Tag: birds

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Dandelions

Why do so many people hate them? The dandelion I mean not the garden boots and clogs. They're  from Western Chief  and I have to believe all would agree they are pretty awesome. The dandelion however, is so dreaded by so many. One can find many a gentlemen in a fit if these little guys show up in their lawn.

Personally, one of my favorite sayings is, “I have a beautiful yard, yet, it's not a lawn.”  Lawn weed killer of any kind will not be used in these back gardens. That means dandelions and many other unwanted plants full of goodness are finding their way into this space.  The dandelion has become one of the favorites! It's hard to  believe that we as a people work so hard annually to destroy something 100% free, 100% edible and so good for our health.

Why Would one Want Dandelions?

    • Dandelions are perennials, they return every single year with no help from humans at all. Not only that, in many places they are some of the first flowers one will see. That means they bring the bees! These babies are like a light to the little pollinators of the world shining brightly and saying, “here, come here to my yard spring has arrived!” And come they will!
    • The entire Dandelion is edible. From the flowers, (which are super sweet actually no wonder the bees like them) to the stems and the roots. I have grown to love grazing on dandelion flowers. Since I know the yard is poison free they can be eaten just as any other plant grown in this space.
    • The flowers go in almost all salads and the young greens with them. Which by the way are one of the bitters; and, bitters do wonders for our gut. They can be used to make wine or when unopened pickled like capers
    • The roots are large and long (which is why they are so strong) and can be used dried or roasted for anything from coffee to medicine.

Medicinal Uses for Dandelions

The entire plant can actually be used for medicine! Dr. Nicole Apelian has some of the best details in "The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies."  Here are just a few things they can be used for.

    • Roots can be used as a tea to help with Liver, Digestion and gallbladder functions.
    • Fresh Dandelion juice can be used on ones skin to heal wounds and even treat ringworm or warts.
    • Dandelions can help with bladder infections, Iron deficiency and enhance milk production .
    • They include antioxidants that reduce inflammation helping to fight inflammation associated with arthritis.

When to Harvest Dandelions

Dandelions flower in early spring.  This is around April to June in the states and the UK; start harvesting the flowers and flower buds as soon as one sees them! If using the leaves for flowers grab the small ones as they grow more bitter with age.  Save harvesting roots until the plant is around 2 to 3 years old. This way they offer a larger harvest for teas and medicines. The roots here are right at 2 years old. I only harvested a few and decided to wait one more season to gather the big stuff!

Dandelion Tea

Dandelion tea is one of the easiest ways to reap the benefits of dandelions. Here is a quick easy recipe from Dr. Alpine:

    • ½ to 2tsp of dandelion root cut into small pieces
    • 1 cup boiling water
    • Allow roots to steep for 20 minutes
    • Strain and drink up to 3 cups per day for medicinal use.

Dr. Apelian recommends “no sweeteners as they reduce the effectiveness of the root's medicinal properties… add milk to taste if wanted”

Allergies?

Although not frequent people that are allergic to yarrow, marigolds, daisies or other plants in this family may also be allergic to Dandelions.  Pregnant women should also avoid them without doctors consultation.

The more one reads about the dandelion the more they realize it is a misunderstood plant, and could very well be one of the best gifts God has given us in the world of wild plants. So the next time you pass a Dandelion, don't be so quick to judge this little guy, and take a moment to realize how much awesomeness can be found in this single weed.

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Growing Skyscraper Sunflowers

The Skyscraper Sunflower is just one of the funnest sunflowers to grow! It is SO large, so tall and so bright that I do believe every Bee in the nation can see it!  Or at least it seems that way as they all fight for space across its giant Yellow flowers.

About Skyscraper Sunflowers

The Skyscraper sunflower earns its name as it is one of the tallest sunflowers there is to grow!  This baby here grew fifteen feet high and was actually slightly taller than the roof of my house! As a result, you can see from the photo above the flower head was a good thirteen inches across.  Not only are the flowers beautiful the drying stage and the seeds are beautiful as well.

Skyscrapers also produce the largest sunflower seeds making them the best to eat! Their colors range from bright white with gray stripes to light and dark grays and their seed heads are just amazing to look at!

Tips on Growing Skyscraper Sunflowers

  • Skyscrapers grow best in zones 3-9 and need full sun all day long if possible.
  • SF Home Gates recommends tilling the soil to around two feet deep in prep for these giants.  That may be the best for sure as their root systems are solid.  However, I will be honest I did not till more than 10 inches and they still grew well.
  • Sunflowers like well-drained soil, no water should be standing as it will cause root rot.
  • Sow seeds directly in the ground after all danger of frost.  Seeds can take approximately 10 days to germinate.
  • Water deeply two times a week rather than short bursts of watering each day. This will help your sunflowers grow deeper root systems preparing them for the heat.  You can see more about watering in the article,  "Helping Plants Survive the Heat"
  • These plants are large so give them room to spread.  Plant 2-3 seeds per section approximately 18-24 inches apart.  Thin to the strongest plant in the grouping once established.

  • Plants should mature in approximately 60-75 days.
  • Use fish emulsion once a month on these giants!

Challenges with Skyscrapers Sunflowers

  • Aphids love sunflowers!  This is actually what makes them such a good companion plant as I swear they will go there before your other plants. Be on the look out for them under their giant leaves and act quickly or they will soon look like this!
  • Ants will often congregate around sunflowers you can sprinkle DE at the base of the plants to avoid this.
  • Sunflower Months of course are one of the largest predators as they actively seek sunflowers to lay their eggs in.  Read about managing sunflower moths in The Article "The Sunflower Moth"

Companion Plants

  • Squash
  • Beans
  • Corn
  • Cabbage
  • Cucumbers
  • Peppers
  • Tomatoes

Find Sky Scraper Sunflower Seeds in Oma's Store Front!

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Echinacea-Growing Coneflowers

Beautiful echinacea flowers in full bloom

About Echinacea

One of the coolest flowers! There is just something special about this beautiful perennial that shows up in spring on long stems with petals of pink or yellow surrounding a bright orange spiky center. My  opinion is not singular either!  Anyone “asking Google” will find an intriguing history surrounding this herbaceous plant; and, as you can see from the photo it’s loved by bees and birds alike.  So if you’re looking for a pollinating powerhouse or a way to feed those birds you long to bring to you’re yard or gardens echinacea is the plant for you!

Echinacea, also known as cone flower, pink sunflower, hedgehog and several other common names,  originates from eastern and central North America growing wild in prairies and wooded areas.  It is known for its pink flowers; however, you can also find them in yellow, white and several new hybrid colors ranging from red to burgundy and even green.

How to Grow

One of the neat things about echinacea is that it is a perennial so it can be divided and grown from existing roots (should be at least three before doing this) and also grown from its seeds like annuals.  It is not an argumentative plant and will accommodate most soils but does prefer rich well drained soil and full sun defined as six hours per day.

If planting from seed, echinacea produces its best flowers after a winter sleep.  This means they need stratification  and should be planted in the fall to naturally  take advantage of the cold wet conditions needed for the best germination.  If your in an area that does not allow natural stratification, or are attempting to seed in spring:

  • Soak the seeds in water for a few hours
  • Plant them in small seed starting pots and close them in a sealable bag
  • Place the bag in the refrigerator up to 10 days checking regularly to ensure they have retained moisture.
  • Once sprouted you can remove them from the refrigerator and move them to the place you wish to plant them.
  • If it is late in the summer season, keep your seedlings in an area that is slightly shaded for a few days to acclimate them to the new temperatures gradually moving them over a few days time.

Tips:

These beauties do love full sun however in extremely hot climates with high temperatures for long periods of time they will burn and wilt.  To avoid this know your areas and if you’re in one of our hot southern states choose a location that offers them shade in the hotter hours of the day.

Echinacea is a perennial so like many others it can start to look ratty after the blooms of spring.  To extend its life some cut some of the flowers for arrangements as it grows promoting new growth.

If you’re leaving the flowers on to dry for birds or seed propagation cut the stems back to the base as soon as they have dried.   This will enable a new surge of flowers for the fall.

Characteristics:

  • Height:  12 to 36 inches tall
  • Width:  12 to 24 inches
  • Zone:  3 to 8; can be grown in zones 9 and 10 however should be treated as an annual using stratification to ensure proper germination each season.
  • Maturity: 90-120 days

Common Names

  • American Coneflower
  • Coneflower
  • Pink Sun Flower
  • Pale Coneflower
  • Purple Coneflower
  • Echinacea Angustifolia
  • Hedgehog
  • Indian Head
  • Kansas Snakeroot
  • Narrow-Leaved Purple Cone Flower

Also See!

Medicinal uses of Echinacea (Coming Soon)
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