Profile: c3fa10e7...
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris). I love the name of this plant. And seeing it’s purple heads peeking up through the long grasses in the meadow. It’s edible but I don’t eat anything from the contaminated land I picked this from, this is just to see what colour dye it produces. I think I’ll try to get some seeds for my local plant garden though #BloomScrolling
My boy Grumps has been diagnosed with arthritis and can’t do much jumping or running these days. Tips for keeping a kitty stimulated without chasing and jumping very welcome! #caturday
Here's my rough plan for my little local garden project:
1 - map out what little micro habitats my garden has so I know what it can support. It's heavy clay, usually always damp but not waterlogged, with one side full sun and tends to get hot along a brick wall, and one side almost constant shade.
2 - Research the local flora that are suitable for the habitat. I have the S.Yorks plant atlas, lots of resources on native wildflowers, and also just exploring and seeing what is around.
Ever since I first got in to gardening I keep finding myself becoming increasingly annoyed at capitalism-led Big Gardening.
Every single gardening guide tells you to buy compost and amend your soil. It's why anybody who says that they grow their own to save money gets scoffed at. In a regular allotment or garden you probably have an excess of nutrients. Cut Big Gardening off.
(I'm sorry I get irrationally angry after reading gardening magazines)
nostr:npub1m9sdv89uxpm5jsfh48ld9qdxwhrqy9nye7q2fn6g37er0ax393lql6wkkg Quick & interesting alternative: buy a bunch of wildflower seed mix, toss it liberally on the area in question, spread something loose like straw or grass clippings on top, keep it watered until stuff germinates, and as needed thereafter. The plants and associated soil microbes, and in due course insects and worms, will transform the packed earth into a while different thing, a diverse little habitat.
nostr:npub1srj6fw49xqvqr8n0rq86h5s79z68yexdcgk3j2qtdmzc0f2y0nuqzkcc40 nostr:npub1m9sdv89uxpm5jsfh48ld9qdxwhrqy9nye7q2fn6g37er0ax393lql6wkkg this is what I did on a section of very heavy clay that was compacted after years of being covered with asphalt. Chamomile & poppy are doing particularly well & after starting off dead a year ago, it’s filled with worms and much looser soil already. Over winter I’ll chop it and let it break down in place as next year’s top soil. Radish, dandelion and sunflower are good for hard soil too
Sweet peas are indeed sweet (looking and smelling, not eating before somebody comes along to point it out). I keep chopping off their beautiful heads for my house and they keep on giving me more. #bloomscrolling #flowers #gardening
