The Beauty Of The Changing Seasons

[Lady Cannafan]

I grow for a patient, my beloved wife. We have yet to try a high CBD strain, which should be good for her fibromyalgia. Not that THC is not also excellent

We have trimmed as a family, around one large table, with a sound track from greats like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Queen, Bowie, and Willie.
It has been a long time since we had a harvest, we'll see how the next one goes

Wow, I would love to be around your trim table. That's my kind of music!

 

[Dennise]

Sue I have had type 1 diabetes for almost 30 years and still have all my limbs... I do thank MJ for this... I have been a heavy stoner since I was about 13... am now 56.... and I think in my self destructive way as a youth I actually saved myself... I do have some of the fun stuff that goes along with diabetes ie.. HBP and neuropathy in my hands, arms, legs and feet and have been in DKA more times than I care to remember..... but am on a minimal amount of meds now due to dosing with eatables.... I can't imagine what you are having to go through watching your husband to this stage but I'm positive the MJ can help......

 

[Lady Cannafan]

Sing-a-long....

"Oh when the Iris...come marching in. Oh when the Iris come marching in....."

Doctor says "Say Ahhhh....."

A version of the Rolling Stones "40 Licks" album cover?

 

[SweetSue]

Exquisite photos Canna. You fed my iris need there. I've been admiring from the buses, but hadn't gotten close to any yet. You helped appreciably.

 

[Radogast]

Your Iris met and exceeded my minimum daly requirement of beauty,

 

[Lady Cannafan]

No one wanted to attempt a guess on this? LOL I'll post the answer tomorrow.

.....

How about this one?

Hint: Think Matador....

 

[Dennise]

IDK.......

 

[Teddy Edwards]

Hey, Canna. Long time...but I've been reading.

You knowledgeable bunch might be able to help me. I found this astonishing beauty up amongst the ferns at the chapel behind the house yesterday. The spike is about 18" long. Stunning. But what is it?

 

[Dennise]

Is it plant or animal.......

 

[Radogast]

Is it plant or animal.......

I know! I thouht it was a sea creature.

 

[Radogast]

dracunculus vulgaris - voodoo lily, dragon lily, stink lily

I want to grow this!!!

 

[Teddy Edwards]

The white foot in the bottom right hand corner is animal. And I know its name. 'Teddy Magnificious'.

The big purple spiky bloom is plant. And I have no idea what its name is. My RHS Encyclopedia can't tell me and nor can the web.

 

[Teddy Edwards]

dracunculus vulgaris - voodoo lily, dragon lily, stink lily

I want to grow this!!!

Brilliant Rado. Brilliant.

You want to grow this. I shall just transplant it 50 yards.

 

[Lady Cannafan]

Mr. Teddy, it is so gorgeous and unusual! I kept doing a search for Tadpole type flower petal... Transplant some for me too. LOL
Wow!

 

[Lady Cannafan]

Okay, I promised an answer on the whatizit today.

It's called a "Bull Thistle", and it's the nastiest weed on the planet in my opinion. Those thorny spikes will take a chunk out of you. LOL So, that explains the hint "Think Matador".

 

[Radogast]

Bull Thistle !

My only thistle is Blessed Thistle (might not even be a true thistle)

The flower dried out this wek, so I guess I need to read up about the plant's life cycle.


Blessed Thistle shameless placed against a backdrop of ferns, trees, and the brook

Note the two root balls of boy plants in front of the ferns. They were hidden in the snow when I tossed them out there




Drakondia


Dracunculus vulgaris is known variously as the Dragon Arum, the Black Arum, the Voodoo Lily, the Snake Lily, the Stink Lily, the Black Dragon, Dragonwort, and Ragons. In Greece, part of its native range, the plant is called Drakondia, the long spadex (spike) being viewed as a small dragon hiding in the spathe (bract, or leaf).

 

[SweetSue]

dracunculus vulgaris - voodoo lily, dragon lily, stink lily

I want to grow this!!!

Of course you do Rad.

 

[SweetSue]

Drakondia


Dracunculus vulgaris is known variously as the Dragon Arum, the Black Arum, the Voodoo Lily, the Snake Lily, the Stink Lily, the Black Dragon, Dragonwort, and Ragons. In Greece, part of its native range, the plant is called Drakondia, the long spadex (spike) being viewed as a small dragon hiding in the spathe (bract, or leaf).

I've already given you to quota of reps for the day, so be happy with Great detective work there.

 

[Lady Cannafan]

Excellent Radogast!

There are so many Thistle varieties! Mine grows about two feet tall if allowed. Yours appears to stay closer to ground?

Here's some info on Blessed Thistle you might be interested in. Might be worth keeping around in a safe from "pokey" place. LOL

CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING
The leaves and flowering tops are best collected in the summer, just after flowering, in the late morning after the dew has evaporated.4

HISTORY AND FOLKLORE
First used in Ayurvedic medicine,5 blessed thistle eventually made its way to Europe. The Latin name benedictus was derived from blessed thistle's immense healing properties implying its sacred virtues.4,5 By the early sixteenth century, it had securely gained footing in European folk medicine and was cultivated widely in monastery gardens.4,5 Even the famous poet Shakespeare mentioned blessed thistle in his play Much Ado about Nothing (written in 1598-1599 CE). Spiritually, it was associated with purification and therefore used in purification baths. It was also believed that wearing a bit of it would protect one from evil.6 Further, it was associated with the planet Mars, the zodiac of Aries, and the element fire.6,7

Blessed thistle was eaten as a vegetable, made into a powder to mix with wine, or made into fresh juice or tea.4 As this thistle stimulates digestive juices and thus the appetite, it is helpful for sluggish digestion or where there is a lack of appetite. It has served this purpose in both European traditional herbalism and in the Ayurvedic medicine system of India over the generations.5,8,9 In the United States and Germany, blessed thistle has been used in various formulas, particularly as a component of digestive bitters, to support the liver, gallbladder, and overall healthy digestion.1,3,5 Further, it has been administered to support and regulate the female reproductive system due to its action as an emmenagogue.4,9 Additionally, blessed thistle was considered a galactagogue and therefore given to nursing mothers to increase and enrich milk flow.3,4,9 However, it is important to note that large doses can act as an strong emetic.4 Many of the other thistles, such as milk thistle, have similar qualities to blessed thistle. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), in particular, has been used to support the healthy functioning of the liver and gallbladder as well.4 According to herbalist Michael Moore, blessed thistle may be used similarly to other bitters that stimulate the upper gastrointestinal tract such as Artemisia spp., barberry (Berberis vulgaris), and gentian (Gentiana spp.).10 The herb may be applied externally as a poultice for wounds and ulcers as well in order to assist healing and to soothe skin.1,9

Blessed thistle is also part of the secret recipe used to make Benedictine liqueur. 3 As the story goes, in 1510, a Benedictine monk, Don Bernardo Vincelli, created the recipe for this liqueur that contains 27 different herbs, starring angelica (Angelica archangelica), hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). However, allegedly only three people on earth (at a time) know the complete recipe for making it.11

FLAVOR NOTES AND ENERGETICS
Cooling and drying energetically with bitter taste.

HERBAL ACTIONS
Diuretic, diaphoretic, emetic, tonic1,4 appetizer, astringent, bitter, cholagogue, emmenagogue, galactogogue, vermifuge.3

USES AND PREPARATIONS
Dried leaves and flowering stems.
Fresh leaves as a tincture or cooked as a vegetable.

CONSTITUENTS
Blessed thistle contains sesquiterpene lactones including cnicin (bitter index = 1:1,800), tannin, lignan lactones (lignanolides), phytosterols, triterpenoids, volatile oils,5 potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese,3 and small amounts of flavonoids and polyacetylenes.5

 

[Radogast]

Excellent Radogast!

There are so many Thistle varieties! Mine grows about two feet tall if allowed. Yours appears to stay closer to ground?

Here's some info on Blessed Thistle you might be interested in. Might be worth keeping around in a safe from "pokey" place. LOL

Mine stayed low because I grew them alongside the cannababies in the basement. The T5 was too intense for them so they stayed low to avoid the light.
I was reading that it is a good idea to crush the thistle head as soon as it dries and plant the seeds. Immediate planting reduces the digestion by thistle seed loving birds ( I got lots of cardinals and nutchatches.) Planting also keeps the seeds in your patch rather than letting them spread everywhere. -- now I need to figure out where my patch is going to be I have an idea, but I like to consult with my co-gardner.

It also gave a clue on eradicating bull thistle - harvest the dried seed heads and the annuals will fail to reseed. Simple