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The Stylish Gardener

Daffodil Dreams

1/30/2015

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It's about this time of year that I get a little desperate to see something blooming.  The other day we had some Spring-like weather pass through, and despite my busy schedule, I managed to find time to do a little snooping around in the garden.   That led to a little digging around in the garden, which of course led to actually doing some planting.  In January.  Yes, I've lost my mind.  And no, I'm not a bit concerned about it. 

Here's the thing:  The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing, and the outdoor temperature gauge was shouting "68! 68! 68!".  All night long I'd had visions of bright yellow daffodils dancing in my head, and I had to get out there and see if my dreams had come true.   

They hadn't.  The daffodils, usually the very first plant to pop up from the thawing earth in the late winter landscape, were still sleeping.  Obviously, they'd heard the long-range forecast and, unlike me, weren't fooled by the Spring-like afternoon.  With a possible snowstorm coming this weekend and several weeks of Winter left on the calender, I don't blame them for staying snug in their earthy bed.  

So after checking every single flower bed for signs of life and finding none, I turned to my next task--which also involved daffodils
.  Daffodil bulbs, that is.
Last weekend while at the store I stumbled across some leftover bags of  bulbs in the clearance aisle.  Upon closer inspection, I noticed the bulbs were firm with nice green shoots peeking out of them despite being trapped inside a plastic bag on a metal shelf at the grocery store. With the odds stacked against them, they hadn't given up.  Clearly those bulbs had a stronger than average desire to survive.  That's right up my alley, of course, so you can see where this is going...

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Straight to my garden.  Under the pear tree, to be more specific.  Daffodils are a good companion plant for fruit trees, so I dug about fifty small holes around the base of the trunk and placed a daffodil bulb in each one.  I covered the bulbs with soil and stood back to survey my work. 

I was satisfied, even though I'm well aware that mid-January is not the ideal time to plant Spring-flowering bulbs.  That's a task for Autumn because the bulbs require a period of chilling before they bloom, and the long winter ahead provides just that. 

Having said that, you and I both know that things don't always go according to plan.  Since I just recently came across these bulbs, this was a case of better late than never.  I knew that daffodils had a better chance of survival than most bulbs, since they're known to be tough and long-suffering.  You can often spot them springing up around abandoned farmhouses and among the ruins of neglected outbuildings, flourishing despite the lack of nurturing.  I figured if anything could adjust to an ill-timed planting, it was these dainty yellow flowers.     

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I don't know what fate awaits these bulbs, but still, I can now rest easy knowing that I did my best to give them the chance they were yearning for.  And if I get to see even one season of those sunny yellow trumpet-shaped flowers brightening up the ground beneath the old pear tree, I'll be happy.  And I think they will be too.  After all, compared to the bleak, cold, industrial shelf I rescued them from, they're in a much better place now. 

All I have left to do is sit back and wait...and snoop around under the pear tree every now and then.  You never know when something might pop up.  I'll keep you posted--I know you can't hardly handle the suspense.  Oh wait, it's me who has that issue.  It's a classic symptom of  "Garden Fever", and despite my healthy immune system, I seem to succumb to this sickness every winter.  If I'm gonna get a fever, though, this is the one I prefer.   Good thing, too, because it's extremely contagious!
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Comforting Comfrey

1/4/2015

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I first learned about the herb comfrey from The Crown Prince of England.  Bet you didn't see that coming.  And I bet it requires an explanation, so here goes:

His Royal Highness Prince Charles is an avid organic gardener and has written much on the subject.  I, being the garden-obsessed/bookworm/royal watcher that I am, have devoured his writings.  Amongst all the fabulous garden insight His Highness shares, the use of comfrey as a natural fertilizer on his estates intrigued me the most.  I began to research comfrey and it's uses, and t
o my surprise, I unearthed a wealth of knowledge about it's impressive medicinal and organic abilities.  I quickly decided to add some comfrey to my garden. 

Here's why:
  • It is a natural fertilizer and compost accelerator, and is a great companion plant
  • It is an excellent animal fodder
  • It enhances overall bodily health
  • It promotes healing in joint and bone issues
  • It is a remedy for bruising, sprains and muscle tears
  • It helps to heal skin irritations like scratches, insect bites, burns, and even psoriasis

You can imagine my excitement upon discovering the impressive resume on this herb.  Obtaining a plant, however, was not to be as easy as I had expected.  Since it's not a well known herb, it's not readily available at most plant centers.  After a year-long quest, I finally chanced upon a specimen at a garden booth at the Baker's Creek Spring Garden Festival in Mansfield, Mo.  With thoughts of Prince Charles' elegant royal English estate swirling in my head, I promptly purchased a comfrey start for my fixer-upper Ozarkian homestead.  Yes, I realize The Prince and I live very different lives, but just let me dream.   Shoot for the stars, I say!



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Since comfrey likes partial shade and damp conditions, I planted my comfrey beneath the pear tree.  It makes a great companion plant for the tree because the deep comfrey roots "mine" minerals from the subsoil, funnel them up through the plant into the leaves, and deposit them at the base of the tree when the leaves die back in the fall.  This process is called "dynamic accumulation", and it's a natural and easy way to fertilize my tree.  Plus, my ducks, geese, and chickens love to nibble on the leaves as they forage around the tree for fallen fruit.  Since comfrey has been fed to livestock for centuries to boost overall animal health, I don't mind a bit when they browse the "buffet". 

But the garden and the livestock aren't the only ones who can benefit from comfrey.  I've been known to indulge in it myself!

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Throughout the growing season I like to harvest and dry the leaves, and occasionally I will crumble a bit of leaf in my morning smoothie.   Comfrey has long been used to treat a variety of health issues and boost immunity to disease.  In fact, old-timers used to nibble on a leaf a day to relieve the effects of asthma!* The high levels of chlorophyll and allantion are the main reason for it's overall effectiveness. 

Let me explain:  The chlorophyll in comfrey has a cell structure that mimics that of human blood cells, which means it is readily absorbed to assist in cell regeneration.  Allantion promotes rapid cell growth, and is more commonly found in umbilical cords, where it performs the same function for fetuses.  These properties mean that comfrey has the ability to enhance recovery from, and even arm our bodies against outside attack!  Plus, it's rumored to promote a more youthful appearance--and at the risk of sounding desperate, I'm all for that.  Can I get an amen?  Thank you.

*Although comfrey has been used internally for centuries without evidence of human bodily damage, there are advisories against consuming large quantities.  I always like to advocate caution when consuming any herb for medicinal purposes, so be sure to do your research!


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The main use for comfrey on my homestead is as an ingredient in my healing Comfrey Balm.  The balm is applied to the surface of the skin to treat skin irritations, but it doesn't stop there.  Comfrey is considered "transdermal" which means that it is able to soak deep within the skin into the tissue, and even reaching bone depth!  This ability allows the healing properties of comfrey to treat all those bruises, muscle issues, sprains, and fractures that we, as humans, manage to end up afflicted with. 

The balm is a soothing, non-invasive way to treat our aches and pains.  It's certainly not intended to substitute for major medical care, but I love having it on hand for those "non-emergency" situations.  It's a nice, natural addition to my medicine cabinet, and knowing it's there brings me such comfort.  

In fact, I call comfrey the "comforting herb" because...well, it is!  And it's just another example of how my garden makes my life so satisfying. 

So, if you're in search of some satisfaction, get out there and start growing!  On second thought--wait until Spring, otherwise you'll freeze your tail off.  And I don't think even comfrey can help you there!


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    The Inside Dirt

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    The Gardens...

    I'm drawn to plants with a purpose.  I like to grow things that have some sort of uniqueness to them: a great story, an unusual feature, a creative use.  So, heirloom vegetables, edible flowers, and herbs make up the bulk of my cottage style garden.  I also have a vegetable plot, berry patches, fruit trees, and herb and cutting flower beds.  In maintaining all this, I strive to be as organic as possible by using techniques like companion planting, rotating my crops, and composting kitchen scraps and yard clippings.  All this comes together to create a cleaner environment for my family, my livestock, and my gardens. 

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