2024

The Nativity of John the Baptist is a Christian feast day. It is observed annually on 24 June. The Nativity of John the Baptist is a high-ranking liturgical feast, kept in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism.

Affiliation: Christian/Catholic

Source: Wikipedia

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

June 29, 2024

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul or Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is a liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which is observed on 29 June.

Affiliation: Christian/Catholic

Source: Wikipedia

From: Chabad.org

Shavuot is a two-day Jewish holiday beginning at sunset on June 11 and continuing until nightfall on June 13, 2024, that commemorates receiving the Torah by the Jewish people at Mount Sinai over 3,000 years ago. Preceded by 49 days of counting in eager anticipation, Shavuot is celebrated through desisting from work, candle-lit dinners, staying up all night to study Torah, listening to the reading of the Ten Commandments in synagogue, enjoying dairy foods and other festivities.

What is Shavuot? All About the Jewish Holiday for Torah and Learning

Only a dad with a tired face, 

Coming home from the daily race, 

Bringing little of gold or fame

To show how well he has played the game; 

But glad in his heart that his own rejoice 

To see him come and to hear his voice. 

Only a dad with a brood of four, 

One of ten million men or more 

Plodding along in the daily strife, 

Bearing the whips and the scorns of life, 

With never a whimper of pain or hate, 

For the sake of those who at home await. 

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud, 

Merely one of the surging crowd

Toiling, striving from day to day, 

Facing whatever may come his way, 

Silent whenever the harsh condemn, 

And bearing it all for the love of them. 

Only a dad but he gives his all

To smooth the way for his children small, 

Doing with courage stern and grim, 

The deeds that his father did for him. 

This is the line that for him I pen: 

Only a dad, but the best of men.



This last Wednesday, June 4, 2024, was the 80th anniversary of the WWII Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord, commonly referred to as "D-Day”. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and began the liberation of France as well as laying the foundation for the Allied victory in Europe. I’m proud to say that my own father took part in the operation and would like to honor all who participated in the liberation of Europe.

From: History.com

D-Day was the name given to the June 6, 1944, invasion of the beaches at Normandy in northern France by troops from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries during World War II. France at the time was occupied by the armies of Nazi Germany, and the amphibious assault—codenamed Operation Overlord—landed some 156,000 Allied soldiers on the beaches of Normandy by the end of the day.

Despite their success, some 4,000 Allied troops were killed by German soldiers defending the beaches. At the time, the D-Day invasion was the largest naval, air and land operation in history, and within a few days about 326,000 troops, more than 50,000 vehicles and some 100,000 tons of equipment had landed. By August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and in spring of 1945 the Allies had defeated the Germans. Historians often refer to D-Day as the beginning of the end of World War II.

I'm a big fan of adding turmeric to your diet, I even like to nibble on a little raw turmeric throughout the day. I like it best in its natural form or dried and ground as a spice that you can add to recipes. before you start taking turmeric supplements, it's a good idea to consult your doctor. Turmeric supplement can contain high doses of curcumin, which can interact with certain prescription medications and blood thinners.

From: Johns Hopkins, By: Mary-Eve Brown, R.D.N., C.S.O., L.D.N

Turmeric is a deep, golden-orange spice known for adding color, flavor and nutrition to foods. A relative of ginger, turmeric comes from the rhizome (root) of a native Asian plant and has been used in cooking for hundreds of years. It has also been used in ayurvedic and other forms of traditional medicine in China and India.

Mary-Eve Brown, an oncology clinical dietitian/nutritionist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, provides information on health benefits of turmeric.

What is turmeric good for?

Brown explains that the active ingredient in turmeric is a natural compound (polyphenol) called curcumin, which has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

“Curcumin has many biological activities, not all of which are understood,” Brown says. “Like other colorful plant-based foods, turmeric is rich in phytonutrients that may protect the body by neutralizing free radicals (pollution, sunlight) and shielding the cells from damage.” Diets rich in plant-based foods are associated with prevention of medical conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

Brown says, “Anyone who’s trying to manage inflammation could benefit from adding some turmeric to their foods.” She cites inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and other joint disorders, colitis, allergies and infections.

Turmeric Tea

Like ginger, turmeric root can be made into a nourishing and tasty tea. Here’s Brown’s method:

• 2 tablespoons turmeric root chopped or 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
• Bring to a boil in 1–2 cups water
• Lower to simmer for 5 minutes and then strain.

“You can drink turmeric tea warm or cold, and add lemon and/or honey to change the taste,” Brown advises.

These Flock regulars are always here for you:

• Dr. Hayward M. Fox, Ph. D. and The Institute of Personal and Transpersonal Knowledge

• Kimberly Gomer of Body Beautiful Miami, our body shaper and fee-based nutritionist. (609) 509-4969

• Kyria Sabin of Body Works Fletcher Pilates, she's the best. (520) 323-7070

• Where in the World is Zoe Zoe is back in Colorado helping launch the 2024 early childhood, junior high, high school, and adult tennis programs with sister and mother Petra.

• Sarah Smallhouse & Make Elections Fair Arizona - Sign the petition here!

• The Fabric Jeanie! Tap to learn more. (520) 245-0589



• Cita Scott for paintings, photography, and culinary art. Cita will be in and out of town all summer. Don't hesitate to give her a jingle. (520) 404-1551

• Sensitive & Specific: The Testing Newsletter by Mara G. Aspinall and Liz Ruark. Mara is always here to help up in understanding, testing knowledge, and how it is being applied

In coming weeks: we'll be sharing more investigative articles from our roving reporter William George, original writing from Flock favorite Dino DeConcini, and an update on the Marolt brothers' coming expedition to Argentina.

be forgiving

Don't Be Shy: Share Your Stories!

I'm looking forward to sharing more of your personal stories - oral, written, or otherwise, as we enter our third year. I'd so love to present them to The Flock, hit a mailbox below to share your story.

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

520-818-4433

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