From Seed to Bloom - Clematis 'Gladys Picard'

This post 'From Seed to Bloom - Clematis 'Gladys Picard' was originally uploaded by Tyra Hallsénius Lindhe in the blog Tyras Trädgård/ Tyra's Garden

From Seed to Bloom Clematis Gladys Picard

How to grow Clematis from seed.

I got some useful tips and ideas here from Mr.Greenthumb 

I  also learnt that I will probably not get a Gladys, I will get something else. But still, I will have a go and see what I’ll end up with in the end.

This will be interesting…to be continued

TODAY'S FLOWER

 Don't be a stranger my friend - Do write something/ TYRA

Här hittade jag en svensk länk till Allt om trädgårdsforum om hur man kan göra. Här är den.

Att fröså klematisfrö

Seed Savers Exchange

This post Seed Savers Exchange was originally uploaded by Tyra Hallsénius Lindhe in the blog Tyra's Garden

Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange members have passed on approximately one million samples of rare garden seeds to other gardeners. Seed Savers Exchange are a non-profit organization of gardeners dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.

 Time to start to dream about the growing season 2011. Are you interested in Heirloom Seeds? Then read about  the Seed Savers Exchange. I find this subject about heirloom seeds fascination and most interesting so I've joined. I so wished that we had something similar in Europe/ EU but I have not found anything yet. If you happen to know anything in the matter please let me know.  

This is what Seed Savers Exchange has to say about the organization:

"Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), member supported organization that saves and shares the heirloom seeds of our garden heritage, forming a living legacy that can be passed down through generations.

Our mission is to save North America's diverse, but endangered, garden heritage for future generations by building a network of people committed to collecting, conserving and sharing heirloom seeds and plants, while educating people about the value of genetic and cultural diversity.

At the heart of Seed Savers Exchange are the dedicated members who have distributed hundreds of thousands of heirloom and open pollinated garden seeds since our founding 35 years ago. Those seeds now are widely used by seed companies, small farmers supplying local and regional markets, chefs and home gardeners and cooks, alike.

Seed Savers Exchange was founded in 1975 by Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy to honor this tradition of preserving and sharing. Their collection started when Diane's terminally-ill grandfather gave them the seeds of two garden plants, Grandpa Ott's morning glory and German Pink tomato. Grandpa Ott's parents brought the seeds from Bavaria when they immigrated to St. Lucas, Iowa in the 1870s.



Today, the 890-acre Heritage Farm, near Decorah, Iowa, is our home. We maintain many thousands of heirloom garden varieties, most having been brought to North America by members' ancestors who emigrated from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other parts of the world.



Unlike Fort Knox, Heritage Farm is not surrounded by security fences and guards. Our perimeter is patrolled by bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, deer, raccoons and other wildlife. The farm is ringed by hiking trails that take visitors through majestic scenery, past our certified organic preservation gardens, historic orchard and ancient White Park Cattle." SSE

Here are two of my heirloom tomotoes I grew this season.

Azoychka from Russia and Goldman's Italian/American tomato. Goldman's heirloom tomato was one of the best this year. This high yield, delicious red tomato came all in slightly different forms and sizes, which I really liked. 

Do visit their homepage, it is a heaven for an Heirloom Enthusiast, trust me!

I Bought the Crown Jewels

Chia - Crown Jewels

What little did I know?…

and when I entered the world of Chia.

I have just received a few seed packets from Baker Creek Heirlooms Seeds for my potager. I always want to know a little about the plant I’m going to grow, consequently I looked up my Chia - Crown Jewels and entered a new world, most fascinating. I landed in American history, health, ancient food and future ‘super’ food. Amazing, do you know... I’ve bought a miracle! Perhaps that is why they are called just Crown Jewels or it could be because the flower in its simplicity yet beauty look like a small crown with precious blue-purple stones in it.

Wikipedia Salvia columbariae



Chia - Crown Jewels

(Salvia columbariae ) A different Salvia species with a long history, this heirloom Salvia was grown as a staple food crop by Native Americans years ago. It has a high nutrition value. In cultivation, it needs good drainage, sun and dry weather to grow to its fullest potential. Called Chia in Mexico and other Central American countries, it is also a special ornamental plant with decorative grey-green leaves and pretty colourful light purplish blue flowers.

Chia as Health Food

Chia seeds are now a popular natural health product. William Anderson writes about it

- The Ancient Food of the Future Chia Seed. Do read this most fascinating article.

“Another unique quality if the Chia seed is its high oil content, and the richest vegetables source for the essential omega-3 fatty acid. It has approximately three to ten times the oil concentrations of most grains and one and a half to two times the protein concentrations of other grains. Read more ”

This amazing picture is from EOL Encyclopedia of Life.

The beautiful seeds of Salvia columbariae.

Interesting? Want to try it out?

Chia Seeds - The RAW Food World
Chia Seeds - My SEEDS

Here you can buy Chia seeds and a lot of other interesting food.




Anthropology – about Chia Salvia columbariae


NCBI* Writes about the Chia seeds, how it has been used as food and continues to be used as such, how you can still buy the seeds in stores. Read the interesting story about the Chumash messenger who ran 30 km or perhaps more in a day to deliver messages between the villages. Consuming Chia seeds to maintain the energy right through the run. Read more about the Chumash and Chia “ How the plant was used to ‘wake the dead’ is unknown. However, it may have been the root that was used. Probably the people who were treated with this plant had suffered from strokes or heart attacks and appeared to be nearly dead.” NCBI

Books about Chia (Salvia columbariae)

- Rediscovering a Forgotten Crop of the Aztecs

- Revival of an Ancient Wonder Food

- Chia For Health

Another book that awoke my curiosity as I browsed the net was this +300 pages book

The New Book of SALVIAS, hm...I would love to read it.

Common Sage Salvia officinalis in my potager.

That's All Folks!

It is Blooming Friday at Katarinas place

I wish you all a great weekend/ Tyra

*NCBI - National Center for Biotechnology Information

Green Ornamental 'Flowers' for the Potager

This post 'Green Ornamental 'Flowers'... was originally uploaded by Tyra in the blog Tyra's Garden

Haha...I did manage to keep my promise

- Not to order any seeds until January

I have just sent in the first order of seeds and I started with the base, the wonderful Brassicas. The Brassica oleraceas are the fundamental plants in my potager I think they are so beautiful. So many different shapes and colour and still the same family, Brassicaceae, amazing. Isn't it a nice family name too, perhaps I could change to Tyra Brassicaceae :-)

I manage to get in 5 cultivar groups of the seven cultivars of Brassica.

Brassica oleracea Acephala Group - kale and collard greens
Brassica oleracea Capitata Group - cabbage
Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Group - brussels sprouts
Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group - kohlrabi
Brassica oleracea Italica Group – broccoli

I think I was able to find a lovely collection of colours and structures.


Till KÖKSTRÄDGÅRDEN den svenska bloggen

Glöm inte att lägga till den nya länken om du vill läsa om Köksträdgården på svenska.

Brassica oleracea seedlings

Boost up your Immune System - with a remedy from the garden.

This post 'Boost up your Immune System - with a remedy from the garden.' was originally uploaded by Tyra in the blog Tyra's Garden

The 2009 flu, the Swine Influenza. A virus subtype H1N1 is here but is it going to be pandemic? Well we don’t know this yet. But here are some tips and ideas what you can do to avoid getting the Swine flu.

They say to wash your hands thoroughly and often are the most important thing to do. You can also boost up your immune system with vitamins, minerals and herbs. Some of them are quite familiar; perhaps you already have them in your garden.

Boost up your immune system with a remedy from the garden.

1. Zinc you find among other things in seeds like; sunflower, poppy, sesame, mustard and linseed.

2. Vitamin C - Fruits and berries and do you remember the Sea-Buckthorn Hippophae L? It has 12 times more vitamin C than oranges!

3. Vitamin D – Gardening is excellent for the vitamin D uptake :-)

4. Vitamin E, omega 3 and 6 and Zinc as well from Flax. Linum usitatissimum Flaxseed or linseeds oil.

5. Herbs good for the immune system; Echinacea augustifoliae radix, Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea pallida. (radix)

6. Probiotics - like the Acidophilus (a beneficial bacteria)

This last one is not from our gardens but you can find it in a lot of products, I buy as Filmjölk and it is really good for the stomach.

And then again, wash your hands! It's easy and absolutely free.

Update

From our Doc. Green thumb.

'That post was so insightful dear Tyra! The only effective method to fight Swine Flu has to be through personal hygiene and immunity enhancement. While the health authorities keep harping about the masks and Tamiflu, they neglect the most important and basic things which you beautifully highlighted.'

Thank you!

Another huge thank you to my Blotanical friend that has nominated my blogs for best European blog! I'm amazed and very happy. Blooming Friday again, the weeks goes so very fast! This is the last Friday of this gorgeous month September. You find more participants here at Katarina.

Happy Gardening!

TYRA

Dahlia Mignon in my Potager

This post 'Dahlia Mignon in my potager' was originally uploaded by Tyra in the blog Tyra's Garden

Blooming Friday September, the weather is still great and the air is warm. I love this time of the year, golden days and kind of 'Chillout time' in the garden, harvesting is the main work now and it is so joyful and rewarding.This Friday I want to show you a dear friend in my potager, Dahlia Mignon. Among all my vegetables and herbs I plant dahlias and especially this undemanding single flowering dahlia the Dahlia Mignon 'Firebird'.

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Blommig fredag igen och den här veckan tänkte jag bjuda på en lite skönhet. Dahlia Mignon 'Firebird' en enkelblommande mycket lättskött dahlia som jag både har på friland i köksträdgården men även i krukor där de faktiskt trivs rikigt bra.

I love it and so does the beautiful butterflies as well.

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I have written before and I say it again 'To combine flowers with vegatable is the Yin & Yang in my potager' I think it give me a healthy sustainable garden and it certainly adds beauty as well. Yin & Yang in Tyra's Garden 2007



Att kombinera blommor och grönsaker är både vackert för ögat och nyttigt för trädgården.


.. Dahlia Mignon among the Kale 'Nero di Toscana'



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'Nero di Toscana' kallas även Svartkål och Palmkål och jag har den alltid med i min potager. Palmkålen är en form av grönkål och har avlånga krusiga blad och har en härligt mörkt svartgrön färgton.






It's is time to start gather the seed from this years flowers, are you a collector? As you know I'm a 'seedaholic' as a result of that my seedbank is getting a lot of deposits :-)



more cabbage...this time Brassica oleracea var. sabellica


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Fler härliga bidrag till 'Blommig fredag' hittar du här hos Katarina

I wish you all a great and happy weekend in the garden.

Ha det gott mina vänner!

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TYRA

A Beauty or A Beast?

This post, 'A Beauty or A Beast' was originally uploaded and written by Tyra at the blog Tyra's Garden http://waxholm.blogspot.com/

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A Beauty or A Beast?

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Well they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder,

this TOMATO 'Cherokee Purple' grown from seed is of course kind of beautiful in my eyes... but I must admit as they said about Whoopi Goldberg in Color Purple.

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- You sure 'is' ugly!

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This tomato weighs a massive 506 gram and that is about 17,85 ounces!

I started out with this fellow in February, read about how it all started here

Potager 2009 - Seed Bank

Flowers of 'Cherokee Purple'


Heirloom seed from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

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Happy gardening folks!

Don't be a stranger my friend, do write something.

~~~

LOLove Tyra

Zinnia elegans 'Landreth's Oriole' & Co

This post, 'Zinnia elegans 'Landreth's Oriole' & Co' was originally uploaded and written by Tyra at the blog Tyra's Garden http://waxholm.blogspot.com/..

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Blooming Friday again and the last in the month of March. Outside it is still depressingly cold and still some white stuff on the ground. Blaaa. Indoors however my plants, the small seedlings thrives on the veranda.

Zinnia elegans ’Landreth’s Oriole' is a wonderful heirloom from 18th century. Beautiful orange flowers quite large, double and it reminds me a little of the Dahlia’s flower. I grow all my Zinnias from seed and I start out as early as March. This Zinnia got its name from D. Landreth and this Landreth fellow was quiet a man I will get back to him in another post.

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Zinnia elegans ’Landreths Oriole’ en Kulturarvssort från 1700-talet. Vackert orangegula, stora, dubbla blommor, påminner like om en Dahlia tycker jag. Jag odladen i rabatt och frösår den redan i mars månad. Mannen bakom namnet 'Landreth Oriole' är D. Landreth och honom kommer jag återkomma till i ett annat inlägg.

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These are the Zinnias I have planted in Tyras Garden 2009

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The Zinnia Whirligig fun, Whirligig I had to look up that word I thought they misspellt it, anyway 'Whirligig fun' will be about 50 cm tall (20 inches), the 'Tropical sun' is a dwarf zinnia will be just 25 cm (10 inches) , the last two 'Old Scabiosa' and 'Landreth's Oriole will be about 70 cm tall (28 inches). I generally prefer the really tall ones as I plant them among all my veggies. The seeds are from Impecta, they have an impressive collection of Zinnias this year and a lot of them are heirlooms.

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more Zinnia?

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Don't be a stranger my friend - do write something, keep in touch!

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Blooming Friday! This is my contribrutions to the Blooming Friday Flower Power Parade, meet more participant here at Katarina. Roses and Stuff.

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TYRA

My Potager - The Scheme

This post, 'My Potager -The Growing Scheme' was originally uploaded and written by Tyra at the blog Tyra's Garden http://waxholm.blogspot.com/

MY POTAGER - The growing season 2009

part 1. The Growing Scheme

The treasure chest with my seeds is now opened; it is time to start sowing my seeds. It’s certainly is a big moment for me, I have been waiting for so long. I have this perhaps ridiculous rule first that I’m not allowed to buy my seeds before New Year and secondly I have to wait until the 1st of February before I can sow them. You see when I start with the seeds very soon our veranda gets occupied by all the seedlings and let say that not all in the family enjoys it. This otherwise wonderful room with a view (sunny and south-east faceing, perfect for seedlings) gets absolutely cluttered with my babies and there will be to chance to have a nice lunch in there until… ops May.





This rule is quite good with because then I have plenty of time to plan my garden, make a plant chart a scheme over where and what I’m going to plant. It is important to have a rotation scheme when you are growing vegetables. Us I practise interplanting I have to think about which vegetable I’m going to plant with which, it’s a big and intricate puzzle which takes time.

I have to match the plants by at least these three basics:

Which temperature and how much sun they require.

Their root system if they are shallow or deep-rooted.

How much nutrition the plant demands.

Interplanting/intercropping has been practiced since ancient times by for example the Native Americans. Intercropping is the growing of two or more crops in proximity to promote interaction between them. I have written in a post from 2007 'Three sisters' about this mostly in Swedish I’m afraid.

Read more about this here: COMPANION PLANTING CHART FOR HOME & MARKET GARDENING.

Three sisters –The Aztec Myth text from ATTRA

“Three Sisters” emerged from the Iroquois creation myth. It was said that the earth began when “Sky Woman” who lived in the upper world peered through a hole in the sky and fell through to an endless sea. The animals saw her coming, so they took the soil from the bottom of the sea and spread it onto the back of a giant turtle to provide a safe place for her to land. This “Turtle Island” is now what we call North America. Sky woman had become pregnant before she fell. When she landed, she gave birth to a daughter. When the daughter grew into a young woman, she also became pregnant (by the West wind). She died while giving birth to twin boys. Sky Woman buried her daughter in the “new earth.” From her grave grew three sacred plants—corn, beans, and squash. These plants provided food for her sons, and later, for all of humanity. These special gifts ensured the survival of the Iroquois people.

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I hope you found this interesting - please do write and tell me if you got any tips and ideas about Intercropping and Companion planting.

Don't be a stranger- write something.

TYRA

MY POTAGER SEEDS 2009

This post, My Potager Seeds 2009, was originally uploaded and written by Tyra at the blog Tyra's Garden http://waxholm.blogspot.com/

A small step on the computer (just a click) but a huge step for the gardener.

Seeds for my potager and images for the collage are from Impecta

Phiouu…( wonderful spelling isn’t it) it was not an easy task this year to order the seeds for my potager. I have been reading those glossy catalogues since last year but now it is done. It took me hours to decide which ones to choose. Most of them are actually new for me,
these herb and medicinal plants for example:

Marrubium vulgare (kransborre) White Horehound
Monarda citriodore (Citron bergamot) Lemon mint, lemon beebalm
Mentha pulegium (polejmynta) Pennyroyal (poisonous)
Malva sylvestrs mauritiana (Mauritansk rödmynta) Mallow

What a coincidence, all of them begin with M.

I told you folks earlier that I am a 'seedaholic' and with that I mean I love seeds and cannot live without them. Most of my seeds I plant or perhaps it is 50 % are seeds that I have collected from last seasons harvest. This year I didn’t order any tomato seeds! I have so many varieties from last year and they are old heirloom seeds so I think I will just do fine with those I have.

Seeds 2009 - I made this collage over all the seeds for the potager. I’ve got one flowers here that I bought just for fun. Canna indica - (also known as saka siri, Indian shot, canna, bandera, chancle, coyol, or platanillo) It was a pretty picture and I fell for it... I read in wikipedia that it is edible, the Canna rhizome is rich in starch, and it has many uses in agriculture. All of the plant has commercial value, rhizomes for starch (consumption by humans and livestock), stems and foliage for animal fodder, young shoots as a vegetable and young seeds as an addition to tortillas, but as I said I just fell for it’s beauty.

foto: Impecta

Året fröer är har jag nu beställt ifrån Impecta och nu har jag gjort ett kollage av alla olika örter, medicinalväxter, blommor och grönsaker, färgsprakande eller hur. Det skall bli kul att se hur det blir sedan, odlings året 2009. För skojs skull skall jag göra ett nytt kollage då och jämföra. Många för mig nyheter blir det i år och det skall bli spännande. Kiwano - den där taggiga saken på vänster sida, det skall bli en riktig utmaning eller Gurkmelon 'Carosello Barese' det skall också bli intressant och se vad det blir av den påsen (jag ler) Är det någon som har provat på så tar jag tacksamt emot råd :-)

Som ni ser finns det inte en enda tomat! Nä... för förra året var mitt stora tomat och chili år så jag har sparat en massa frö ifrån 2008's skörd. De flesta av det jag odlade då var gamla fina sorter, kulturarv (heirloom) som man kan ta frö av. Så jag har tjänat massor av pengar på att ta egna frön (jag ler igen).

It is so very nice to here from you all so do write something - don't be a stranger/

LOLove TYRA