Spring has arrived here in the southern hemisphere and I find myself in a new house with lots of room for plants outdoors. I've grown a couple vegetable plants and miscellaneous ethnobotanicals before but I'd really like to get a lot on the go this season. I intend to use this thread as a record of my progress and would really appreciate any feedback, advice, or positive criticism along the way Be sure to get on my case if I go too long without any updates

Wednesday, 5 September 2012: I sowed seven trays of seeds, one each for jalapenos, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, bush basil, sweet rocket, california wonder peppers, and some random heady bud. I also repotted my P. edulis and she looks much happier now. The final photo is of two P. suberosa seedlings. My plan is to purchase another round of seeds and trays next week so stay tuned! P.s. Sorry for the sideways photos.

Beautiful corner

For herbs like basil, make sure the soil stays a little moist at first, and if the sun is strong, maybe filter it a little until you have the first pair of leaves in sprouted seeds. I usually start herbs indoors in late winter and move them outdoors once the seedlings are established. To have a supply of fresh herbs it's easier to start from a little plant, but nothing has the magic of growing from seed.

The next time I move, I will make sure I have a terrace like this, at least. Windowsills and indoor closets are not enough for me.

Keep us posted!

Tuesday, 16 October:

I have added pak choi, thyme, patty pans, and 'black beauty' egg plant to my herb/vegetable seedling collection since my first post. My desire and dreams to grow an acacia became manifest a couple weeks ago in the most wonderfully uncanny fashion. I exited my cottage one morning and found two tall, skinny Faidherbia albida (syn. Acacia albida Delile) trees - just days after making a list of Acacia seeds to order. It turns out a local bottled water company was giving them out at some promotional event my housemate had attended. Oh the plants work in funny ways They don't seem super healthy to me but I have them in larger pots now so they won't be kept so dry all the time. Photos below (what do you think?).

I've also included photos of my P. edulis leaf drying dish, a few brave T. bridgesii seedlings, my P. edulis, and a black widow spider feeding on a furry caterpillar.

Here's a small garden update. The plants have been very patient with me over the past few months as I've slowly learned to listen to their needs. I've had many failings along the way but my knowledge and sense of awareness have both been steadily expanding. I guess that's why they call it growing

Photo 1: African wormwood (Artemisia afra) in the middle, pineapple (Ananas comosus) to the left, and wild mint (Mentha longifolia) to the right.

Photo 2: My new mantis friend on Mentha longifolia. I found the little guy in an empty pot and moved him over to the mint where he has resided ever since.

Photo 3: Cancer bush (Lessertia frutescens).

Photo 4: Pepper and bush basil.

Photo 5: Jalapeno and wonder peppers. Hybrid squash. Acacia karoo (left), Acacia sieberiana var. woodii.

^..that's great xantho! ..diverse, useful, and interesting..

great inspiration..

Beautiful stuff... and with special guests too!!

Congratulations.

Thanks guys! Your kind words really make me feel good, especially since you've both been my biggest ethnobotanical inspirations for the past 12 months. Filling my days with progressively more plant contact (and the equally thrilling plant-people contact) feels like the right thing to do be doing really now so I'm going with it. Much love and more to come!

All look very healthy and tasty. Green thumb xantho!
Curious what Lessertia frutescens contains. Looks like a Sturt's Desert Pea from oz.

this is awesome xantho! I am quite jealous. my aim for this year is to do the same sorta thing plus a good entheogarden

Hey thanks Monk! Lessertia frutescens (Fabaceae) is a highly regarded medicinal plant in the pharmacopoeia of the region I'm currently living in (indigenous to South Africa, Lesotho, southern Namibia and southeastern Botswana). It has been used for an abundance of ailments, both internal and external. From Van Wyk [2008]: Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have shown antiproliferative, anti-HIV, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-stress, anticonvulsant and antithrombotic activities. So far as chemistry goes: High levels of free amino acids, non-protein amino acids such as canavanine and GABA, the cyclitol pinitol, flavonols and triterpenes (including SU1, a cycloartane-type triterpene saponin). The article linked above (Van Wyk) is a great starting point if you wish to know more.

What can you tell me about the Sturt's Desert Pea?



Thanks for the kind words acacian! I have no doubt that your goals for the year will be successfully met and exceeded. You've got the spirit Have you thought about which entheos you'd like to grow first? My focus lately has been on indigenous medicinals but the T. bridgesii I started from seed last year are really starting to look good! I would love to add a B. caapi and P. viridis to my family

aim for this year is to get an acuminata, phlebophylla, hostilis, maidenii and floribunda. I am moving back up to the country so going to work hard towards it! I'd also like to at some stage grow some passiflora

hope you well xantho! any more interesting acacia findings to report?

That's a great selection to work with. I'd like to start working with a couple Aus acacias this year too. A couple new passiflora species are also on my list, I just need to work on my germination approach.

I'm doing pretty well thanks. I find myself feeling like something is missing in my life, even though I have every reason to be content. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually (or maybe just stop trying to figure it out and go with the flow).

I haven't been too active on the extraction front lately, although I did attempt an X on A. caffra two weeks ago - turned out negative. I have the feeling that my extraction technique is the issue - perhaps insufficient basification. I have some more caffra and some A. karroo to test so I'll have another go this weekend and see what I can come up with. I really need to get to the mountain more often! I hope you are well brother, take care and much love.

Beautiful!

Thanks DeDao!

I took a trip to the nursery last weekend and gathered some new family members. Lettuce: Futura, Star Commandant, Green Salad Bowl; Chilli peppers: Thai Dragon, Habanero, Red Cayenne Slim, Tobasco; marigolds; and peppermint.

I'm also including a nice shot of my bridgesii seedlings.

Much love, light, and growth to you all!

I love the Black Widow you have charged to protect your garden from pests.

She is beautiful!

Love the plants too! Can't wait until I get my little garden corner going for spring!

Thanks Ancotar! How is your garden planning coming along?

Some pictures of new family members