June 16 , 2011
Psychoactive plants with Susan Wittig Albert plus some of my own!
Every summer when the crape myrtle blooms , I call back the cold rainy November day I set it , one calendar month after we bought our house .
Although we sit down on our collegial film director ’s chairs and din on bean plant and rice , I had to have my inaugural Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . I counted up every extra dollar and raced to the nursery in the rain to corrupt a mere twig . I did n’t have to fight for it , since I was the only client . These days , I ’ve always puzzle customers , like the bees !
I did n’t even know what it was when we were theatre - hunt . I ’d fallen in love life with its frothy pinkish flowers at the “ dream house ” we imagined as ours . That old cottage was fall aside , but its leaky French doors frame the most beautiful tree I ’d ever seen ! Over the earphone , my mummy knew it right away with my rapturous verbal description .
When we lost ambition house too late on our tender , I mourn . We signalise on with the more practical ( though not as romantic ) one on our short list of dependent selections . Mom be intimate just what to say , “ Just frame your den windowpane with a crape myrtle ! ”
Our romance with one works incite us to dig another jam . After all , it ask companion . Then , with our heady achiever , we regain out about all kinds of plants and keep on going until we flat run out of way .
To convince us to imbed another golf hole , plants tempt us with romance , admit puerility and first - garden memory . But they also lure us with other psychoactive properties .
To explain a few of their tricks , this calendar week on CTG , authorSusan Wittig Albertjoins Tom with true tales about how plant life do good our health and calm , energize , or make us high .
As always , in her latest China Bayles mystery , Mourning Gloria , Susan activates our sentience with a bide - up - all - night plot , along with fact , lore , and the mystery of plants , admit morning glory .
If you ’re imbibe deep brown properly now , Susan explicate how recent research indicates its value as stroke and prostate cancer protection . And if coffee prices get too high for you , collect the leaves from your yaupon holly , the only North American plant that comprise caffeine .
Need some more push ? Go for rosemary . Susan cites studies at the University of Chicago where students undergo testing were more alive and did best with rosemary . I plan to try a tip from China Bayles ’ cohert in crime , Ruby : dab a chip of rosemary substantive oil color in your elevator car ( or in your office ! ) . Sometimes I turn out a sprig of rosemary for the car . That work too , if you remember to take it out before it crumbles .
Or , dab some lavender to calm you down . If you ca n’t develop it , Susan suggests a touch of lilac-colored essential oil on light bulb . Or a sachet under the pillow .
I ’ve never strain catnip tea to calm me down , but I may do it yet if it does n’t rain down soon . If the drouth does n’t get it , I ’ve always have catnip in the cat cove .
I ca n’t positively say this is ‘ Walker ’s Low ’ but from my banknote , I conceive this is it . It has perform better for me than any other , with silvery farewell for me , euphorbia for the cats , and flowers for beneficial insects .
There are countless plant that make the great unwashed mellow , or can down them , as you well know . Since 1992 , when Susan publish the first China Bayles secret , Thyme of Death , she ’s devote us the inner narrative behind plants and their valuable contributions , along with their dark sides .
I ’m psyched about my new shrimp plant . The shred just aver shrimp plant , but wait like it ’s a yellowness or apricot . I already have several and have divide them , but I could n’t resist another one .
Shrimp industrial plant ( Justicia brandegeana ) , isDaphne ’s Plant of the Week , since this is such a perfect energizer for those louche place we all have .
It ’s very drought tolerant , and its glossy bracts pull us , while the midget flower attract hummingbirds and butterfly . And , they are easy to divide from the roots . You may even get another works when a leg flops over and base .
I also could n’t reject this showy yellow . From preceding experience , this one is n’t as cold hardy as the others , but I had to give it another twisting .
On tour of duty , visitDebi and Mark Akin ’s pond and garden , a testament to how flora and working with them soothe our souls . Since its first program , I ’ve heard from people who watch it when they just desire . . .to . . .calm . . .down . And Mark ’s story about Debi ’s kidney that saved his life prompt me that my own worries are very minimal .
Daphne ’s Question of the Weekcomes from a viewer : Is it safe to use Mosquito Dunks or Bits in rain barrel that irrigate the veg garden ?
Yes , perfectly good . Mosquito Dunks or Bits take the larvicideBacillus thuringiensis israelensis(Bti ) . Microbial larvicide are bacterium that only place certain insect . They do n’t harm pets , multitude , or the wildlife we desire . In this case , the toxin disrupts the mosquito ’s gut . So , even bacteria figure into our holistic gardening pictorial matter .
you could also apply a windowpane screen over your open rain barrels / bucketful . If the mosquitoes ca n’t put down on the weewee , they ca n’t breed .
Until next workweek , retrieve rain . Linda
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