Mason Bee Cocoons brought home yesterday, Saturday, March 18 2023

 Mason bees are powerhouse pollinators, visiting many flowers in a short amount of time and carrying enormous amounts of pollen on their bodies. Studies have shown that 250 to 300 mason bees can do the equivalent work of 90,000 honey bees (Apis). Bees in the genus Osmia fashion their nests in preexisting holes and cavities – some natural, such as hollow plant stems, while other times they rely on cracks and crevices in stone and brick (masonry) walls. At least one species, Osmia bicolor, constructs its brood cells in abandoned snail shells! Mason bees mark the entrances to their nests with a scent that is unique to them.

Say hello to a Mason Bee. Mason bees in the genus Osmia are a diverse group of solitary bees known for their important role in pollination. With over 300 species worldwide Osmia bees are distributed across all continents except Antarctica. There are over 100 species of mason bees in North America! They are commonly found in a variety of habitats ranging from deserts to forests. As cavity nesters, Osmia construct their nests using natural or manufactured cavities such as hollow plant stems, insect tunnels, or drilled wood blocks. Due to their efficient pollination abilities and ease of management, these bees have become increasingly popular as an alternative to honey bees in agriculture and horticulture. Mason bees are so-called for their habit of using mud to construct their nests, and for their habit of nesting in cracks and crevices of crumbling mortar in walls.

to bee continued.

Learning when & how to sow new herb seeds in mid March

 Perhaps my new seeds that just just arrived in mid March should have been sown months ago?  Well the unusual seeds just arrived from a new seed source.  Trade Winds Fruit. https://www.tradewindsfruit.com/

 Honestly the seeds were reasonable in cost and I was delighted to see the choices.  I only wanted Ashwagandha as a medicinal herb, but my eyes caught interest in unusual seeds such as:

Angelica sinensis - female ginseng

ginseng roots

flower umbrell
Seeds are fairly large. and should be sown 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep. Use sterile seed starter, and individual cell packs, indoors.  Direct sowing not recommended. Keep soil moist at 75 degrees.  Transfer to larger containers when germinated. Allow 2 weeks to harden off before placing in direct sun. Angelica is a biennial plant that grows 3-7' tall. Its large chartreuse leaves with inflated stem bases make a bold statement in the modern herb garden or flower border. The roots, leaves, seeds and young stems are the edible portions, and have a flavor similar to licorice.  
Angelica serves as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. It also acts to boost circulation of the scalp, which means healthier hair. Angelica Root Extract is obtained by macerating the root of the plant.

Hair regrowth studies:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25004889/

Levisticum - Lovage;

Seeds are large and should be sown 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep in sterile seed starter. Sow in individual cell packs. Keep temps at 75 degrees. Transplant gently into larger containers after germination. Plant outdoors when soil has warmed. Grows to 5 feet & is very bushy. It's a perennial herb belonging to the family Apiaceae. This makes it related to other herbs and vegetables such as parsley, cilantro, dill, and fennel, as well as carrots and celery. Due to its resemblance in appearance and flavor to celery, lovage is often referred to as mountain celery. It's great in soups & stews.

Lovage             

Cymbopogo flexuosus - East Indian Lemongrass

A tropical grass that can grow up to 6 ft. tall in warm climates. Will grow as an annual here in Zone 7. Plant large seeds 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep in sterile seed starter. Start indoors. Transplant into larger pots and harden off outside. This aromatic grass has clumped, bulbous stems becoming leaf blades widely used in Thai cuisine, with a distinct lemon flavor. 

It is usually propagated by division.
Recommended planting time: plant spring in cooler areas; in tropical areas plant during the wet season.
Plant spacing: plant rhizomes at a spacing of 1 m, with .5 m between rows.

Growing from seed:  Sow seeds in spring, sowing thinly on the surface of moist compost and don't cover them. If you need to water the pot after sowing then do so from the bottom, by placing the pot in a dish of water for an hour or so. Keep the pot covered in a heated propagator to aid germination. 

Gaultheria procumbens - Wintergreen;

Must cold stratify seeds in growing containers in sealed bags inside refrigerator fr 6 - 12 weeks. 2 months to germinate. May need a second cold stratification. WOW. Wintergreen is a North American native plant. It only grows 6 inches high.

Sown in tiny cups then stored in plastic recycled container, rubber banded, and safely stored in the bottom left shelf in the back of the refrigerator until June 1rst. 

Withania somnifera - Ashwagandha;

A small bushy tomatilo relative with many medicinal qualities. Roots, leaves, fruits are used for treating stress, exhaustion, and memory and more. Simple to grow. Needs little care. Start seeds in individual cell packs. 75 degrees to germinate. Transplant to bigger pots.

Ashwagandha has minimal edible uses, however, the seeds are used to curdle plant-based milk to make vegetarian cheese. The roots and leaves can be dried and powdered, then taken as a supplement.

Medicinal uses of Ashwagandha leaves, root, and berries are plentiful. Ashwagandha acts on the nervous and reproductive systems, increasing physical and mental health as well as increasing longevity. The roots of Withania somnifera are used in traditional Indian medicine for consumption, nervous exhaustion, insomnia, and memory loss

Ashwagandha is a low growing perennial that grows up to 3 feet tall. Its leaves are long and elliptical, yellow-green.

Mentha piperita - Peppermint

Seeds need light to germinate. Sow on top of sterile seed starter, Keep moist. Spray soil when starting to dry but don't push seeds below soil level. Keep wrapped and humid. 70 -85 degree. Grow in pots as this will spread. Grows to several inches. intense flavor for tea, flavorings, beverages.

peppermint

Platycodon grandiflora - Balloon Flower.

Balloon Flowers are easy to grow, long-lived perennials. Long-lasting star-shaped flowers emerge from balloon-like buds in summer. Balloon flower plants will occasionally repeat bloom in the fall when old flowers are removed.  In colder areas, balloon flower dies back to the ground in the winter. It's often one of the later flowers to emerge in the spring, so when growing balloon flower you may want to mark the spot somehow so you don't plant over it. If you want to start from seed, remember that it won't flower the first year. In the mid to late summer, balloon plants sprout clusters of waxy white and purple flowers which smell almost like vanilla. These flowers are not particularly beautiful, however, they are attractive to butterflies.  

Sow Balloon Flower seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before last frost, and transplant outside. This flower seed requires sunlight to germinate, so do not cover the flower seed with soil. Just lightly pat them into the soil so good contact is made and water lightly.

The roots of balloon flowers are widely used as edible root vegetables, and they are referred to as doraji (Korean). Balloon flowers are also believed to have medicinal properties and are used in China and Korea for various medical conditions.

                                 Monarch butterfly and the balloon flower. 

to be continued in future posts. 

Companion planting with potatoes

 Companion Planting with Potatoes

Let's think Companion Planting then grow Potatoes & Horse radish root this year. That’s what I’m doing. Horseradish has long leaves & pretty white flowers. When growing horseradish, keep the roots contained as it's invasive. Horseradish is advisable as a companion plant for every garden as it cleans certain soil contaminants. Plant around the perimeters of potatoes not intermixed or it will change taste of potatoes,

& it will increase disease resistance in potatoes & protect against potato bugs.

Potato bug (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

Other companion plants for potatoes include beans, corn, eggplant, cabbage, peas, & parsnips. Basil near potatoes deter potato beetles.

Marigold Tagetes spp deter nematodes. Nasturiums repel potato bugs, aphids,

Aphid 

white fly, Mexican bean beetles

Mexican Bean Beetle (Epilachna varivestis)

& squash bugs.

Squash bug with eggs

In turn, potatoes are a good companion crop for beans, because they repel Mexican bean beetles. Potatoes are good for cabbage & peas by helping with growth.

But don't plant the following near potatoes: turnips, pumpkins, cucumbers, rutabagas, sunflowers, tomatoes, squash and raspberry.

Back to the horseradish.

Horseradish plant 

You can create a simple horse radish tea as a preventative anti-fungal spray. The horse radish spray has proven effective against against brown rot in apples & cherries.

Process horseradish roots in a food processor till a coarse paste.

Dilute 1 part paste with 4 parts water. Steep for 24 hours. Strain off the liquid, discard pulp, mix liquid with 1 qt. water & 1/2 cup white vinegar & put into spray bottle. An effective bug spray for plants.

Companion planting requires a great deal of study & placement strategies.

Can you imagine how pretty a potato patch will look with colorful Nasturiums,

Nasturtiums

Basil

Marigold 

Marigolds, and Basil guarding them all summer with their powerful properties? I love learning about companion planting. It really works, but you have to do a lot of homework to plant the correct compatible plants next to each other.

Selecting New Perennial for Organic Gardens

 When adding a new perennial to your gardens, do your research. do you know all aspects of what the plant will provide & achieve? There's much publicizing from native plant activists. They're up there with militant vegans. They'll shame you into getting rid of your lawns, and threaten to draw & quarter your limbs if you grow non-native flowers saying they disrupt the ecosystem. Don't listen to other people. Take everything into consideration. Because you might know more info, understand that there are over 4000 native bees, and that the Europeans first brought them to the colonies. There's nothing wrong with growing non natives to attract these transplanted naturalized native bees. There are invasive plants that do take over reducing biodiversity, competing with native & non native organisms for limited resources, and altering habitats. This can result in huge economic impacts and fundamental disruptions. We all know too well about phragmites, English Ivy, Asiatic bittersweet, kudzu, etc.

On March 1, 2023, I ordered many seeds from a catalogue called Tradewinds.  The seeds were reasonable in price.  One of the seed varieties appealed to me in many ways. 

Balloon Flower - Platycodon grandiflorus, a perennial, is not a native blue flower, yet its hardy, disease-resistant nature and vibrant perennial blossoms, does well in most climates, from zones 3 through 9. It flowers best in full sun, but will also thrive in morning sun and afternoon shade (and may actually do better there in warmer areas). New plants need regular water while getting established, but then are pretty drought-tolerant. Yes I want drought loving low growing blue flowers. Birds, bees, and butterflies love them. They start flowering in mid to late summer, and will continue throughout the season with regular dead-heading. That’s pretty much all the maintenance they’ll need, though. P. grandiflorus may be propagated from seed, by stem cuttings, or from nursery starts in the spring.

The edible roots have long been pickled and preserved, and used in herbal remedies and dietary supplements, to provide anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and digestive benefits. For thousands of years this perennial herb has been used to treat hypotension, lipid reduction, atherosclerosis, inflammation, relieving cough and phlegm, promoting cholic acid secretion, and as an antioxidant. Companions that play well with P. grandiflorus include bee balm, black-eyed Susan, blazing star, daylily, and lily turf. Perfect for my butterfly and rain garden.

 English ivy (Hedera helix) is a curse, my battle to push back this marauding vine overtaking the north corner of the garden. 

Gardening is always showing the virtues of acceptance. The reality is the English Ivy must be managed or it will overtake the entire property over time. This has been ongoing for decades with periods of total denial that it's at the end of the property and won't spread, but the birds eat the berries and drop seeds through their poop and it shows up everywhere in little plants that left unknowingly will create an invasion everywhere including the neighbors yards.

 With acceptance comes patience, and I know I'll have to return to ripping out ivy over and over. It's the never ending story. 

Its manual removal will be an ongoing chore with many other demanding chores throughout the year. February is a good time to tackle a patch of it.  I'll hone in on my tenacious skills and rip it out here and there, knowing it's not enough back breaking work. I need help. Maybe fire?l I sometimes dream about setting it all on fire.  Humility, humor and companionship are strong positions from which to start any journey of growth and I'm grateful to know it so well from daily exercise in the natural world and in this particular childhood garden. The ivy is a curse that I plan to challenge the rest of my days left here in my garden.  Whatever I leave behind will be someone else's challenge.  I just hope that they don't use chemicals to tackle the job. 

I believe that organic gardeners are the true martyrs of the land. 

Dreaming of creating a new herb garden in 2023

 While drinking calendula tea, I decided this pretty flower must be a part of the new herb garden.  Planning for a new herb design on this rainy, freezing January night. 

Pot marigold or Calendula is a medicinal flower that can be used to treat things like headaches, toothaches, and more. As a culinary herb, the flower petals of this plant are edible and can be used fresh in salads or even dried to color cheese. It is often used as a substitute for saffron and can add vibrant color to everything from poultry dishes to soups and stews.

Making pot marigold tea is divine. See picture of dried flowers in a cloth tea bag that I made tonight.

Calendula flowers are so pretty in the formal herb garden. And it's so easy to germinate. Grow in full sun and keep moist. Dead head spent flowers and save them, and more flowers will continue to grow until a hard frost.

                                              calendula seeds 

Hoverflies, predatory Miridae, ladybugs, lacewings, minute pirate bugs, and a variety of other beneficial insects love this cheerful beautiful bloom.

Intercropping calendula with carrots reduced carrot pest damage, including that caused by nematodes. Plant with potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, peas, asparagus, squash, melons, corn, basil, lettuce, peppers.

It can also be used as a fabric dye. Such a pretty shade of golden yellow.

The herb's antifungal and antimicrobial properties help prevent infection and heal injuries to body tissues. Calendula is also known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant components, which might help to fight cancer, protect against heart disease, and ease muscle fatigue.

Drinking calendula tea is reported to help heal gastric ulcers, congested lymph nodes and sore throat. It can potentially help break a fever by causing a sweat. Dosage is no more than 2 to 3 cups per day. (Not for pregnant women since it can stimulate menstruation).

For a flower, calendula actually contains some amazing nutrients and phytochemicals. Calendula flowers contain fatty acids and they’re also high in many antioxidants such as lutein, lycopene, beta-carotene, quercetin, rutin, and more! Many of these antioxidants are known for their roles in eye health, reducing inflammation, preventing heart disease, regulating blood sugar. Perhaps one of the most profound benefits of drinking calendula tea is its potential to help support healthy digestion. The medicinal properties of calendula make it soothing to the digestive tract. Considered to be a carminative herb, drinking calendula tea may be effective in helping ease and prevent heartburn and indigestion. It’s also very soothing to internal mucous membranes and can help support the healing of gastric and intestinal inflammation associated with conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

And when our digestive processes are functioning properly, we are better able to absorb the nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals from the food we eat. What's not to like?

Reclaiming the Cold Frame from the Invasion of the Golden Raspberries December 2 2022

I filled a tall can with dead canes and pulled out invasive honeysuckle vines.

Most canes have no growth but this was protected in a warm area and grew leaves

A cut cane that is now ready for replanting.

This was a lot of digging.  I did save about 10 canes to repot in containers. 

                    Fabulous - the golden raspberry canes have been dug out. 

More to do on Sunday, December 4th 2022 after the rains leave us on Saturday, December 3.