Builder’s Bums 2 – the hairy ones..

The Arty Plantsman

This may be my final post before heading over the ocean to Montreal next week. I will schedule some B&W photos to keep things ticking over whilst I am mainlining Maple syrup.

Meanwhile, here is a Friday geeky plant post:

A month ago I wrote a post about Lithops (Builder’s Bums in my wife’s parlance). This is kind of a sequel to that, though I realise this blog risks turning into the botanical equivalent of the Benny Hill show or a Carry On movie. At least I am not (yet) featuring Argyroderma testiculare or Clitoria ternata (there are clues in the names).

Whilst Lithops fascinate me, the closely related Conophytum are far more variable in size, shape, markings, hairiness and flower colour. Unlike Lithops they are winter-growers which makes their management a little trickier.

Very broadly they can be divided into two large groups of species:

• the species that flower…

Voir l’article original 248 mots de plus

Publicité

Mouse Movie

Just too cutre ❤

Bonnie Kelso

Enjoy!

x,

---

Bonnie Kelso writes and illustrates children’s books that celebrate diversity, creativity, and all the special qualities that make each of us unique. Her book EVER OPEN is now available on Amazon in print and for kindle.

Deep in the heart of the Everglades, 26 tiny eggs are beginning to hatch in a giant nest under a tall cypress tree. The fourth alligator to see the light of day is about to embark on a classic hero’s journey. Join Baby D as he explores his world through the innocence and wonder of a natural dreamer. Discover what makes him special while pondering what it might be that makes you special, too.

Voir l’article original

Taking Advantage of Abundance and Learning the Lesson of Scarcity

The Druid's Garden

Ripening Strawberry!

I think one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in the past six years as a wild food forager, organic gardener, and localvore are the lessons of abundance and scarcity, and the interplay between the two. Crops fail, others boom, patches of mushrooms are discovered and never found again.  You never know what a year will be like on your homestead, or what the season will be like for foraging.  You’ll never know when you go somewhere new what you will find–if anything.  You have something really great happen one year–like a huge patch of wild berries turned into jam–and then the next two years, the berry patch isn’t producing because the weather early in the season was too cold or there was a late frost.  Or the sap runs abundantly one year, or in the next, its gone. When you do find something exciting…

Voir l’article original 1 932 mots de plus

The Mouse

Bonnie Kelso

So, last weekend was that big beautiful full moon in Pisces. Did you feel it? Did you ask for something special to show up in your life? What was revealed to you?

I got a mouse! So, I asked for a spirit guide to come to me to help me along with my children’s books. I wanted to be open to a wide variety of animals so I used Steven Farmers Animal Oracle Deck and guess who popped out of the deck just as I was beginning to shuffle? You got it, MOUSE!

They do have that capacity to surprise! I can think of the many times I’ve seen a mouse and screamed. I’ve always felt bad afterwards because they are so darn cute and usually more afraid of me than I could ever be of them.

But really, what could be a more perfect spirit guide for someone who…

Voir l’article original 525 mots de plus

Hummingbird Friend

Plants and Beyond

MGM – Monday Garden Minute.🐞

This idea came to me in a dream – Monday feature- a one-minute segment about what is happening in the garden 🙂 🌱

Backyard, front porch, lanai, outside world, anything that is pertinent to plant growth is featured as a short segment on Mondays.🦎

While writing a post, this little tiny birdie visited her daily dinner flowers behind my office window. So very cute and I can’t believe that I was so fortunate to get at least a video of this God’s precious gift.

Sorry for the window net, but at least we can see the bird on her daily flight. After she drinks the flower’s nectar, she rests for a couple of seconds on the oleander tree’s branches. Always so thankful for her visits and presence.

Wanted to share this super short video with you guys. Nature and its children are so precious to me.

Plants…

Voir l’article original 37 mots de plus

Morning Backyard Finds

Plants and Beyond

MGM – Monday Garden Minute.🐞

This idea came to me in a dream – Monday feature- a one-minute segment about what is happening in the garden 🙂 🌱

Backyard, front porch, lanai, outside world, anything that is pertinent to plant growth is featured as a short segment on Mondays.🦎

MGM – did it take less than 60 seconds to view the post?

I hope so 🙂 Have a very green Monday.

Enjoy and notice nature, friends, as much as all the wild creatures and I do.🖼

Luda@PlantsandBeyond🌿

All photographs belong to Luda @PlantsandBeyond.com

©PlantsandBeyond.com  

Voir l’article original

Another 7 day B&W photo challenge! Day 6..

The Arty Plantsman

Dominique has nominated me to do this again as she is curious to see more of my part of the world and also Mel has been writing words to accompany my images over on her site – so here is some more material for you.

All pics this time have been taken in Lancaster, UK, this summer.

With regards choosing nominees. I really don’t enjoy doing that, so anyone who wants to take part is very welcome to do so!

The rules are: Seven days. Seven black and white photos of your life. No people. No explanation. Challenge someone new each day (yes I am breaking this rule!)

Voir l’article original

Plant Spirit Communication, Part I: Your Native Langauge

The Druid's Garden

When I was  new to my first job, a colleague had given two of us both who had been recently hired an elephant ear plant seedling for our offices. Our offices were next to each other, both with the same window. Each plant was planted in an identical pot and in identical soil. My elephant ear plant grew quite large and beautiful, while my colleague’s plant kept sending up small shoots and dying back. Finally, she said to me, « Why is your plant doing so much better than mine? » And I responded as a druid, totally without thinking, « I just talk to the plant and it tells me what it needs. » She rolled her eyes at me, let out an exasperated sigh, and walked away. She was never a very pleasant person, but she was particularly nasty to me for some time after that. Perhaps she thought I was mocking…

Voir l’article original 1 837 mots de plus

So You Want to Start a Homestead? Resources and Insights to Get You Started

The Druid's Garden

I’ve had a few people in the last few months ask me about starting a homestead or a small organic farm. A « homestead » or, if you are in the UK « smallholding » refers to a personal or family plot of land where food is grown, animals are tended, and the household economy encouraged (e.g. home crafts and food preservation) with the goal of increased resiliency and self-sufficiency. I thought I’d take the time today to talk about the resources and considerations one needs to do so using permaculture design principles and what I’ve learned from the 5 year process of converting my 3 acre piece of land into a small homestead. I’m also going to talk through what I learned and some of the mistakes that I’ve made in the hopes you don’t have to make the same ones.

Working on the homestead!

Your Motivation for Homesteading

I think its important…

Voir l’article original 3 037 mots de plus

So You Want to Start a Homestead? Resources and Insights to Get You Started

The Druid's Garden

I’ve had a few people in the last few months ask me about starting a homestead or a small organic farm. A « homestead » or, if you are in the UK « smallholding » refers to a personal or family plot of land where food is grown, animals are tended, and the household economy encouraged (e.g. home crafts and food preservation) with the goal of increased resiliency and self-sufficiency. I thought I’d take the time today to talk about the resources and considerations one needs to do so using permaculture design principles and what I’ve learned from the 5 year process of converting my 3 acre piece of land into a small homestead. I’m also going to talk through what I learned and some of the mistakes that I’ve made in the hopes you don’t have to make the same ones.

Working on the homestead!

Your Motivation for Homesteading

I think its important…

Voir l’article original 3 037 mots de plus