Plant Camp Monday's

 

Crownbeard  Verbesina helianthoides 

 

 

 

This wildflower Crownbeard is new to my wildflower garden, It looks almost like the same set up I did a couple of week ago with the wildflower Partridge Pea.  I like black frames around yellow flowers and I have a lot yellow flowers. : )

 

Also called Wing-stem , Its in the Aster family--- Asteraceae

 

If you look at the bigger picture you will see a spider on the bottom flower.

 

Here's a link to more pictures, need to scroll down to get some really nice pictures.  The seed pod also called a Wing-stem will be a nice fall decoration.  Well be saving seeds on this one.  Crownbeard

 

Thank you all for stopping by, we still have hot weather this week and I can't wait tell fall.

Have a great week, I'll try and post more homestead happenings this week.  Take good care.

linda

 

Plant Camp Monday's

Amaranth Amaranthus cruentus
Hopi Red Dye

I didn't plant any of the Amaranth in my garden this year, it came up on its own.  I just let it grow where it wanted to.  Its so very pretty. 

Amaranth leaves when young can be used, the bright fuscia pink is great to add to your fresh salads.
Matures leaves turn to a deep red and the stunning flowers have nutritious black seeds.  The Hopi use these seeds to make their famous red corn breads. 

I have not tried the seeds but would be fun to do. I love cornbread.  Would make a nice Autumn color to go along with meals.

Here's a bit more on the plant, hope you have this in your garden Amaranth Hopi Red Dye


Thanks for stopping by the camp, have a great week
linda

Plant Camp Monday's

Partridge Pea  Chamaecrista fasciculata

A new discovery on the homestead is Partridge Pea. I'm sure it was always here but I just took notice and seen a couple of plants.

Its a pretty little wildflower plant that gets about 2 ft tall.  The leaves look like ferns.  Fruit is a short bean like pod.  Not sure if this plant is edible.

The quail and many other birds do like the seeds.  Partridge Pea is seen along roadside around early fall. 

The leaflets will fold up when touched.  I cut a few for a bouquet but it did not do well, and probably because of the sensitive flowers.  Best to let grow wild and have your bouquets outside. 

Here's a link with more info. Partridge Pea It does say that if live stock eats large quantities of this plant it can be fatal.  So maybe not a good human food.  The deer love it and does not harm them. 

So many beautiful wild flowers that get looked over and mowed down.  Getting out and really studing wildflowers make them no longer weeds to me : )

Well until next week , I'll be checking around to see what other wilds I will find.  I'll be doing veggies to, nuts and trees.  If it grows will have it on the Plant Camp.

Thanks for your visits and have a great week
linda

Plant Camp Monday's

Goat's Beard

Goat's Beard Tragopogon dubius

If you seen some super sized dandelion like white fluffs along a country road , your probably looking at Goat's Beard.  

Its gets  2 1/2 ft tall with a beautiful yellow flower.  Then when its time for it to go to seed its a whole new look like this photo, It truly is beautiful.  
I don't have this growing on the homestead yet, but saved the seeds for next season.  I may try some winter sowing on the seeds as well. 

The name dubius is Latin meaning "doubtful" because the plant was long mistaken for another species. 

More pictures of flower and some info on this wonderful weed Goat's Beard

Hope you have some growing where you live

Thanks for dropping by, have a great weeks and see ya later
linda

Herbal Salves

I completed my herbal salves the other day, finally got the bees wax.  They turned out good.  Was able to find these tins and I like to get more of them.  The small jar works great to. 

I was able to get a hard salve and a softer one.  You can work the wax to make it the consistency you like.

Theres only three herbs that worked while I was sunny them in the window, Thyme,Yarrow and Chamomile.  The Plantain and Nettle did not do well and I know why too.  I did not have them completely covered in olive oil.  They molded.  Must be covered.  And those two I wanted the most.  Need to get more oil and do again. 

These salves are great for rashes, insect bites and stings to scraps ad cuts.   Always check information on herbs before you apply.  Some herbs are very potent.  So please check first. 

I have lots of herbs and how to's but not until I got spring and summer issue of Mary Janes Farm magazine and her easy to follow and inspiring article that I jump right in doing something I had talked of doing for many years.  I'm so pleased with the results and will be adding other herbs to my collection and hope I never have to use them but its good to have on hand.

Thanks for stopping by,
linda

Plant Camp Monday's

Forget-Me-Nots  Myosotis laxa

 

I came to growing these little beauties from a stand outside of a store. They were taking donation for Alzheimers disease and giving away packets of Forget-Me-Nots.  I could not think of a more appropriate flower.  They will remind me how devastating the disease yet the beauty of love ones and their strength to carry on.

"(Ouote from text)---Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The moose-ear forget-me-not, Myosotis laxa, has now extended its racemes very much, and hangs over the edge of the brook. It is one of the most interesting minute flowers. It is the more beautiful for being small and unpretending; even flowers must be modest."

Here's a little something about them   Forget-Me-Nots

Thank you for dropping by
Have a great week
linda

Keeping A Journal

My Journal



Adding anything I like



 

Inspiration

I've started back at keeping a journal.  Set it aside and its hard to get back at it.   The upper two pictures are one of my journals.  Its a smaller book but great to take outside and sketch or jot down notes.   I even started some Haiku poems, these are fun three liners of anything you like.  Also working on sketches and watercolors.   

 

The last book is pure inspiration by Cathy Johnson, she is a artist ,naturalist, writer and shares so much in all fields.  She points out that no matter if you think that theres nothing to journal  about and it might be to mundane that even the little things can be captured in words and sketches to get us out of that way of thinking.   Shes so right.  You can journal no matter where you are.  Pick a subject , your thoughts anything you like.   The best part theres no rules, its yours, and you don't need to be an artist either.  I sometimes use stick people in my jounal to show family gatherings. 

 

If you can come across Cathy Johnsons book or others that will get you to keep one of your own, its so worth it. 

 

Do you keep a journal?  

 

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Journaling

linda