Mafoo’s Non canna adventures

[Inactive account]

Mosaic plant




My poppies flowered for first time. Transplanted from mum four years ago or so.


Some iris


And i bet you could use red verbena as a natural fabric dye

Wicked hun had my poppies about 4 yrs they gone mad this yr so many flowers and I was about to get rid of it this yr lol




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[Mafooo]

Some mints:


Hibiscus:


Azalea bonsai:


Peony:

[Inactive account]

Loving it mafoo, keep them coming


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[Keeno]

Some stunning pictures in here Mafoo

[Wrh]

I've only just found this whole section it's brilliant and this thread is right up my street I'll be back to look in again when I have more time I love your photos they look magnificent

[Mafooo]

Been harvesting some medicinals for making teas, infusions, and tinctures.

Violet leaf



Yarrow





And i finally dried a bunch of marshmallow leaf



I have also been doing some experimenting with Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). I wanted to try to extract the aromatic component from the plant material so I tried three different methods. I made a tincture with it and I also collected some hydrosol and a decoction at the same time.

On the left is hydrosol and right is decoction. Tincture not pictured.


To make shelf stable water extracts you need to mix in high proof alcohol. So… i just mixed the rhus aromatica tincture, decoction, and hydrosol and got this colored liquid that smells very much like the plant.



Anyways Im really thinking of making a medicinal gardening and herbal tea thread to discuss this stuff more.

But for now, here are a couple links to teach you how to make hydrosol at home, and share a bit more info on these plants.

DIY hydrosol technique



Info on smoking marshmallow leaf. Apparently it is a commonly smoked herb in traditional medicine and can be mixed with ganja or baccy or enjoyed alone.

https://bearblend.com/smoking-marshmallow/

Info on Fragrant sumac. Apparently this was also used in smoking blends by some native communities. I am also using the tincture as an astringent to fight canker sores in the mouth.

https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinN ... +aromatica

http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Rhus

https://www.motherearthliving.com/garde ... w2002ztil/

[HRH]

wild fermented lilac cordial. Fizzy, sweet, boozy, spring

Hi there... Love the sound of this. Obvs too late for this year but will try this next year. Snake my own elderflower cordial. Nature's gifts eh.

[Mafooo]

Next newest thing is Im trying to make some FPJ to use on some crops and the canna

I have watched this guys videos and like his style



So I watered the garden with EM1 yesterday and then went out this morning before sunrise and pulled all the purslane from the veg patch.



Then I got the gear



Then to mix





Then pack it in after it starts to get soggy



Cap it with brown sugar, bring it in, clean the jar exterior and mouth with vinegar, and put a breathable lid with label



Fingers crossed in a week or so I can use a new amendment.

[Mafooo]

Been trying to explore nature’s gifts more intentionally

I like to keep an eye out for medicine that can be foraged. This year I discovered a whole crop of motherwort at my in laws, and our friends parents just built a new lake home and I found some spots to pick blue vervain and marsh woundwort.

I got a bottle of everclear for making tinctures so will post about all that fun stuff here as we go along too.


Motherwort, blue vervain, and marsh woundwort, respectively


Marsh woundwort (Stachys palustris). Astringent, antiseptic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, healing herb that is good for nourishing your digestive system and lowering the stress and pain throughout the body.

https://www.ediblewildfood.com/marsh-woundwort.aspx



Blue vervain (verbena hastata) Good for depression, sleep, self improvement, uplifting your basal well being.

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/resul ... lant=veha2



Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is not pictured up close. This herb is famous as a female health support powerhouse. It helps fight hot flashes, clean the blood, regulate flow, strengthen the heart, reduce anxiety and mood swings, among other things. It is very bitter and is not recommended in tea (but i havent tried it yet)

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mo ... t#benefits



And Ive also started dehydrating red clover, chamomile, and calendula flowers

[Mafooo]

Wicked vinca flower plant



I took a crack at a spearmint vinegar extract. 1 part mint leaf to 1 part apple cider vinegar to 1 part water with a little honey. Supposed to be good for baking or cocktails or whatever.





And I repurposed an old toolbox to be my tincture caddy