The Donkey's Tail Tale

I love my houseplants. This one, The Donkey's Tail came from a cutting from my mother's plant. She had a bigger one and would grab the tails and lift them up over the plant, and exclaim, this is how they multiply! I am not criticizing her method of propagation, but I am a little more gentler with my plant. She must have given me some that she had potted but I don't recall the incident of receiving the babies, I just know my plant came from hers. I have given a potting of babies to my grand-daughter so the tradition goes on. One plant of donkey's tail down through four generations. I have two ways of propagating them, one is by rooting the stems and the other is by letting the succulent leaves take root. I use a clam shell from the grocery store. That is a plastic see through container with a lid. Store bought potting soil is my choice of potting medium.

kalanchoe

I was at the place I hang out which I have been forbidden to mention on my blog and I found a little snippet of a kalanchoe, this was a few years ago. The snippet was about 2 inches long. I put it in water above my kitchen sink and watched it grow over the years, almost allowing it to die a few times. When it trailed to long, i cut it and and rooted the cutting. I happened to let it dry out a little this fall and it must have been exposed to low light, because it was stimulated in the right way to burst forth into blooms.The cutting looks good too with blooms.

Bee Garden and Goldenrod

I went to my bee garden with the intention of gathering some goldenrod and peppermint in order to make a autumn tonic.  One steeps the goldenrod flowers with the peppermint for ten minutes(in water brought to a boil).  I captured a moment in the lives of several insects.

These tiny creatures are famished as most gardeners in town do not let a patch of lawn go wild.  The insects and I share a liking for goldenrod nectar.  It is good for the kidneys and can help ease discomfort from arthritis.

Late Summer Flowers and Berries

lilypads

japanese knotweed

boneset

unknown purple flower

goldenrod

jewelweed

black eyed susan

snowberry

These interesting wild flowers and berries were found along the Keuka Outlet Trail.

Walking in the Forest Summer 2019

This summer I only went walking through the forest of the Finger Lakes two times.  The first was Filmore Glen State Park.  I found many mushrooms and photographed them.  I also noticed ferns and snapped some shots of them as well.

this one above is interesting as the fungi are growing in two directions as the tree fell and what was vertical became horizontal

orange peel fungus

I feel a very powerful inner calm when i see these pictures of plant life in the woods and I hope others do too.  The second hike was in a private glen along Keuka Lake.

Harvesting Catnip Before the Frost

Frost warnings are out tonight so I picked my catnip mint.  I put it in the closet on coat hangers, in bundles upside down.  I intend to make catnip toys and give them as gifts.
There seems to be a controversy on the internet if catnip is safe for humans.  Some sources say it is some say it will cause illness or at least quarrelsomeness.  I enjoy the fragrance.  It reminds me of pot or skunk odor.

I went out in the night with my flashlight and scissors
There were mice squeaking in the bushes
The lawn was wet
The sky was dark

Autumn Herbs

I have another blog called Amiable Blogservations which I am in the process of deleting.  I have written that blog for eight and a half years.  The question is, "should I delete it?"  It is peppered with socially incriminating discourse in it from the times that I have suffered from mania.  It has followers from all over the world, yet hardly any commentors.

I love herbs.  Here are a few growing in my garden this evening.

Lemon balm, which I make infusions of.  It is good for your nerves.  It is a balm and that is probably why it is called that!

Catnip, which my cat loves!

A motherwort transplant which is doing quite well.  This plant is also a good one to soothe the nerves.

Basil.  I want to make a batch of pesto before we get a frost!