I thought I had left this up and then someone noticed it wasn’t there any more on my page well I am reposting in a page so that I won’t delete it by accident.

This book is dangerous. In its essence, Retrosuburbia inspires us all to stay right where we are. Turning our suburbs upside down, to make the world we want.

Amelia • Just a lonely witch living in a cabin in the woods. Main blog is lonely-bandit • Vancouver, BC

A number of people have asked me for ceremonies and activities that help facilitate sacred work on the land in various ways. Why would we want such ceremonies? Quite simply, we can get the most effect by combining actions out in the world with rituals and other forms of magical practice on the inner worlds.

An orchard once far afield (as any sensible grove should be) has encroached upon the back hall, dear ones... Enchanted fruits now litter the floor and branches have sprouted from our bookcases, their leafy tendrils mingling with tassels and tapestries alike. Furthermore, a bird has nested amid the draperies and our front parlor is overrun with beasts. Ivy encases our curios cabinet and the ceiling is awash in stars... Lady Luna herself looks in on us from time to time, illuminating our abode in her pale glow... {A Grand Gothic Revival Sun Room} {Antique Turkish Textile} {Wrought Iron Garden Furniture} Curious happenings have occurred out of doors as well. Teapots pour tulips, topiary table lamps lounge among the shrubs. A chaise that once slept at the foot of our bed has slithered outside (followed soon after by a set of chairs.) The trio spend their days basking upon the balcony, occasionally clad in velvet but most often in the buff... (oh, my) The seasons brings to life a brass bed frame, a briar of roses in the summer, a coverlet of crocus in early spring. Petunia clad pillows scatter across a carpet, oriental in origin now overrun with moss... {A fairy tale setting styled by Rebecca Purcell} {A Fragment of Antique Floral Wallpaper} As an explanation of these oddities we can only state that “Baroque Organic” is a concept that we often incorporate in our designs as well as our personal décor. Visions of grand roomscapes reclaimed by nature are an endless source of inspiration, as are gardens littered with finery and furnishings. Gathered here are a few luscious images that blur the line between indoors and out. Enjoy! ~Splendor {High Tea in the Garden}

Biodynamic calendar 2013 is the basic for all your biodynamic handling of plants and animals in the year of 2013. From grain to trees, from bees to livestock, this calendar shows you the days and hours when your work with living organisms is optimal...

Botanical Name: Sedum acre. Other Common Names: Common stonecrop, golden carpet sedum, wall-pepper, welcome home husband though never so drunk, gul fetknopp (Swedish), helluhnoðri (Icelandic), orpin âcre (French), Scharfer Mauerpfeffer (German), pampajarito (Spanish). Habitat: The plant can be found growing wild in almost all of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Today it's a popular garden plant. Description: Biting stonecrop is an evergreen perennial plant that can reach up to 5 to 10 cm tall. It grows by creeping shoots and forms dense clumps or mats on stone walls, rocks, and dry stony ground. The Leaves are smooth-margined, egg-shaped, thick and

Behind the famous row of stone cottages in Bibury.

This wedding may be all about the romance, but that doesn't mean that this beautiful couple doesn't have a sense of humor or know how to celebrate in style. They surprised their wedding party by stopp...

Two Toned Ruffled Leaves, Easy to Grow, Foliage Interest, Ships in a 4.25 Eco+ Grande™ Pot?

Sartorial Sphere–Igor of Premier cleans up for a new spread in Sphere magazine. Photographed by Cameron McNee at the gorgeous Hedingham Castle, Igor is

Angelica has a long history of use as a seasoning, medicinal and tea. Although not commonly cultivated, growing Angelica will increase the variety and interest of flavors in your herb garden. Click he

Arovuokko on helppohoitoinen ja nopeasti leviävä perenna. Arovuokko kukkii runsaasti alkukesällä ja usein syksyllä uudelleen.

Nature has a way of reclaiming things if it has a chance. Here are 50 times when it did just that.

I hope I see something good today after the office meeting. I looked at the list last night and didn't see any cottage castles on the broker open house tour. One can always dream about them though.

Sigils are very personal magic. They are also simple and quick to do, which makes them favorites of witches and rightly so. Effective in many forms, sigils an excellent part of any toolkit and practicing them will serve you well. This method of sigil crafting utilizes the energy of growing plants to charge and maintain the power of sigils!

I. Introduction II. Tea: Black, Oolong, and Green III. Herbal Flavors IV. Health Benefits V. Techniques of Preparation VI. Harvesting, Drying, and Storage VII. Growing Herbs in Houston I. Introduction So, what's all this about teas and why are they so dang healthy? As usual, it's all about the chemistry. You basic “Lipton's” tea is loaded with a number of beneficial chemicals with the main class being known as "flavoniods". Most flavonoids work as antioxidants which is just a fancy way of saying they get rid of the bad, highly-reactive molecules (aka free radicals) in your body. These free radicals would normally bounce around ripping apart other necessary molecules, which is a very bad thing. Getting rid of the free radicals greatly reduces molecular damage to your cells, which is a very good thing. If all you want to do is protect your molecules from destruction then regular tea is fine. However, why stop there? How about adding chemicals that can perk you up or make you relax, chemicals that can stimulate your immune system or settle down your stomach, chemicals that can reduces cramps or clear your sinuses of goo, maybe even extend your life? Yeah, they can do that and more. Let's learn more, shall we? II. Tea: Black, Oolong, and Green The most common teas (Black, Oolong, and Green) all come from the Camellia sinensis plant, originally from Asia. The difference between the three depends on how the leaves are treated after picking, mainly how much enzymatic breakdown they are allowed to undergo. This natural chemical process occurs as the leaves are dried and and once the proper level of breakdown has occur the leaves are heated to stop further breakdown. Green tea is the least “broken” of the teas and so maintains the highest concentrations of beneficial chemicals but has the weakest flavor by most Western standards. Oolong tea is partially broken giving it a richer flavor and a slight reduction in the chemicals we seek. Black tea is allowed to break down the farthest. This results in the richest taste but a reduction of many helpful chemicals except for the antioxidants. But even Black tea been shown to reduce the clogging of arteries, inhibit cancer growth, and fight some viruses! III. Herbal Flavors Besides the assorted health and wellness chemicals available in herbal teas (sect. IV), they offer a whole world of tastes. Mixing and matching these flavors is one of the great joys of herbal tea. SWEET Anise Licorice Stevia leaves Vanilla beans Yaupon holly leaves Blackberry/Dewberry leaves Raspberry leaves Apple fruit Peach fruit Hawthorn Strawberry leaves FLORAL Chamomile flowers & leaves Elderberry flowers Jasmine flowers Lavender flowers Basswood/Linden flowers Clover (white and red) Rose flowers Chrysanthemum flowers MINT Spearmint Peppermint Wintergreen Catnip Violet Basil Yerba Santa SPICY Allspice Cardamon Cinnamon Coriander Fenugreek Ginger CITRUS* Beebalm/Lemon balm Lemongrass Lemon peel Orange peel Lime peel Sorrel *Warning: the peel of store-bought citrus fruit may have been treated with fungicides or other potentially toxic compounds. Wash them thoroughly before use or purchase organically grown fruits. TART Rose hips Turk's cap flowers Hibiscus flowers Dock leaves LICORICE Anise Fennel Licorice Star Anise Goldenrod leaves & flowers EARTHY/ROOTY Dandelion root Burdock root Ginseng roots (flavor becomes bitter if left in water too long) Chicory root RESIN Rosemary Pine needles Thyme Sage Cloves BITTER Chicory root Ginseng roots (flavor becomes bitter if left in water too long) Yarrow flowers & leaves Willow twigs ARBORACEOUS Sarsaparilla roots Birch leaves Ginseng roots (flavor becomes bitter if left in water too long) Sassafras roots Burdock root Echinacea flowers Ephedra bark & twigs IV. Health Benefits Now it's time for the best part of herbal teas, the wonderful effects they can have on your body. Do you want to sleep or wake up? Are you suffering from a cold? Do you need your heart, or blood to function better? Do need to calm your stomach or your nerves? Yeah, there's a herb for that. HERBS FOR ENERGY Ginseng Yaupon holly (caffeine) Licorice Tumeric Chrysanthemum Ephedra HERBS FOR HEADACHES Mint Rose hips Rosemary Thyme Lavender Chrysanthemum HERBS FOR IMPROVED HEALTH Burdock root - blood purifier, antioxidants Cinnamon - improves circulation, may increase longevity Dandelion root - stimulates liver, flushes system Lemongrass - cleanses blood, liver and kidneys; reduces blood pressure Licorice - reduces congestion, improves focus Stinging nettle - cleanses blood, stimulates liver & kidneys Blackberry/Dewberry - high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; blood cleanser Rose hips - vitamin C, antioxidants Rosemary - improves liver action and blood circulation, improves memory Persimmon - vitamin C Sassafras - blood cleanser Hibiscus flower - antioxidants, control blood pressure, lowers cholesterol Red clover - antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, reduces bad cholesterol, thins blood Ginger - reduces morning sickness, reduces arthritis pain and other chronic pain Jasmine - antioxidants, lowers bad cholesterol, may fight cancer, boosts immune system Ginko Biloba – improves memory Chrysanthemum – lowers blood pressure, high in minerals Sage – blood purifier, improves liver, kidney, and brain functions, Thyme – reduces anemia Fennel – reduces pain Ginseng – improves immune system, lowers bad cholesterol, improves blood flow Hawthorn – strengthens heart tissue & blood vessels, lowers bad cholesterol Mint – strengthens immune system HERBS FOR CALM Chamomile Oatstraw Basil Valerian root Lemon balm St. John's Wort Lemongrass Ginseng Mint Sage Jasmine Licorice HERBS FOR STOMACH ILLS Burdock - reduces indigestion and constipation, increases bile production Cardamom - increases digestion, reduces gas Chamomile - reduces indigestion Cinnamon - reduces indigestion Cloves – aids digestion, reduces nausea Fennel - improves appetite, stimulates digestion, reduces gas Ginger - reduces nausea Lemongrass - improves digestion Mint - improves digestion, reduces nausea Licorice – improves digestion Blackberry/Dewberry - helps control diarrhea Sage - improves digestion Ginseng – increases appetite, helps digestion, cures diarrhea Yarrow - increases appetite, improves digestion Red clover - reduces gas Stevia - reduces heartburn Anise - reduces gas and indigestion Thyme – reduces gas Basil – reduces diarrhea Fennel – reduces gas, aids digestion HERBS FOR COLDS/FLU Burdock - reduces congestion, opens airways, reduces fever Elderberry - improves immune system Fennel - soothes sore throats, reduces coughing Ginger - soothes throat, opens sinuses, reduces fever Lemongrass - reduces fevers and other cold symptoms Licorice - soothes sore throats, reduces coughing Stinging nettle - reduces coughing, opens sinuses Black berry – soothes sore throat Sage – reduces, fever, congestion and coughing Strawberry leaves - slows diarrhea, reduces indigestion Thyme - reduces coughing and sore throats, strengthens immune system Yarrow - reduces congestion and other cold symptoms Red clover - expectorant Ephedra - reduces congestion Anise - expectorant, reduces congestion Cinnamon – reduces cold symptoms HERBS FOR WOMEN Cinnamon - reduces menstrual cramps Ginger - reduces menstrual cramps Lemongrass - reduces menstrual issues Licorice - reduces menstrual cramps Fennel – stimulates milk flow Motherwort - reduces PMS Blackberry/Dewberry - general menstrual aid Skullcap - reduces PMS mood swings Stevia - may help prevent osteoporosis Fenugreek – increases lactation Red clover - reduces symptoms of menopause due to estrogen mimicking molecules, not for use by pregnant women! HERBS FOR MEN Ginseng - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants Ginko Biloba - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants Ginger - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants Hawthorn - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants Blackberry/Dewberry - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants V. Techniques of Preparation So now let's make the tea. There are a few things to keep in mind to optimize the release of power of your herbs. Being a chemist, I'm going to pull out the big words for this section. INFUSION This method is used for soft plant matter such as leaves, flowers, seeds, or crushed fruits/berries. Boiling water is poured over these materials which are then steeped for 10 to 30 minutes. The water is not brought back to a boil but rather it is allowed to slowly cool or heated to below boiling. The longer the herbs are soaked in this water the more flavor, nutrients, and medicinal compounds will be released. However, be careful with some bitter herbs as a long soaking of these can render the tea unfit to drink. DECOCTION To decoct means to add the woody herbs to boiling water which is then kept over heat and simmered 20-60 minutes. Roots, bark, and twigs need this more vigorous extraction. As before, the longer you soak the herbs the more you'll get out of them. If making a tea with both soft and woody components first boil the roots/bark/twigs then add the leaves/flowers/fruit and remove from heat. TINCTURE Extraction of herbal chemicals with alcohol makes a tincture. The basic rule of thumb is 300-400 grams of herbs are used per liter of alcohol. Let this mixture soak for at least two weeks with shaking every day. Some people leave the herbs in the alcohol others filter them out. Filtering them out makes for a cleaner tincture which I find easier to use. Vodka and rum (80-100 proof) are the alcohols of choice, with rum being better at disguising flavors of harsher herbs. To use, take one teaspoon of the tincture up to three times a day, either straight or added to juice or soda. WARNING: never use wood alcohol, rubbing alcohol, or methanol to make tinctures. VI. Harvesting, Drying, and Storage Okay, so know you know something about the health benefits and flavors of herbal teas, now lets learn about proper collecting and storing of your future tea. It's a pretty easy, but there are a few things you should know to make great teas. HARVESTING Now days it is easy to buy tea herbs off the internet or even in grocery stores. However, the fresher the better in most cases and the freshest will be the ones you grow yourself. The best time to harvest your herbs' leaves and flowers is mid-morning after any dew has evaporated but before the day's heat has a chance to really set in. Most of the flavor-producing compounds are produced by chemical reactions in the plant during the night. But these yummy compounds are easily evaporated out of the plant by the sun's heat so the later in the day you wait to pick them the less there will be of these tasty and beneficial chemicals. However if you pick the leaves/flowers while they still have a coating of dew there is a very good chance that they will mildew and turn to a mushy, useless mess during storage. The time of day is less important for heavier parts of the plant such as roots, twigs, and bark. The proper time to collect these are based more on the calender than on a clock. Late winter/early spring is usually the right time to collect twigs, roots and bark from trees as this is when they are starting to be flooded with life again after the cold, dark winter. This new life is the vitality you want to tap. On the other hand, the roots of flowers, shrubs, and non-tree-type plants are usually better in the fall. The plant has spent all summer turning sunlight into healthy nutrients and stuffing them into the roots for storage over the winter. Come spring these nutrients were to be used to regrow the plant but now you'll be harvesting that regrowth for yourself. DRYING and STORAGE A basic rule of thumb is the thicker the plant matter the thicker you can pile it on top of itself during drying. Leaves are best dried while still on the stems/stalks in bundles hung up in warm, dry areas out of direct sunlight. Remember, you don't want the good chemicals to evaporate away so warm with air circulation is better than hot or direct sunlight. If you have the room, store these bundles hanging somewhere dry. A layer of cheese cloth over them will keep the dust off them. Flowers should be removed from their stems and gently shaken to get rid of any bugs (though these bugs are a source of protein). Place them on a cookie sheets one layer deep and set them in a dry, warm place. Again, avoid hot areas or direct sunlight. Air gently passing over them with prevent mildewing, molds, or fungi from growing which are BAD for tea. Once dry, place the flowers in lidded, wide-mouth jars. Traditionally porcelain or amber-colored glass jars are preferred to reduce degradation of the herbs by light. Heavy materials such as roots, bark and twigs should be cut into strips approximately 4" long and no wider than your little finger, then loosely pile on a cookie sheet. As before, place them in a dry, warm area with moving air to dry them without losing any goodness. Twigs and uncut roots can be bundled and hung like your did earlier with the leaves. Bark and cut roots should be stored in the same manner as flowers. VII. Growing Herbs in Houston The most efficient way to grow herbs is in an “herb spiral”. This is simply a six foot wide by three foot high circular ramp of soil. Your herbs are planted along this ramp with their placement determined by their required growing conditions. Plants which need full sun are placed on the south-facing side of the spiral, full shade plants go on the north side. Partial sun/shade plants can go on the east or west sides. The top portion of the spiral dries quickly while the lower levels remain moist so plants that require well-drain soil are planted higher up and moisture-loving plants go in the lower levels. Table 1. lists common herbs and their growing conditions to assist you in planning your herb spiral. Figure 1. shows the basic layout of an herb spiral. Table 1. Common herbs Plant___Light___Water___Height____Width Anise....full sun....well drained....18”-24”....12” Basil....full sun....moist....18”-24”....12” Beebalm....partial sun....moist....24”-48”....12” Catnip....partial sun....well drained....12”-36”....12” Chamomile....any....dry....9”....varies Chrysanthemum**....full sun....dry....48”....24'-48” Coriander....sunny*....medium ....12”-36”.... 8” Echinacea....sunny....well drained....3'-4' Fennel....full sun....well drained....48”....24” Fenugreek....full sun....well drained....24” Ginger....partial sun....moist....24”....12” Hibiscus....full sun....moist....7'....5' Lavender....fun sun....well drained....36”....24” Licorice....full sun....well drained....36”....24” Peppermint....partial shade....moist....12”-24”....12”-24” Roses....partial sun...drained....varies Rosemary....full sun....well drained....72”....72” Sage....full sun....well drained....24”-36”....24”-36” Spearmint....partial shade....moist....12”-24”....12”-24” Stevia....full sun*....well drained 24”....8” Strawberry....full sun....well drained....12”....bed Violet....partial sun....moist....6”....bed Wintergreen....partial shade....moist....12”-24”....12”-24” Yarrow....full sun....well drained....24”-36”....10” Figure 1. Herb spiral Remember, the spiral should be at or over three feet tall at the center. It is watered from the top, allowing the water to flow down around the spiral. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

New graphics set, this time for the Sims in Bloom Legacy by @a-sims-garden! I've been wanting to do this challenge for a long time. I hope I'm able to eventually.

Witchy interior inspiration

visione dell'interno

Botanical Name: Potentilla anserina, Argentina anserina. The genus name Potentilla derives from the Latin word 'Potentia' which means power. The other genus name Argentina is drawn from the Latin word 'argentum' meaning silver. The species' scientific name anserina means 'of the goose', either because the plant was used as food for geese or because the leaves bear a resemblance to geese feet. Most Sandinativan common names of the plant include the word 'goose'. At first, the plant was placed in the genus Potentilla by Carl Linnaeus (1707 - 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, but was reclassified in 1990