Too Many Places, Too Little Time in St Catharines

It started off a little bleary and foggy, but we never thought we'd chewed off more than we could have chewed. With Peter, Ming, Terry, Rahim, Yoo Lee, and Nora's husband driving, the whole lot of us rendezvoused at Great Mountain Ginseng Farm for a video extolling their achievements, a walking tour to their demo farm led by their guide Mandy, and checking out the latest and best in unearthed mandrakelike farm jewels.

Finally extracting ourselves from the place, we wound up in Pillitteri winery, where some of us met Mrs. Pillitteri herself, the Italian matriarch who owns the place, and sipped some of her sweet beverages. We also got to see her cellar and vineyards and grabbed a bottle or two before proceeding as far as Queen's Royal Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Unfortunately for Jane and who knows who else who's never seen the Falls, some of us never made it to that Canadian wonder of nature and had to hightail back to the big city in time for 2:30 p.m. But, alas, we do have much to be thankful for, to our Creator and Provider of all grace, who first said,

I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

"

Early comers catching the show, including Rahim, Tina, Terry, Peter, Ying, Nora, Jane, Yoo Lee, Anna, and Angela,

Ginseng-fueled visitors heading out to the demo farm

Lena and Katie with random MicroSkills people

Mandy, in green, telling us all about them roots, how to tell their age, etc.

 

"That one was planted by King Cyrus the Great himself."

Koreans rule!

Can't get away from the ginseng!

Ginseng root, ginseng candy, ginseng tea, ginseng mayoral crack videos ...

Persians also rule!

Patience rules--would it be white, red, or ice? Or, all three?!

Simone leads the tour.

Time to head for the underworld!

Something about No. 23 and the Pillitteri family

And those strung-up chairs, who knows?

Other strange things in the cellar, which tend to attract strange people.



Yep, strange people doing strange things!