Gigantic Plants
Flesh scented flowers, leaves that catch insects, and natural compounds that will make you hallucinate for days. There are countless marvels and oddities in the plant world, and here are just a few: The giant amazon water lily, with its 10 foot diameter and ability to hold up to 70 pounds. The enormous gunnera, with leaves 6 feet wide and 8 feet long. And the saguaro cactus, towering icon of the southwest.
India’s Valley Of The Flowers
Nanda Devi is India’s second highest peak and shelters the Bhyander Valley, home to the remarkable Valley of Flowers. The UNESCO World Heritage site is home to 600 plant species, as well as rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear and the blue sheep. Covered in snow most of the year, the valley gives way to a short summer of blooms from the Brahmakamal to the Cobra Lily. The Valley of Flowers has played a role in literature for over a century, and made numerous appearances in the history of the Hindu religion.
Things I Love To Grow: Bush Clover
Especially after the extreme aridity of this year’s relentless summer, I appreciate a good wash of color. I refuse to water when nature herself is holding back, so all amongst my garden beds, my flowers are echoing the wildflowers: grizzled crowns of dried up petals, foliage pale with streaks of powdery mildew, seeds woefully dry and empty. But there is one still putting on a show- Lespedeza thunbergii, commonly known as bush clover. Seriously drought tolerant, undeterred by most pests, and erupting forth in a fountain of rose pink flowers come mid August, this plant is seriously easy to grow (which is one of the top qualities I look for in a garden plant. No fussiness allowed). The plant blooms on new growth, so keep it short and stocky or let it rip into a towering deluge of purple rain.
I can rave all I like about this plant, but Matsu Basho says it best:
Bush clover in blossom waves
without spilling
a drop of dew
– Basho
August And The Goldfinch
Although they are present year round, the American Goldfinch is really easy to see come August. It’s at this time of year thistles, milkweed, and sedges start to produce abundant seed, bringing these bright, feathered acrobats out into the open. In fact, the gold finch adheres to what might be the strictest all-seed diet in the ornithological world- a characteristic that means that brood parasites that require insect food, like cuckoos and cowbirds, rarely survive in a gold finch’s nest. To attract these birds to the garden plant almost any native species belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). They especially love sunflowers and are a wonder when seen in a group, dangling from the plant’s seed head, bright yellow wings taking the place of vanished yellow petals.
The Noxious Reality Of The Rose
A rose by any other name…? Actually, a rose doesn’t smell quite as good if it comes from Colombia or Ecuador. Responsible for the export of some 78% of cut roses sold in the USA, these two flower powerhouses breed roses for hardiness, durability, and uniformity rather than scent. But I know it’s easy to fall for roses. Or any other flower for that matter. Opulently squeezed cheek by jowl lining the benches of a local grocer, they are, for me, the ultimate impulse buy. The perfect bouquet sitting on the kitchen table = purest joy.
Problem is, not only are most flowers guilty of contributing to global warming (shipped from thousands of miles away as they are) but the South American floriculture business uses a brew of noxious chemicals to keep roses thriving and cranking at high production levels year round. Approximately 20% of these chemicals are illegal here in the USA. In fact, most roses are dipped in a final preservative prior to being loaded onto the refrigerated vehicles which take them to their final destination. Although shipments are inspected for the usual contraband (cocaine, stowaway bugs and pests) no chemical residue assessments are performed.
But summer being the season of the wedding, I know flowers are a must have. So check out the sites below for cut flower alternatives, or follow this link to find a local, organic flower farm near you.
California Organic Flowers
Veriflora
Organic Bouquet
A Brief History Of Mrs Meyers….
Since its inception in 2000, Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products have staked a place in our hearts, cabinets, and front-row window displays of supermarkets and corner stores alike. The retro, monochromatic labels and wholesome slogans (‘Wishing You a Clean and Happy Home, Cleans Like the Dickens!’), not to mention cruelty-free, low-impact manufacturing, has made the Mrs. Meyers brand all but irresistible.
It’s hard to have a brand this is drawn on horticultural, and more so, sustainability and green ethics. Wilder is always inspired by companies that are managing to deliver the goods. It’s one reason we wanted to work with Mrs. Meyers for our Summer 2012 issue. That and their amazing community gardening program that includes seeds, events and inspiration.
We spoke with Kim Chisholm, VP of Marketing of Mrs Meyers, about their experiences.
WQ: For our readers who may not already know, who is the real Mrs. Meyers?
She is the founder’s [Monica Nassif’s] mother, Thelma Meyer – a Midwestern mom of nine kids. She is also turning eighty-years-old this August, so watch for some celebrations this month.
WQ: Does she have a major hand in creating product recipes, and/or the way products are marketed, or is she primarily a company totem?
She’s not directly involved in the day-to-day product development or marketing of the products but we are inspired by her values – things like being neighborly, practical, uncomplicated and hard-working. [Those things] really are the truth behind the products and brand. Whenever possible we like to feature true stories from her everyday life (like a recipe, craft or experience). I think she keeps us real and grounded in what’s important. She’s an amazing person and it’s easy to be inspired by her.
WQ: How are the products made?
The products are developed in-house (we have a great lab) and the products are made largely in a 100-mile radius of our office. They contain plant-derived essential oils and ingredients that are powerful against dirt and grime, but leave your home smelling like a garden. Most people are often surprised that [ours] work as well as conventional cleaners — and also by the uplifting aromatheraputic scents. We truly are inspired by the garden and think it’s practical that products have strong utility, so we work both these points into our messaging whenever possible.
Dark Rye & Horticultural Editor, Molly Marquand
Whole Foods has launched a Dark Rye Tumblr today – a companion to their video magazine that focuses on contemporary cultivators, foodies and outdoor enthusiasts. Wilder’s Horticultural Editor, Molly Marquand, is a contributing writer for the site. Her first piece is all about perennials:
Not all plants are created equal. Perennials are the tenacious stalwarts of nature, resiliently springing back each season. Simply put, they’re the gift that keeps on giving, and for gardening enthusiasts, they’re golden.
The secret to the perennial’s re-appearing trick lies hidden below ground, where the plant stores food to carry it into the following year. Growing from a bulb, corm, rhizome or root, perennials can be easily spread or replanted, as long as you know the magic of how they make more of themselves.
Read the rest of the article here.
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