representing Miss October, calendula's orange glow

October's lovely flower is the striking Calendula. This garden annual represents sorrow and sympathy in the language of flowers. Perhaps it is a requiem for summer lost?
Calendula belongs to the Aster Family, once called the Composite Family. This is in reference to the presence, not of petals but of two types of florets, straplike and discoid (composites). The centres are the disk flowers. Each "flower" is actually a flower-head made up of florets. Consider adding the outer straplike florets to a salad of arugula mix, johnny-jump-ups and nasturtiums. Not only beautiful but very tasty with a raspberry vinaigrette.
It has other uses as well. Tincture or salves are available as herbal preparations for skin afflictions, most notable contact dermatitis from poison-ivy contact.

How Chris died...a discussion of wild potato and field sweet pea

I am grateful for my friend Jamie who posted the following article: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2013/09/how-chris-mccandless-died.html

Years ago I remember reading of this young man and his quest to find a purer lifestyle. His death was disturbing in several ways. Many mourned the senseless loss; others sought to find answers. If you are a harvester of wild foods, you may want to read it. Even in Nova Scotia, there are many harmful plants and fungi that can cause death or painful disfigurement.

August brings Sincerity!

The birth flower for the month of August is the Gladiolus. Who doesn’t remember agricultural fairs where bouquets of colourful glads were compared and judged for ribbons and trophies. These stiffly upright summer annuals grow from corms planted in the previous fall. 

They are only half-hardy here. Gladiolus, the word is a diminutive of sword, from gladius. Some even call the flowers the sword lily. Rightfully they are closer aligned with irises, belonging to that family. Their centre of origin is sub-Saharan Africa and they are included in the Cape Province flora.

In the conservative Language of Flowers, the gladiolus symbolizes strength of character and means Sincerity. Both noble qualities befitting the noble summer bloom.

Kiwis in Nova Scotia

I have returned from a hiatus in blogging. With three distinctly different weblogs now, I am going to try to keep them all current.

Did you know that kiwi-fruit grow in Nova Scotia? I didn't. When a colleague sent me an image of an unknown vine, I had no idea of the identity of the plant. So I did the next best thing. I contacted a former classmate who manages Halifax Seed in Saint John, NB. She didn't recognize it either.
Back to Halifax Seed in Halifax where a staffer put the name, Arctic Kiwi or Actinidia kolomikta to it. Yesterday, while speaking with Niki Jabbour, the Weekend Gardener, she suggested that the plants need a male and a female vine (more precisely, pollen receptor and pollen donor plants) . Apparently the foliage of the male is quite colourful...splotched with white and purple.

Who knew? Here you see the small fruits developing. They are tasty to eat, resemble commercial kiwis and don't have to be peeled.

October 2010

Oh my where does the time go? I haven't posted here in over a year. Family update: we are all well, including Amy (a senior DSH), Jo (a senior sable ferret) and Maia (junior cinnamon ferret). The spring and summer 2010 in Nova Scotia were extraordinarily sunny, with few foggy days here on the coast.

The biggest news item to rock my world was the discovery of invading colonies of Giant Hogweed. This robust member of the Carrot Family (Apiaceae) causes painful skin lesions and photosensitivity.

The plant has been present in NS for nearly 30 years, but not actively spreading until recently. After more than 400 calls, emails and personal inquiries plus 7 media interviews we were able to inform the outdoor public and attempt to control the plant where threat to human safety was an issue.

Fall has brought us the effects of Hurricanes Earl and Ivan, though none so serious as Juan of 2003. We look forward to the Christmas season, knowing that travel for some of us is imminent.

REST IN PEACE FUZZY ANGELS

I am beyond rational thought right now. There is a reason I won't take in surrendered and rescued animals. Rather I prefer to fund-raise and manage money. My own 2 lovable Maia an Jo were both adopted from fostering situations, but I was isolated from their history largely.

Recently in NB, 2 ferrets were found in a dumpster...this after a week of near 100% humidity and 90 degree temps. Apparently the pet owner thought they were dead! They were removed by a local business and the SPCA found their owner. Said ferrets were again found and said owner claimed they escaped and made their way back to the same dumpster.

At this point one of our Board members made arrangements to foster and provide emergency medical aid.

The bastard had a friend shoot his babies and claimed he found a home for them.

There are times when I want to give in to hormonal rages. And don't.

Dear God, please give them a comfortable place to finally rest, where animals are not abused and the tears are not crocodillan.

Bastard, may you rot in hell.

GIVING LIP, PAYING LIP SERVICE

Sorry folks this is not going to be a happy ramble. Rather I'm going to get to the point.

A well-known pet store in Atlantic Canada refers to itself as a pet superstore but takes the high road regarding community pet events. In attempting to promote our local Ferret Frolics (August 15, 1-4 in Halifax), I took in a few posters asking only that they be posted.

Oh, but they only support Guide Dogs of Canada. Admirable, I say...but that is not local nor an event. I am not asking for charity, only a place to put a poster.

We don't allow educational posters in our store. But I retort, this event would support your initiatives with respect to ferrets. A little education goes a long way to reducing our workload in rescuing domestic ferrets.

Sorry we are not interested.

I paid for the dog pads and softly said thanks, I won't be back.

There is little point in arguing with the staff working cash. There is a much larger point made when massive numbers of people start boycotting a business because of their unethical practices. More than once, I have heard former employees describe the unspeakable horrors their animals endure on their path to maybe homes. Weeks pass and sick animals are left to die untreated.

Nope, I won't be back... join me?