Gardening Journal - Post your gardening updates here

You're fine with Basil.

Basil doesn't need an early start.

You still have a long growing season ahead.

And you're not joking that fresh herbs are skyrocketing. I expect triple the price by next year.

Doing some research on possible blood-clot remedies

Potassium Chlorate
Crocus Sativa (Saffron)
Matricaria (Maywart)

First significant spring rain 1/4 inch out here. Should give a nice nitrogen boost.

4-28-21 First Significant Rainfall (1/4) & Rainbow

[imgur] [link to imgur.com (secure)]

No, not hydroponics, just seedlings to replant outside soon. Many vlogs say it is a good idea to mix some coco coir into the soil for water retention, and I live in dry area. After I tried the mix, I'm not sure it is a good idea. :( Had to re-seed some plants.

Now my Foxglove is starting to take off at last.

33 days in. These little beauties can take up to 4 weeks sometimes to germinate. They do take their sweet time, but once they've decided they like the soil, they take off.

Today's rain seems to be to their liking as well.

[imgur] [link to imgur.com]

Well, it might be a good idea if your soil is really acolyte in the balance. But using pure coco-coir could be a bit too acidic. I'd get a ph tester and check what is going on.

*alkaline

Not acolyte.

In the medicinal garden, you'll no doubt want some Saffron.

But, which Saffron?

If you try Crocus Sativus, I commend you for your bravery. Crocus Sativus really likes the middle east and especially India.

I, however, opted for Crocus Tommasinianus (Woodland Saffron).

Since we're harvesting green leafy aerial parts and not the flowers, we have here a much easier growing Saffron species with all the same medicinal benefits.

If anyone does grow true Saffron, please post. I'd love to see what you did.


[imgur] [link to imgur.com]

I got some weedlings today.


[imgur] [link to imgur.com]

Yeah, that pretty much looks like it.

Hemp itself is actually legal to grow now.

For medicinal purposes internally, there is no need to grow Marijuana as Hemp tincture is good as a remedy to irritation of kidneys, bladder, urethra.

It is also the old standby for treating gonorrhea.

I like just a little thc to help me sleep.
Have you read "The Road to Amanda"? It's got a lot of good info.

These are from an herbalist friend and are her own variant. I like a gentle 'body high' but not being truly stoned. As you get older, adding in just a little thc really does help the aches and pains.

Now, here we are.

Just spied out a tiny sproutling popping through

That would indeed be Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade.

That's the real thing.

35 days to germination this time as of 4/30/21.

You have to give these pretty ladies a little time, but they will germinate.

[imgur] [link to imgur.com]

See the difference in your Wolfsbane and Belladonna?

Both will usually popup reddish to purple, but your Wolfsbane will usually not be quite so red as your Belladonna at first.

[imgur] [link to imgur.com]

Started some warm weather plants. I'm in pa. Going to plant them with a cut water soda jug over them for protection

Yeah, you're up there in zone 4 to 7.

You should be pretty much clear to grow by tomorrow May 1.

Five Aronia bushes to plant in large pots. Aronia is also called chokeberry (leathery skin eaten raw, so pies, powders, etc.) and has the highest antioxidants of berries.

Last Edited by TXGLP2 on 04/30/2021 10:07 PM

It sounds like it.

Good survival food too.

I've never tried Chokeberry.

Will have to research it.

May Day Prayer for a good harvest of good medicine.

[imgur] [link to imgur.com (secure)]
[/imgur]




Psalm 102

Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am harried; incline thine ear unto me: on the day I invoke answer me speedily.

3For my days have been consumed like smoke, and my bones have been burned as an hearth.

4My heart has been smitten, and withered like the flora; so that I forgot to eat my bread.

5By reason of the voice of my harrying my bones clave to my skin.

6I was like a pelican of the desert, like an owl of the wild.

7I watched, and was as a lone sparrow upon the house top.

8Mine enemies harried me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

9For I had eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my cup with weeping,

10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

11My days were like declining shadow; and I was withered like the flora.

12But thou, O LORD, shalt endure unto the aeons; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

13Now thou springest up shalt have mercy upon Sion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Fertility Update:

So there I was with the pagans on Beltane looking smashing in my Druid whites.

We did agricultural fertility rites of spring.

And, oh, how we danced the fire dance around Yee Olde May pole.

Then they started calling on the gods, and I was like, Wait, where's Jesus?

They didn't have Jesus on the handout.

So, I secretly called on Jesus.

They were all invoking with their athemes. And I was like, Wait, aren't you supposed to banish with the dagger and invoke with wand.

I was the odd ball out because I was invoking Jesus with the wand, which I consider to be proper and more respectful. I mean, I wouldn't want to be summoned with a dagger.


Anyway, May Day.

Furthermore, when you call upon Jesus with the wand, you hold the wand with the handle facing toward him so he can take it. I mean, it's his wand. He's the only Stag Lord of spring fertility, anyway. What's Cernunnos going to do for your life and harvest? Nothing but sit there and look retarded like he always has. But he can't do the fertility rites. He doesn't have the swing.

The pagans are confused in their liturgics.

You're probably asking yourself, What fire did you do?

I'll tell which one.

Lorena's, of course.

When it started playing during the ritual, I thought, Wow! That's the most original thing I've ever seen! You're playing Beltane fire dance when we're doing the Beltane fire dance by the only person who's ever made a song called Fire Dance! You people are wizards! All of you!

Then someone said, Does anyone know how to do the Fire Dance? At this, I spoke up and said, Haha! Why, of course, I do. Don't be silly. Then I started my boogie and dance moves with my arms like flames and everyone soon followed suit.

Whatever it was that we just all did around the May Pole, I'm certain that no one else has ever done it because I just invented it on the fly.

Not even I could tell you what we just did and I just did it.

https://imgur.com/lrfYl3f

Lemon Balm is coming up..I have several patches in the garden.

Sadly, we also have sunchokes, which should have been planted separately (they sorta came with the garden, we didn't know and rototilled the first year. BIG mistake.)

But currants, hazelnuts, raspberries all look good.

Strawberries are just starting to bloom, the little bit of snow yesterday didn't bother them.

Apples and apricots are blooming, nectarines are done.

Oh, that looks nice.

Really greening up.

Second rain of season.

Looks like we got right at 1 1/2 inches over here in the southeast plains. Should be great for the garden.

System headed Texas bound.

Rain 1 1/2 inches 5/3/21

[imgur] [link to imgur.com (secure)]

Well, I bought the sweet basil seeds (2 packs) the potting soil, I have a few big pots, but it's been so hot the last couple days. Maybe early Weds AM before the heat starts...

If you can hold off till May 11, you'll be able to catch that new moon cycle when planting.

You don't have to wait, but you might be on a better cycle for germination of your basil.

I'd go ahead and do a water stratification this week.

HUH??

I know.

You're thinking, But stratification, isn't itjust for cold weather germinators?

In most cases, that's true. However, most of the antigermination elements on bulk commercial seeds can simply be rinsed away just doing a basic stratification for a week or two.

You're going to get quicker results.

Whaaat?

New Wolfsbane leaf growth.

They take a little while to sprout out when they are developing their root system, but once they do, they go ahead and start leafing out.

Aconitum - New Leaf 5/7/21

[imgur] [link to imgur.com (secure)]