Africanaussie

I just watched a film that Kate at vegetable vagabond  posted.  You can view it here -  Seeds of Freedom. I have always been worried about genetically modified seeds, and this answered a lot of my questions. Seed is nature's gift, not an invention.  Nobody should be allowed to patent seeds as far as I am concerned. This amaranth that adds lovely color to my salads pops up regularly in my garden.  It was first planted by a packet of seeds that Kate sent me about 3 years ago.  It adds diversity to my garden and diet and amaranth is one of the oldest heirloom seeds in the world.  I think we as gardeners have a responsibility to make sure that seeds like this never die out. Listening to the dates of when genetically modified seeds were first patented ties in so tightly with the advent of the current globesity and diabetes epidemic I can't help thinking that this is all interconnected. Dill is lovely in the ga...

This is a  little bit of this and that, so forgive me as I seem to jump from one plant to the other.... firstly my lipstick plant has seeded!  I heard that they could be propagated by cuttings and have started some off quite successfully, and then noticed these long dangling strips where the flowers had died off.  Well now I noticed they had opened up - I am probably going to have hundreds of tiny lipsticks plants growing up around the hanging basket now.  These cosmos sure attract the butterflies, but I want the zinnia to bloom as well - soon the vegetable garden will be bright with color and that should bring on some pollinators.  I am also letting some of the basil flower for the same reason.  The amazon lily flowers intermittently through the year - I still cant figure out when is the "right" season for it to flower.  Celery, bok choy and lettuces are slowly getting a little...

I have these cosmos that have taken over in the vegetable garden - they are bright and cheery and  oh my! - they attract my favorite butterflies - I missed this display - it happened while I was at work so once again the praise goes to my hubby's photographing efforts. ( I told him he needs his own blog!)  all the talk about how they only like red flowers....  this one seems very happy with orange. Look at the proboscis sucking out the nectar - normally it is rolled up in a tight little coil.  Can you find the cross where this ones legs intersect?  I wonder who sent us this beauty? Look at the torn wing - I think they lead a hard life.  I think blue and orange go so well together. Don't you?  they flit around so fast that you only get a glimpse of that iridescent blue.  - welcome to my garden  you pretty little things.  I wonder if one of these (there were two) is the same one that hatched out of its c...