Comments for The Alchemist's Garden http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog Growing With the Spirits: Plants, Magic, and Spirituality Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:51:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Harvesting toloache & other black doings by sara http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/31/harvesting-toloache-other-black-doings/comment-page-1/#comment-1886 sara Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:51:06 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=884#comment-1886 Oh, my plum wine kept burping and sputtering for a couple weeks. In earnest to where the airlock kept getting clogged up, and then back to polite belching. It still burps maybe once a day. I racked it a couple weeks ago into secondary. Oh, my plum wine kept burping and sputtering for a couple weeks. In earnest to where the airlock kept getting clogged up, and then back to polite belching. It still burps maybe once a day. I racked it a couple weeks ago into secondary.

]]> Comment on Harvesting toloache & other black doings by herba15 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/31/harvesting-toloache-other-black-doings/comment-page-1/#comment-1885 herba15 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:06:56 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=884#comment-1885 You are right about them forming "raisins" on the plant. I wonder if they have to go through repeated cold and warmth to do that. Maybe I should leave my shade plot of black nightshade alone and then try harvesting the berries after we get some frosts. How long does/did your plum wine keep fizzing? You are right about them forming “raisins” on the plant. I wonder if they have to go through repeated cold and warmth to do that. Maybe I should leave my shade plot of black nightshade alone and then try harvesting the berries after we get some frosts.

How long does/did your plum wine keep fizzing?

]]> Comment on Harvesting toloache & other black doings by herba15 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/31/harvesting-toloache-other-black-doings/comment-page-1/#comment-1884 herba15 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:05:26 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=884#comment-1884 I think you are right about the gooey. I have not tried sun-drying because we tend to have such high humidity here that even using a dehydrator can sometimes be an exercise in futility. But I will give it a try with these guys. I think you are right about the gooey. I have not tried sun-drying because we tend to have such high humidity here that even using a dehydrator can sometimes be an exercise in futility. But I will give it a try with these guys.

]]> Comment on Harvesting toloache & other black doings by sara http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/31/harvesting-toloache-other-black-doings/comment-page-1/#comment-1877 sara Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:14:40 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=884#comment-1877 Black nightshade most definitely forms raisin-like things when left to dry on the plant. I learned that last night when I was harvesting for an ink project. But... they're a bit more inert to handle after they've baked like that. I didn't feel weird after picking a handful, in addition to a few fresher berries. Okay, I'm going to try growing Unmatta next year. That seed head looks so alien. Almost like a puffball mushroom and a balloon had a bastard child... I still have to rack my plum pilsener. And rack the plum wine again because it has clarified a bit more and shed more dead yeast to the bottom of the fermenter. What enthustiastic plants in your yard :) Black nightshade most definitely forms raisin-like things when left to dry on the plant. I learned that last night when I was harvesting for an ink project. But… they’re a bit more inert to handle after they’ve baked like that. I didn’t feel weird after picking a handful, in addition to a few fresher berries.

Okay, I’m going to try growing Unmatta next year. That seed head looks so alien. Almost like a puffball mushroom and a balloon had a bastard child…

I still have to rack my plum pilsener. And rack the plum wine again because it has clarified a bit more and shed more dead yeast to the bottom of the fermenter.

What enthustiastic plants in your yard :)

]]> Comment on Harvesting toloache & other black doings by Scylla http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/31/harvesting-toloache-other-black-doings/comment-page-1/#comment-1867 Scylla Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:48:38 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=884#comment-1867 I imagine the black nightshade will be rather like raisins. Never really dry so much as "gooey in a thin skin". Would sun-drying be an option? The wild nightshades dry delightfully on the vine around this time of year, looking like very angry yellow raisins. I imagine the black nightshade will be rather like raisins. Never really dry so much as “gooey in a thin skin”. Would sun-drying be an option?

The wild nightshades dry delightfully on the vine around this time of year, looking like very angry yellow raisins.

]]> Comment on Eleazar of Worms, and night blooming plants by herba15 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/15/reading-on-magic-and-night-blooming-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-1721 herba15 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:08:13 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=846#comment-1721 I think with cats it's the busybody gene (abbreviated BzBd). Crazy has that one in spades. In her opinion, apes must be supervised at all times. To me, the white oleander was especially fragrant, with a sweet anise scent. Talk about genes, I've read that people have different smell genes, and this is one plant where it comes out. Some can smell it, others not, and then those who can can't smell other flowers. Mignonette (Reseda odorata), which is supposed to be one of the sweetest flowers in existence, has no scent for me at all. Ditto crepe myrtle. I think everyone can smell petunias, though. I think with cats it’s the busybody gene (abbreviated BzBd). Crazy has that one in spades. In her opinion, apes must be supervised at all times.

To me, the white oleander was especially fragrant, with a sweet anise scent. Talk about genes, I’ve read that people have different smell genes, and this is one plant where it comes out. Some can smell it, others not, and then those who can can’t smell other flowers. Mignonette (Reseda odorata), which is supposed to be one of the sweetest flowers in existence, has no scent for me at all. Ditto crepe myrtle. I think everyone can smell petunias, though.

]]> Comment on Eleazar of Worms, and night blooming plants by sara http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/15/reading-on-magic-and-night-blooming-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-1715 sara Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:31:08 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=846#comment-1715 What is it with cats being artistic directors? Cripes... I'm surprised you snuck in that shot before one of them draped over your shoulders for a nap. Oleander is one of those plants I tend to avoid instinctively. Which species of it is fragrant? I might have to 'go there', as it were. What is it with cats being artistic directors? Cripes…

I’m surprised you snuck in that shot before one of them draped over your shoulders for a nap.

Oleander is one of those plants I tend to avoid instinctively. Which species of it is fragrant? I might have to ‘go there’, as it were.

]]> Comment on Eleazar of Worms, and night blooming plants by herba15 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/15/reading-on-magic-and-night-blooming-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-1712 herba15 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:07:43 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=846#comment-1712 I believe that is Lycopodium selago (aka Huperzia selago), or clubmoss. It turns a golden color and can often be found in large groups. Also, it's used as a mordant in dyeing--I'll bet for dyeing gold colors. I noticed it is mentioned in plant folklore (like Thiselton-Dyer) as an aid for understanding the language of birds. Check out what it says about it in PFAF: http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lycopodium+selago I believe that is Lycopodium selago (aka Huperzia selago), or clubmoss. It turns a golden color and can often be found in large groups. Also, it’s used as a mordant in dyeing–I’ll bet for dyeing gold colors. I noticed it is mentioned in plant folklore (like Thiselton-Dyer) as an aid for understanding the language of birds. Check out what it says about it in PFAF:

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lycopodium+selago

]]> Comment on Eleazar of Worms, and night blooming plants by herba15 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/15/reading-on-magic-and-night-blooming-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-1711 herba15 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:51:00 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=846#comment-1711 Okay, I admit it--the birdcage in the background was photochopped in. Crazyface wanted it there: "Put bird. Put bird. Put bird!" She always has to stick her two kibbles in. You're right about the oleander. Looks so innocent. HAW! I had a big white oleander in Florida. Holy cats, did that smell good! Okay, I admit it–the birdcage in the background was photochopped in. Crazyface wanted it there: “Put bird. Put bird. Put bird!” She always has to stick her two kibbles in.

You’re right about the oleander. Looks so innocent. HAW! I had a big white oleander in Florida. Holy cats, did that smell good!

]]> Comment on Eleazar of Worms, and night blooming plants by Scylla http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/2010/08/15/reading-on-magic-and-night-blooming-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-1705 Scylla Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:54:30 +0000 http://herbalwitchcraft.com/blog/?p=846#comment-1705 Unrelated to your blog, but I thought you'd be the best person to ask - Which herb, exactly, is Cloth of Gold? I've found numerous references to it, none of which give a latin name. When I google "Cloth-of-gold" I get about a dozen different plants, which have varieties called "Cloth of gold" Unrelated to your blog, but I thought you’d be the best person to ask – Which herb, exactly, is Cloth of Gold?

I’ve found numerous references to it, none of which give a latin name. When I google “Cloth-of-gold” I get about a dozen different plants, which have varieties called “Cloth of gold”

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