Today’s flower seeds April 14, 2013

This is far from being everything for the day, but here are the flower seeds I plan on planting today. Some are being planted for specific purposes. An example of this is the marigolds that will help keep root nemotodes away. Others, such as nasturtium, will hopefully act as a trap plant drawing pests away from my fruit and veggies. Some of these flowers have medicinal uses as well. The purple coneflower is a great example of this. It is also known as echinacea, known worlwide for immune boosting properties. Even the flowers with no specific purpose will add beauty for us humans and a varied food supply for beneficial insects throughout the year. Some insects have a relationship with specific plants such as swallow tail butterflies and pipe vine. Others have more general needs such as european honey bees, which will take just about any nectar or pollen they can get. This makes it important to plant a diversity including native plants in your garden. I have some transplants and veggie seeds planned for today as well…..let’s see how far I get 🙂 I’ll try to remember to update as the day progresses but my regular readers know how that goes sometimes.

Peach tree guild update March 13, 2013

What a little oasis of life. Onions and garlic are the root crops here. They will help keep certain insect pests away. Strawberries and red clover are the ground cover. The clover adds nitrogen to the soil and the strawberries act as a trap crop for some very destructive little moths. Oats and wheat were sown as a cover crop, to be knocked down later to enrich the soil. Mums and bee balm are also a part of the herbacious layer and will help to attract beneficial insects, as will the “Blue Girl” rose bush. There is some russian sage I was given thrown into thr group as well. I also have scattered wild flower seeds here. I can’t wait to see what all comes up as the season progresses 🙂