I never really understood succulents before the GreenWall project at work. Cacti were these freaky painful things that were on display outside flower shops; I was afraid to touch them. I still have difficulty getting my head around these Starfish of the plant world where they'll regenerate from almost any part that falls off the mother plant.
(Logic may say starfish are much freakier considering plants don't move, they do. But as a child I was more interested in the animal kingdom than green stuff they ate.)
From an aesthetic point of view, I'm getting a better appreciation every time I take a look at them during maintenance. Their colours and patterns are really beautiful.
It probably also helps that I've also been introduced at the same time to a much more vicious plant, the bromeliads. Painful bastards to stick my hand in!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Empire Avenue?
I joined Empire Avenue out of curiosity. Basically it's a site that joins all your Social Networking needs into one site, and you can buy other people's shares exactly like the stock market. I'm sure you can find info about it in plenty of other places. The point of this post was to show that you can join your interest groups, and I've joined the "Gardening" Community and the "Nature" Community. I'm in the 'Nature' index, and I'm on top of the leaderboard for 'Vice President' *wootwoot*
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Awesome Mushrooms
Funny how a Facebook conversation can lead to places.
I came across shimeji mushrooms on the store shelf yesterday, which got me curious as to whether I'd still dislike them. I stuck to the regular whites, sliced, though in the end as I was not in the mood for experimenting that day. The post regarding the above issues lead to various people's likes and dislikes (even one allergy), and this morning found a shared link to how awesome and innovative ways to use fungi.
How mushrooms could possibly save the world - a TED talk by Paul Stamets
I came across shimeji mushrooms on the store shelf yesterday, which got me curious as to whether I'd still dislike them. I stuck to the regular whites, sliced, though in the end as I was not in the mood for experimenting that day. The post regarding the above issues lead to various people's likes and dislikes (even one allergy), and this morning found a shared link to how awesome and innovative ways to use fungi.
How mushrooms could possibly save the world - a TED talk by Paul Stamets
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Perilla Frutescenes - Shiso
Perilla Frutescenes
“Shiso”/“Beefsteak Plant”
Aka Ao Shiso, Ji Soo, Perilla, Purple Perilla, Shiso, Wild basil, Wild red basil, Chinese basil, Purple mint, Rattlesnake weed, Summer coleus
Family: Lamiaceae
Shiso originated in East Asia, and was a traditional crop of China, India, Japan, Korea, and Thailand, a plant now scientifically verified as having numerous beneficial chemical properties. Introduced to America during 1800’s, it quickly became a naturalised weed in Southern USA.
Ideal environment is in full sun to partial shade, although it does well in shade in hotter summer climates as the scorching sun evaporates the flavoursome essential oils. They do well both in the ground and in pots.
Shiso will tolerate pH levels between 6.1 and 7.8 with it ideally neutral. They enjoy light to medium moist well-drained and rich soil.
They may become invasive if left to seed. They are drout and frost tender plants.
Leaf
Shape: Petiole, ovate
Margin: Serrated
Colour: Dark green – dark purple. Sometimes the leaves are so large and red that they remind one of a slice of raw beef, hence the name beefsteak plant
Surface: Bronze-metallic sheen, hairy
Size: 15cm
Arrangement: Opposing
Flavour: Mint/liquorice
Flower
Colour/s: Pink; Violet/Lavender; White/Near White
Inflorescence: Terminal spike, called hojiso; 25cm.
Size: 6mm
Shape: Tubular
Fruit
Calix left as a protection for seedpods. Dry seed head rattles, hence the name Rattlesnake Weed.
Plant Category: Annual herb
Growth characteristics: 45-60 cm; square stems
Potential horticultural use: foliage and aromatic. Flowers are attractive to butterfly yet the foliage is unappealing to most pest insects.
Horticultural limitations: Seeds are poisonous if ingested. Potentially invasive weed (listed as invasive in Pennsilvania)
Propagation methods: from seed; propagate indoors before frost. Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds. Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Culinary: Raw, cooked, dried. Awesome with sashimi, pizza topping as a basil substitute, and canned pickled kkaennip can be found in Korea
Farmaceutical: antiasthmatic, antibacterial, antidote, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitussive, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, emollient, expectorant, pectoral, restorative, stomachic and tonic. An infusion of the plant is useful in the treatment of asthma, colds, cough and lung afflictions, influenza prevention, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, food poisoning and allergic reactions (especially from seafood), and to restore health and balance. The stems are a traditional Chinese remedy for morning sickness and restless fetus in pregnancy, though some say the herb should be avoided by pregnant women.
Aromatic: The seed heads can be collected and dried for use in arrangements, potpourris and wreaths. The crushed plant also makes an effective insecticide.
Other: Perilla seed oil has been used in paints, varnishes, linoleum, printing ink, lacquers, and for protective waterproof coatings on cloth.
Folk lore: In Asia, centuries ago, ceremonies were conducted before harvesting the plant, it was considered to be alive and was held as sacred, sent by God as food and medicine to treat all ailments of man. Disrespect for the plant meant death, anyone caught stepping on the plant would himself be trampled to death!
“Shiso”/“Beefsteak Plant”
Aka Ao Shiso, Ji Soo, Perilla, Purple Perilla, Shiso, Wild basil, Wild red basil, Chinese basil, Purple mint, Rattlesnake weed, Summer coleus
Family: Lamiaceae
Shiso originated in East Asia, and was a traditional crop of China, India, Japan, Korea, and Thailand, a plant now scientifically verified as having numerous beneficial chemical properties. Introduced to America during 1800’s, it quickly became a naturalised weed in Southern USA.
Ideal environment is in full sun to partial shade, although it does well in shade in hotter summer climates as the scorching sun evaporates the flavoursome essential oils. They do well both in the ground and in pots.
Shiso will tolerate pH levels between 6.1 and 7.8 with it ideally neutral. They enjoy light to medium moist well-drained and rich soil.
They may become invasive if left to seed. They are drout and frost tender plants.
Leaf
Shape: Petiole, ovate
Margin: Serrated
Colour: Dark green – dark purple. Sometimes the leaves are so large and red that they remind one of a slice of raw beef, hence the name beefsteak plant
Surface: Bronze-metallic sheen, hairy
Size: 15cm
Arrangement: Opposing
Flavour: Mint/liquorice
Flower
Colour/s: Pink; Violet/Lavender; White/Near White
Inflorescence: Terminal spike, called hojiso; 25cm.
Size: 6mm
Shape: Tubular
Fruit
Calix left as a protection for seedpods. Dry seed head rattles, hence the name Rattlesnake Weed.
Plant Category: Annual herb
Growth characteristics: 45-60 cm; square stems
Potential horticultural use: foliage and aromatic. Flowers are attractive to butterfly yet the foliage is unappealing to most pest insects.
Horticultural limitations: Seeds are poisonous if ingested. Potentially invasive weed (listed as invasive in Pennsilvania)
Propagation methods: from seed; propagate indoors before frost. Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds. Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Culinary: Raw, cooked, dried. Awesome with sashimi, pizza topping as a basil substitute, and canned pickled kkaennip can be found in Korea
Farmaceutical: antiasthmatic, antibacterial, antidote, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitussive, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, emollient, expectorant, pectoral, restorative, stomachic and tonic. An infusion of the plant is useful in the treatment of asthma, colds, cough and lung afflictions, influenza prevention, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, food poisoning and allergic reactions (especially from seafood), and to restore health and balance. The stems are a traditional Chinese remedy for morning sickness and restless fetus in pregnancy, though some say the herb should be avoided by pregnant women.
Aromatic: The seed heads can be collected and dried for use in arrangements, potpourris and wreaths. The crushed plant also makes an effective insecticide.
Other: Perilla seed oil has been used in paints, varnishes, linoleum, printing ink, lacquers, and for protective waterproof coatings on cloth.
Folk lore: In Asia, centuries ago, ceremonies were conducted before harvesting the plant, it was considered to be alive and was held as sacred, sent by God as food and medicine to treat all ailments of man. Disrespect for the plant meant death, anyone caught stepping on the plant would himself be trampled to death!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Gruerilla Gardening
Check out these acts of green vandalism in London, by Richard Reynolds.
Richard gets caught one time... the first time in 4 years he's asked to stop by the authorities.
I think it's a good reminder to ask yourself, what's really good for the community?
Richard gets caught one time... the first time in 4 years he's asked to stop by the authorities.
I think it's a good reminder to ask yourself, what's really good for the community?
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Mouldy Sunflowers
So much for putting away the sunflower seeds for stock.
Dad put the dry flowerheads in a plastic bag to store away in the shed... only to find them not entirely dry yet and covered in white smelly fluff! We decided to rescue the largest flowerhead and not worry about the smaller ones. They got washed, drained, and are currently layed out on the newspapers on the concrete.
I wonder how viable these seeds are as some of them had nothing in them at all.
It'll be my kind of irony to have seeds that went to the birds still viable, as they had plenty of time to dry out properly...
Dad put the dry flowerheads in a plastic bag to store away in the shed... only to find them not entirely dry yet and covered in white smelly fluff! We decided to rescue the largest flowerhead and not worry about the smaller ones. They got washed, drained, and are currently layed out on the newspapers on the concrete.
I wonder how viable these seeds are as some of them had nothing in them at all.
It'll be my kind of irony to have seeds that went to the birds still viable, as they had plenty of time to dry out properly...
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Self-healing Challenge
Wednesday
A friend of mine came over with a SCENAR device to treat the infected gum in the back of my mouth, and also for a minor splinter issue on my palm (from a palm tree). I was tapping with EFT to keep the pain at bay but it came to a point where I was running out of time to organise meets before I finished cert II and disappeared to the farm for a while, and I while I've been aware of SCENAR's healing properties, I decided to take the opportunity to find out for myself.
Of course, as self-healing doctrine goes, the pain in the back of my mouth disappeared as soon as I mentioned it to him on the phone *facepalm*. To ask for help is to already receive...
His usual method is to scan the back for blockage, and then focus on the actual area. So it turned turned out that because all the energies were concentrating on the gum, they wanted nothing to do with the palm for that moment.
The pains from both were gone by that night.
Thursday
I started to get a sniffly nose in the afternoon, and it turned into heavy flu symptom by night. Which is what I was distracted by instead of concentrating on finishing the next plant info. I went to bed with tissues blowing my nose, pondering on the irony of getting a treatment for one thing and receiving something different a day after.
Friday
While I did not feel like getting up, I decided to go to college anyway as I had an assessment piece to hand in. While not doing class-work, I tried to stay away from people as much as possible, and spent the afternoon on the grassy hill in the sun. The runny nose stopped by this time and had moved onto being a headache.
Checking the time that only an hour had passed, I rolled over for another bit of sunshine snooze.
...To have a sharp pain on my rib. As I flailed, three fingers got bitten consecutively, which left me no choice but to run to the bathroom and see what happened. It was an ant of some sort, which I probably could have guessed by the pain was a green ant but I had a teacher confirm it for me.
He got me some stingos and ice.
As I iced the back and the hand in a rather interesting position, I felt a bit of cramp and... rushed to the bathroom to confirm that yes, my period had started.
All I could do by this time was to keep moving in a zombie manner, trying to stay in the sun and also not throw up. I had nothing to throw up, which was probably a good thing I hadn't eaten much during the day anyway.\
A little bit of citrus helped. The banana I got given could not be finished; two bites taken and into the bin it went.
EVENTUALLY, I made my way to public transport, and zombied my way to my boyfriend's.
I was at his door by 5, in bed by 5:30. 9:30 I woke to find myself very sweaty and some headache. After a shower I had gone to bed (proper) and had a very good sleep.
Weekend
Efforts well paid off, I was able to enjoy a day at my friend's place on Saturday and at WWA on Sunday :) It's like god said, you think you can cure your body, cure this! And I could (although it felt like death in the middle of it)
Monday
Now back to our regular schedule... :)
A friend of mine came over with a SCENAR device to treat the infected gum in the back of my mouth, and also for a minor splinter issue on my palm (from a palm tree). I was tapping with EFT to keep the pain at bay but it came to a point where I was running out of time to organise meets before I finished cert II and disappeared to the farm for a while, and I while I've been aware of SCENAR's healing properties, I decided to take the opportunity to find out for myself.
Of course, as self-healing doctrine goes, the pain in the back of my mouth disappeared as soon as I mentioned it to him on the phone *facepalm*. To ask for help is to already receive...
His usual method is to scan the back for blockage, and then focus on the actual area. So it turned turned out that because all the energies were concentrating on the gum, they wanted nothing to do with the palm for that moment.
The pains from both were gone by that night.
Thursday
I started to get a sniffly nose in the afternoon, and it turned into heavy flu symptom by night. Which is what I was distracted by instead of concentrating on finishing the next plant info. I went to bed with tissues blowing my nose, pondering on the irony of getting a treatment for one thing and receiving something different a day after.
Friday
While I did not feel like getting up, I decided to go to college anyway as I had an assessment piece to hand in. While not doing class-work, I tried to stay away from people as much as possible, and spent the afternoon on the grassy hill in the sun. The runny nose stopped by this time and had moved onto being a headache.
Checking the time that only an hour had passed, I rolled over for another bit of sunshine snooze.
...To have a sharp pain on my rib. As I flailed, three fingers got bitten consecutively, which left me no choice but to run to the bathroom and see what happened. It was an ant of some sort, which I probably could have guessed by the pain was a green ant but I had a teacher confirm it for me.
He got me some stingos and ice.
As I iced the back and the hand in a rather interesting position, I felt a bit of cramp and... rushed to the bathroom to confirm that yes, my period had started.
All I could do by this time was to keep moving in a zombie manner, trying to stay in the sun and also not throw up. I had nothing to throw up, which was probably a good thing I hadn't eaten much during the day anyway.\
A little bit of citrus helped. The banana I got given could not be finished; two bites taken and into the bin it went.
EVENTUALLY, I made my way to public transport, and zombied my way to my boyfriend's.
I was at his door by 5, in bed by 5:30. 9:30 I woke to find myself very sweaty and some headache. After a shower I had gone to bed (proper) and had a very good sleep.
Weekend
Efforts well paid off, I was able to enjoy a day at my friend's place on Saturday and at WWA on Sunday :) It's like god said, you think you can cure your body, cure this! And I could (although it felt like death in the middle of it)
Monday
Now back to our regular schedule... :)
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