Arikara Sunflower - Heirloom Seeds & Seed Heads - 12 feet Tall : )

Laura and her 12 foot tall Arikara sunflowers. I almost fell off my chair when she sent me this picture, truly!

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Arikara Sunflower Seeds - (Helianthus annus)

Luckily, they all just fit in this mason jar.

.Arikara dried flower head - Seeds have been removed. I love the texture.

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I save the seeds every year of course,
(and currently have them for sale on my Etsy site if you're interested).
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As for the seed heads, I'm currently making wreaths with them.
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A lovely lady who purchased some of these from me this past spring was kind enough to send me a picture of her harvest. They grew 12 feet tall for her. I'm so pleased!
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She (Laura), gave me permission to share a picture she took of them, here on my blog.
Thanks Laura! You have one hell of a green thumb! : )
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Isn't Nature grand?
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Thanks for visiting!
Happy Heirloom gardening!
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(Because, really, Monsanto's poisonous crap will never grow as well as an heirloom will.)
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Take a Stand Against Monsanto. Really. Now is the time

Okay, so here goes....

Monsanto, kiss my seed saving ass. Truly. I mean it with all of my heart.

I'm getting a little tired of hearing how this multi-national corporation is working to monopolize the world's food supply.

As a human being, I'm saying right now, that I have the right to save my seeds and plant and grow my own food, and so does every other human being on this planet.
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Monsanto is tampering with the very existance of our humanity by taking over the FDA and trying to push through their own unethical, unconstitutional and downright disgusting, polluting, terrorist agenda, by creating laws that will help them and other corporate criminals take over control of our food supply and push smaller growers out of business . Do I sound paranoid? Well, think again.

The time to take a stand is now. If you are a gardener, a small farmer, a market gardener, or anyone who enjoys growing, sharing, and eating your own food, then please, take the time to read some of these links. We have to make informed choices. Not just follow along blindly and allow corporate control over our food. A necessity of life.

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The FDA will aid Monsanto by:

"Set (ing) the standard for “food safety” and certification high enough that no one can afford it. They'll punish anyone who tries to save seed, which has worked fine the way it is, for thousands of years.

With a million dollar a day fine and/or ten years in prison, presto, you have just criminalized seed banking."

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http://www.naturalnews.com/030418_Food_Safety_Modernization_Act_seeds.html
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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=607931487#!/pages/Millions-Against-Monsanto-by-OrganicConsumersorg/289934516904

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http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/monsanto200805

The FDA in the United States has now declared seeds as a food source. This is their way of taking away our right to grow our own food by saving our own seeds. They've gone too far this time. I'm angry and you should be too.

Obviously, Monsanto has friends in high places in the American government and the FDA. They are allowing a known fox to guard the public's henhouse. The only reason to label seeds as food is to gain control over it. By declaring this, the FDA will criminalize and put thousands of small farmers and market growers out of business, and it will become a criminal act to save and share seeds.

Who will benefit from this? You guessed it.. Monsanto, as well as the pharmaceutical/oil/chemical industries. They will swoop down and sell you all the sick gmo seeds you need, but don't try to save them or Monsanto will sue you. They are patented. Don't even get me started on that. I'm even willing to go out on a limb and blame Monsanto for the killing off of pollinators and the collapsing bee colonies. Not to mention the superweeds that are now plaguing parts of North America.

Any government agency or politician who supports this bill is nothing more than dirty and crooked, and you can bet, in Monsanto's pocket.

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Put it this way, everybody eats, and no corporation should ever have the power and ability to take our inherent rights away from us, all in the name of gaining a monopoly in the name of profit.

Corporations are in the business to make money. That's the bottom line.
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Thomas Jefferson, one of the founders of the United States democratic system, said "I hope we shall crush ... in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country".
Franklin D. Roosevelt in an April 29, 1938 message to Congress warned that the growth of private power could lead to fascism:
The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism—ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power

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So, if I sound like a socialist, that's too damned bad. I happen to care about people and what goes on my table, and in my childs mouth. So I say again.... (and you can quote me on this)...

..Monsanto, you can kiss this seed saving, sharing, vegetable growing, organic and NON GMO, local food supporting, gardener's Ass.

***Hoping not to have offended any readers here with my colorful language, but really want to get my point across!

Now go forth and multiply those heirloom seeds. Grow your own food, shop and support your local growers, wherever you are.
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We consumers will have the final say with what is on our plates, not Monsanto.
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New Information....

To my American friends, I urge you to visit Food Safety Action Alert Webpage at the Carolina Farm Stewards website: http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/alert_foodsafety10.shtml
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I encourage farmers and consumers to educate themselves on this issue and to call your Congress representative to make sure they vote for the proposed Tester Hagen Amendment to the Food Safety Bill.

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"The Tester-Hagan amendment would improve food safety outcomes by creating size-appropriate requirements and less costly compliance alternatives.

The amendment will:
(1) Clarify existing law which says that farmers and food entrepreneurs who direct market more than 50% of their product to direct to consumers do not need to register with FDA. This clarification is especially important for off-farm retail locations such as farmers markets.

(2) Prevents the Food and Drug Administration from imposing industrial-scale food safety requirements on farms and food businesses that:
Direct market more than 50% of their products directly to consumers, stores or restaurants, and Have gross sales (direct and non-direct combined) of less than $500,000, and
Sell to consumers, stores, or restaurants that are in-state or within 400 miles.

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Beware of false claims about the amendment! Opponents of Tester-Hagan claim it would exempt small producers from any food safety law, but that is a blatant misrepresentation. Producers who qualify under the amendment must provide documentation that the farm is in compliance with state regulations, and must also prominently and conspicuously display the name and address of farm/facility on the product or at the point of sale. And don’t let anyone tell you the amendment will allow Mexican manufacturers to sell “local” food—existing US law already prohibits direct sales of foreign food to American consumers.

To read the current version of the Tester-Hagan amendment, visit http://tester.senate.gov/Legislation/upload/Tester-Food-Safety-Amendment.pdf

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Call your U.S. House Representative to tell them that S.510 is far superior to HR.2749, the food safety bill the House passed last year.

Ask them to support the Senate Bill in negotiations between the two chambers.

Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard, (202) 224-3121, to be connected with your Representative’s office.

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Every little bit will help.

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Create a Bath Spa from your own Garden!

I think most gardeners are somewhat crafty people. And I mean that in the sense that we're the type to make silk purses out of sow's ears! (In a manner of speaking, that is...)

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What I'm getting at, is that if you grow herbs in your garden and if you like to dry and store them, why not make your own herbal tea bath bags?

I've been doing it for years, and thought maybe it would be something interesting to share here with my fellow gardeners.

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My Grandma always used Epsom salts, speaking highly of their virtues, and being a bath person myself, I started adding epsom salt, sea salt and various dried herbs in muslin bags, tying the bag to the tap as the bath fills.

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Relax all your cares away in a hot bath with all the essential ingredients contained in a giant tea bag. Especially after a long day in the garden.

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Dried lavender flowers release essential oil and fragrance into the bath, sea salts dissolve and work to relax tired and sore muscles, and milk powder dissolves to condition skin. The best thing is once you are done and rejuvenated, there is no mess of dried flowers to clean up - just pick the tea bag up to discard.

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Now that I've discovered you can buy empty tea bags, which can be filled with herbs and ironed shut, there's no turning back! I also love the fact that it's all natural ingredients. Nothing harmful to the body or the environment.

Lavender, mint, sage, basil, chamomile, or anything that strikes your fancy, can be added, then iron the opening and throw them in the bath! It's that easy.

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Here's a recipe I've used for many years. Hope you enjoy it too!

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You'll need...
~1 Muslin bag (or) Empty tea bag.
~ Some dried herbs:

lavender, rosemary, rose hips, chamomile, rose petals, dried orange or lemon peels,
~ 1/2 cup Epsom Salts
~ Blender
~ 1 tablespoon of Dried milk powder

~1/4 cup Dead Sea Salts
~ Essential oil of your choice (Just a couple of drops)
~ Olive Oil or Safflower oil (Just a couple drops)

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Directions:

~Mix the dried flowers/herbs in the blender which helps to release their essential oils.

~Add a few drops of essential oil with a half cup of Epsom salts.

~Mix well and fill your muslin cotton sachet or tea bag and seal it.
~Hang the muslin bag from the spigot on your tub, or just float the bath tea bag in the tub for a few minutes before you get in.

It's that easy! Enjoy!

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If you'd like to try some, but don't have the ingredients,

please feel free to

visit this link to my ---> Etsy shop, where I have Bath Tea Spa bags available,

and many other great garden gifts to purchase.

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Thanks for visiting!

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Gaillardia - Drought Tolerant and Hardy Native Plants

Gaillardia aristata - Goblin

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The very showy, (yet, underrated), Gaillardia aristata, or Blanket Flower, is a Native perennial wild flower from North America.

It's pretty much the only plant that's still green in my garden at the moment, considering I live in USDA zone 3, and we've had a couple killing frosts already.

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This bright and colourful plant is just perfect for sunny locations in front of the border.
It’s really drought tolerant, and since it appeals to most pollinators, it makes the perfect addition to a butterfly or wildlife garden.
Gaillardia does prefer full sun, however, I’ve discovered it will indeed tolerate a bit of dappled shade.
Since I live in a rural area, here in Ontario, I’ve come to the conclusion that any plant or flower that the deer don’t decimate get points, so this one does for sure! Thankfully, Gaillardia is definitely not on the Deer’s menu! Perhaps it's the leaf texture, but whatever the reason, I'm grateful!

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The daisy-like flowers bloom from Spring and right through into the Autumn, which is a real plus in any perennial bed. They also make a lovely addition to floral arrangements since the flowers hold up well in water. I love the cheery blooms that come in shades of red, yellow and orange. They really brighten up my kitchen, however, I don’t cut many, since I like to collect the seedheads for drying and to save the seeds.

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Saving the seeds from Gaillardia is very easy to do. I simply collect them once the flower has finished and has dried on the plant. I save them in a paper bag until I’m sure they’re completely dry, then store them away somewhere safe ‘til next planting season begins again next year.

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And, if you're interested in growing the lovely Gaillardia in your garden, please feel free to visit ---->Wall Flower Studio's Etsy Shop where seed packets are listed there for purchase.

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We ship across North America, and beyond. Thank you

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Happy Gardening!

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