Garden Tripod 16

garden tripod Horticultural Science Technology & Art

Cover Image A Novel Idea (1) by nopostonsundays

All The Materials Contained May Not Be Reproduced, Copied, Edited, Published, Transmitted Or Uploaded In Any Way Without the artist/photographers Permission. These Images/writings Do Not Belong To The Public Domain.

All images and information within the Garden Tripod magazine are the responsibility of the owner/artist/writer/ photographer & not the Garden Tripod magazine 2012-2013

GARDEN TRIPOD Horticultural Science Technology & Art Issue

16 October 2013 Garden Tripod Web Site www.gardentripod.com

GARDEN TRIPOD Horticultural Science Technology & Art

www.gardentripod.com 8

Office News Hound

10 Exhibition & News 11 I Spy with my little eye, Catalogue & Challenge Results 39 Spotlight, debraroffo 52 Ramblings from the Office Temp 57 AngelRays 68 Andrea Durrheim, English Gardens the South Africian Way 73 In Memory of Astrid 84 Katie Freeth, Biodynamic Culture 88 Fungus 95 Feature Photographer Ann Horn

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garden tripod Horticultural Science, Technology & Art Welcome to our 16th edition of the Garden Tripod.

Isn't it strange how the internet can join people together, friendships are formed with people we have no connection with.. No chance, or need to meet or talk to directly. yet there is a common bond .. Like RedBubble or other online sites that gathers people together. Often in hurried moments of reading a forum or viewing an art work .. bang a connection is made .. We should treasure these moments, enjoy the time more we have with our on line ‘friends’ Time passes all to fast for all of us. So step back and give a little of that time to type a comment on a piece of writing or image that you have enjoyed. Just a quick view is fine, but if you leave a comment, then you also leave a visible mark to say that you care.

Continuing from last month we are still showing text in the raw, as it has been written, rather than trimming and tidying. We felt we was loosing contact with the person. All spelling mistakes and grammatical errors are now all included for free, and we can meet the real people, unpolished, unaltered. Also do give our new calendar a little look .. its been a joy to assemble, and remember all the profits go back to the artists that have work featured in the calendar.

In this months Garden Tripod we have the I spy feature challenge, with two people gaining first place.

We also have four awesome spotlight features .. The first is the single tree challenge winner debraroffo Then we have another challenge winner from the Fine Art America Challenge we titled Lawnmowers, the clear winner was Ann Horn. Still life and landscape photographer AngelRays has shown a wonderful collection of her best images.

In Memory of Astrid, is a feature of the stunning and elegant style of images from Baiko this is the Japanese name of artist Astrid Stadt

Just one last thing to add, on a personal and professional note RIP Mitch, You Are In Our Thoughts.

C.M

Dance Ballerina by Sandra Fortier Pink-Winged Phasma Captured at the Insectarium in Montreal, QC, Canada

A little word from our

Office News Hound Hi Folks ..

I am officially the office dog for the Garden Tripod Magazine.

This time I am thinking about water ...

How amazing is water !!

You cannot live without water ... but it can also kill you !

Just go down to any shore line and watch the sea on a windy day. The water is pounding and crushing everything that it comes into contact with. Undrinkable salty sea water, giving home and life to a host of different sea creatures Then in contrast a lake .. Still deep water can be so clear it looks just inches deep, but reach down to feel the bottom and you soon see its further than you thought, topple in and there is a good chance of drowning.

Then water in the home can be boiled .. Steam scalding and can be frozen into to hard lumps of Ice. As I grow out of puppyhood, I am learning to respect water in all its different forms Stay Safe Princess Summer

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WinterTrees, Reflection by debraroff

Exhibition News

AUSTRALIA Mt Wilson & Mt Irvine Photography & Art Exhibition 26th & 27th October 2013 This year’s exhibition has been expanded with invitations being sent to a local Mt Wilson Jewellery artist as well as local sculptors. I’m sure this will increase the interest to visitors and locals alike. Remember that all work needs to be of the Mt Wilson and/or Mt Irvine area.

Entries forms close Friday 11th October 2013 Entry fee – $20 per artist (NOT per entry)* A special drop off day has been arranged at McGrath’s Hill McDonalds for Sunday 13th October strictly between 8 am and 11 am Entry of work needs to be received at Mt Wilson by Thursday 24th October 2013 You may offer your work for sale with 25% of each sale donation to the Mt Wilson & Mt Irvine Fire Brigade Over the weekend the local ladies of the Fire Brigade will be cooking up a storm with plenty of home made goodies (make sure you try their pies) as well as cold drinks and tea and coffee. On the Saturday from 6 pm will the official opening with wine & cheese.

Exhibition dates: Saturday 26th October & Sunday 27th October 2013 Exhibition times will be from 10 am to 4 pm (Gold coin entry) Official opening Saturday 26th October 2013 from 6 pm ($5 entry) This year there will be a special package: for $20 you will gain entry to the exhibition as well as entry to the beautiful gardens of Nooroo, Merry Garth and Bisley. This will also include a photo walk by leading photographers at 11 am and 1 pm on Saturday in Bisley and/or Merry Garth.

Remember this is a major fund raising event for the Mt Wilson & Mt Irvine Fire Brigades who do a wonderful job in the Blue Mountains with fire, storm and rescue operations, being first responders to MVA accidents and canyon/bush walking/trail bike incidents.

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Entry forms and other inquiries to bevwoodman46@gmail.com.

I Spy

with my little eye

something

W beginning with

Catalogue Garden Tripod Supports Country Gardens come grow with us group challenge

Water

Water Mint Mentha aquatica Taken in Brittany – France by marens

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Yin Yang Landform by Mui-Ling Teh Waterlilies on Isolabella - Lago Maggiore - Italy by Arie Koene

My water Domain by jessiejoe

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Water Feature by Vivian Sturdivant

Water by debraroffo

Villa on Lake Como by Karen E Camilleri

Water Garden by Lotus0104

Wall

Estate Wall and Gates Arkansas, USA

by WildestArt

Old walls ... by bubblehex08

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Moss Wall

by BlueShift

Purple Aubrieta Alfriston, East Sussex, England

by Ludwig Wagner

Walkway to Water

by Monnie Ryan

Walk

Stone Walk by phil decocco

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Waratah

Teleopa speciossima. Waratah.

Family: Proteaceae. Teleopa 2 by Bette Devine

Well Watered near Wiarton, Ontario, Canada by Rosemary Sobiera

Watering can

Tip me over and pour me out a watering can by vigor

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Watsonia

Watsonia Mendocino Coast in northern California, USA by Denice Breaux

Wattlebird

Red Wattlebird Frankland River, Western Australia. by Eve Parry

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Web

Golden Silk Orb Weaver's Web Design near Innisfail, Far North Queensland, Australia. by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch

Westbury Court Garden

Westbury Court Garden Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, England. by RedHillDigital

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Wheel

Vintage Wheel Garden Scene Digital Oil Fort St John, BC, Canada by Sandra Foster

Wheelbarrow

Wheelbarrow Pollok Gardens, Glasgow by ElsT

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White Morpho Butterfly Photographed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. by hummingbirds

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White

White Flowers around the door at The Vicarage in Whitstable by Touchstone21

Windmill

Backyard Windmill

Westerway, Tasmania. by Elaine Teague

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From My Bedroom Window Chalice Well, Glastonbury

by Vicki Spindler (VHS Photography)

Windows

Charleston Windows

by JHRphotoART

Wisteria

Wisteria among the bougainvillea South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes Peninsula, California by Celeste Mookherjee

Wisteria Garden Waltz

George Easton House, Rochester, N.Y by Marilyn Cornwell

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Laden Bough Of Wisteria @ Abbotsbury Dorset UK by lynn carter

The Wisteria Arbor in the Garden Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (USA).

by SummerJade

Wisteria Cascade Bendigo, Victoria, Wisteria Cascade

by Lozzar Flowers & Art

Wisteria Tree Butchart Gardens Victoria BC Canada

by AnnDixon

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Penn Yan, NY by wolftinz

Wobbly

Somerset (UK)

Wobbly Hedge at Montacute House by lezvee

Woodpecker

All fluffed up and nowhere to go...

Juvenile great spotted Woodpecker.

Netherland, Lemele by Nicole W.

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Woodpoppy

Woodpoppy Pennsylvania (USA) garden by cclaude

wonga vine

wonga vine & wattle allawah bushland reserve ballina nsw australia by GrowingWild

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C ong r a tu l a t i o n s J oi nt W i n n e rs a re

Web & Wheel

Golden Silk Orb Weaver's Web Design near Innisfail, Far North Queensland, Australia.

by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch Vintage Wheel Garden Scene - Digital Oil Fort St John, BC, Canada

by Sandra Foster

Top Ten

5

Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch

5

Marilyn Cornwell

4

4

4

4

wolftinz

3

Vivian Sturdivant

3

3

3

cclaude

hummingbirds

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Sandra Foster

SummerJade

GrowingWild

marens

Standing alone in a winter storm by debraroffo was voted the most popular entry in the Country Gardens come grow with us challenge

A Single Tree

I love the way there limbs move in the breeze. I see freedom to move when looking at this tree. Photo was taken on a golf course in Scituate Ma. debraroffo

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Three Birch Trees, Morning Light by debraroff

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Glowing sun in the sand by debraroff

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©debraroff by debraroff

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©debraroff by debraroff

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by debraroff

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by debraroff

Ramblings from the Office Temp ~ Nicole W.

~

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Lets Photograph Birds Bird photography has always been popular

Looking through portfolios I see many people capturing nature, especially birds. And why not? We have always admired those who can fly, because we cant. Some of us even managed to build some kind of relationship with wild birds, getting them to pose in some ways, or even eat from their hands. How great is that? It certainly makes for stunning pictures, and we help the birds by making their lives a little less harsh when we feed them, house them and help them through the long cold winters.

Bird photography has always been popular, but lately it seems to be even more than ever, and a very cool new feature is showing up. Well, not entirely new maybe but increasing in popularity for sure: Bird hides.

Now we all know about the publicly accessible hides that we often find in nature reserves, where you as a photographer may set up your gear and try your best to shoot birds, while being annoyed by several factors. First, those hides are very open, and on this side of the world that means cold, windy and not much of a hide. Birds can see you, so you have to be quiet and sit as still as possible, which is a very difficult task when other people, who have no clue, keep storming in, slamming doors and making all kinds of noise, especially children.

How do people manage to get the fabulous bird-shots that you can find all over RedBubble’s portfolios?

So there you are, almost frozen to death but still holding on when you finally get rewarded by that beautiful kingfisher that, after hours of waiting, decides to go sit on the spot where you wanted it, all ready to catch a fish right in front of your camera, when a whole family comes barging in yelling “good morning everyone”…..as if there was a sign saying that the photographers in the hide are all deaf and people should by all means shout.

By then, all you can do is watch the beautiful kingfisher you have been waiting on all day, fly off and disappear to not return for at least several hours.

I can tell you, publicly accessible hides are best avoided.

How do people manage to get the fabulous bird-shots that you can find all over RedBubble’s portfolios? Because just going somewhere, aim your camera and shoot a bird that’s up in a treetop sure isn’t working. So what is? Another kind of bird hides. The ones that you can rent for a day or half a day and are used only by photographers. Those hides are small, well hidden, sound-isolated and very often located in spots in the woods where people aren’t usually allowed to go. Mind the fact that you will need a 400 mm or more tele-zoom, but people that like capturing birds already have one of those.

I have been to several of those hides, and let me tell you, it is worth every penny. Those penny`s by the way, are often used to help maintain the words the hide is in, so they are penny`s well spent.

To attract as many birds as possible, at most hides there will be a small pond, surrounded by tree logs, branches and all kinds of other accessories from Mother Nature. The hides are at a low level, allowing you to capture the birds from a great angle, no matter where they will sit, and even capture their reflections in the water. Because birds are fed at those places, they are likely to return daily, attracting even more birds.

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Only a selected few photographers will like the idea of sitting in a bird hide all day, being quiet, cold and slightly uncomfortable after a few hours, so bird hides are not very common. In fact, you have to look for them on the internet, set a date and pay the owner before they will even tell you where it is. The good ones are always locked up, so even if you have been there, you can’t go back to freebee for a day.

Bird hides are serious business.

After having spent days in all kinds of bird hides, my husband and I decided to make one of our own.

Most bird hides are in the woods, with a wide variety of different birds, and we don’t have a patch in the woods that we own or can use. But we do live out in the country, with many different species of birds others than the usual bird hides show. We decided to give it a try, and see if it works. We managed to free a part of our garden that’s well away from the

part where we usually hang out, and made sure the dogs and pigs couldn’t get to it. Dug a shallow pond, put up some branches and planted some plants and built a simple hut. For now, that’s enough. It might take up to a year to get enough different species in, but we might just get lucky. And if we do, we have a unique bird hide, but birds you wont find in any of the other ones!

To help nature out, I decided to make an insect garden right next to the patch with the bird hide.

Next spring there will be so many flowers there, insects won’t be able to resist. I made sure I have several special plants for butterflies and bee`s, and given the amount of insects already in my garden, Im sure ill be able to concentrate a lot of them on this patch. It might help, because a lot of birds eat insects, and if not…oh well….Ill have a great spot for macro photography!

Now this might not be your cup of tea, but for those who like the idea and have the garden for it, don’t hesitate. Having a bird hide does wonders for your garden in terms of beauty if you put the effort in. The great thing about having your own bird hide is not in the least the fact that you can use your very own props in it. You wouldn’t believe the stuff I have collected, only to see how a bird would look on it. Even a simple old wooden pole with a piece of rusty barbwire still on it, will look fabulous. The only limit is your imagination. Because the birds really don’t care, as long as they can get to the food!

N. W

Nicole W. ~ Birds by Nicole W.

Sparrow Sparrow

Sparrow front row tickets are great!

Gold Finch Untitled

Nuthatch Looking UP

Nuthatch You think its gonna rain??

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Nuthatch in sync

©AngelRays

Still Life & Landscape

AngelRays Oregon, United States

I’ve been an avid photographer for over 16 years. My specialties are landscapes and studio still life.

With no formal art school education, trial and error was my teacher at first. I joined a local camera club where I learned the fundamentals and later I was fortunate to be mentored by a professional studio photographer. I now have my own home studio set up with studio lights and soft boxes attached.

Most of my work in recent years has been done under this soft studio lighting. Post processing is done in Photoshop to maximize the potential of each image. I may or may not add texture as I see fit.

Currently I use a Canon EOS 50D camera and Photoshop Elements 7.

Sometimes my inspiration comes from studying the artwork of classic painters or from some new props, other times a new bunch of flowers or fruit from a farmer’s market.

Fueled by my own imagination, still life photography is now instinctual for me. It’s how I express myself; it’s who I am. This is what I love and what makes me happy. And in my work I try to communicate my passion to the viewer.

Green Apples

©AngelRays

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Roses and Pears

©AngelRays

The Cabbage from Newport Market

©AngelRays

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The Lemon Urn

©AngelRays

Sunday Nostalgia

©AngelRays

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Smoky Sundown

©AngelRays

Reflections of The Grand Tetons

©AngelRays

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Sparks Lake

©AngelRays

Sundown over Waldo Lake

©AngelRays

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Heavenly Majesty

©AngelRays

English gardens the

South African way Andrea Durrheim shows you how indigenous plants can be used in an ‘English-style’ garden

T

he romance and informality of the English or cottage style garden has universal appeal.

Imagine meandering beds and borders, shady arbours and a profusion of plants literally spilling over the beds, and you're in the country garden of your imagination.

An 'English' indigenous garden sounds like a contradiction in terms, but, in fact, indigenous plants lend themselves to this style of garden. Being South African is actually a gardening advantage; we have such a huge diversity of plants from which to choose, and our climate is kind to the plants that real English gardeners would have to keep in a hothouse!

Planning for perfection > This style of garden is especially suited to those who adore plants so much that they’re inclined to put everything in. Planning will help to keep the design coherent and sensible, despite the abundance of plant material that you find yourself loving too much to exclude.

When planning the framework of your garden, think in terms of flowing lines rather than straight ones. Pathways should meander, leading the visitor through the garden, but nobody likes long detours, so keep the route fairly direct.

Grass pathways are traditional but gravel, slate, cobbles or stepping stones require less maintenance. Tough, flat-

LEFT: The delicate, grey foliage of helichrysum softens the bold green of a group of aloes. (Pic: Durrheim) RIGHT ABOVE: The silver foliage of Stoebe plumosa contrasts beautifully against green foliage, an effect that will last all year round. (Pic: Durrheim) RIGHT: Make the most of our wonderful climate and create an outdoor living area in your indigenous cottage garden. (Pic: Yates. Lifestyle Design Show 2006. Design Burt et al )

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Secrets of success Tranquility, informality and practicality are your gardening watchwords when creating a garden in the ‘English’ style.

• Combine plants for a tapestry of colours and textures.

• Ensure that your borders and pathways create flowing lines.

• Make the most of our mild climate with outdoor living accessories such as benches, arbours and walkways.

• Keep your plantings informal and natural.

• Harmonise with nature – plant shrubs and trees that provide food as well as nesting sites for birds.

• Include features like bird baths, sundials or curious bits of wood.

ENGLISH GARDENS THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAY growing ground covers, such as Lobelia alata, dymondia, falkia or Hydrocotyle spp., work well when combined with stepping stones and don’t need mowing.

Surprise, surprise! > Include elements of surprise: bird baths,

Pelargonium quercifolium has scented foliage and bears mauve flowers from July to October. (Pic: Durrheim)

bird feeders, sundials and rustic benches are possible features.

Interesting pieces of wood or rocks, and even old garden tools incorporated into plantings, add to the visual adventure.

Comfortable places to sit and enjoy the fruits of your toil are essential. Arbours and archways are delightful details that lend a certain feeling of magic to a garden walk. Let black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) scramble over an archway, or cover a pergola with monkey grape (Rhoicissus spp.).

Another cottage garden tradition is the inclusion of vegetables and herbs that are planted informally between the ornamentals. Swiss chard, beetroot and lettuce planted here and there can be rather pretty, and a border of carrots makes an attractive edge to a garden bed.

Create with colour > Soft textures and colours add to the romance

Buddleja auriculata scents the air with a sweet fragrance from late winter to spring. (Pic: Durrheim)

5 plants for fragrance Fragrant plants and herbs are an essential part of the English garden.

Add a South African twist with indigenous aromatic plants.

Pelargoniums are fragrant additions to pot-pourri and often make tasty herbal teas. Buchus aren’t difficult to grow, as long as the soil is well drained – for those who love the scent of fynbos, this is an important component of that scent cocktail! Try the following scented plants: • Buchus, such as Agathosma spp. and Acmadenia spp.

• Pelargoniums (mint-, rose-, nutmeg- or lemon-scented).

• The deciduous lavender tree (Heteropyxis natalensis).

• Spring-flowering Jasminum multipartitum.

• Sweetly-scented Buddleja auriculata.

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of the setting: try Selago species for soft, lacy flowers and foliage.

Dainty, free-flowering ground covers like plectranthus, lobelia, sutera and diascia in shades of pink, lilac, blue and white are ideal for the edges or front of beds. To get a mixed, informal effect without ‘losing’ your plants in the mixture, create little islands of each variety with three to five or more plants in a group.

Beds should be colourful at all times of the year, so choose plants that will flower at different times. If you like buying your plants in flower, this will mean regular garden centre visits, spread over the year.

Tall perennials or shrubs make up the middle or back of beds.

Free-flowering shrubs, such as confetti bush (Coleonema aspalathoides), polygala and freylinia, are well suited to this type of garden.

Silver foliage, like that of artemisia, arctotis hybrids and some helichrysums, gives a lovely, soft effect and can be used for creating a colour contrast against green foliage, which will be effective all year round. Golden foliage, such as that of Helichrysum petiolare 'Limelight' or Coleonema 'Sunset Gold', can also be used to create striking contrasts.

Old and new > For new gardens, dense planting will reap quick rewards. Plant shrubs and trees sufficiently far apart, or in small groves of one species. Interplant with ground covers and perennials that can be easily shifted, or at least dug out without too much heartache if the garden begins to get too tangled. Old gardens need occasional renovation: it's amazing what a difference pruning and thinning can make, shapeless old

Keep your plantings informal and natural, and create flowing pathways through the garden. (Pic: Otto)

shrubs can be transformed into graceful small trees, and the light and air allowed in does wonders for the plants.

Attracting birds > Birds love a really bushy garden, so this style lends itself to attracting our feathered friends. Red berries and flowers generally attract birds, and good, dense shrubbery along with a few trees is sure to provide attractive nesting sites.

Add a bird feeder to the equation (out of reach of cats) and you're likely to get a reputation among the avian population as a ‘sought after neighborhood’! Good ‘birding’ plants include the puzzle bush (Ehretia rigida), which makes a wonderfully tangled bush for nesting, aloes, which attract sunbirds, and wild figs, which are real bird magnets.

Erica bauera is a large shrub bearing masses of blooms in summer.

(Pic: Durrheim)

Andrea Durrheim is an indigenous plant expert working at New Plant Nursery in George. Contact her at andrea@newplant.co.za

Plants in romantic shades Bring a touch of romance into your indigenous cottage style garden with shrubs and ground covers in shades of pink and mauve.

Shrubs: Selago ‘Magic Mauve’, pink Erica bauera, crossberry (Grewia occidentalis) and polygala.

Ground covers: Plectranthus neochilus, Geranium incanum and Diascia ‘Coral Bells’.

Soft colours add to the romance of the setting, try the ground covering Diascia ‘Coral Bells’. (Pic: Durrheim) SA Gardening October 2006 17

Trees and rocks have spirits of their own, meant to be friends and helpers to humans. If you are receptive to them, they may make their presence known to you. If you try to ignore them, they may trip you up with a root or a stone‌just to get your attention. Relax and attune yourself to the rhythms of nature and they will bring you peace.

This lovely wood nymph was standing in a corner of a gift shop in western Massachusetts, USA, modeling a scarf with total indifference. lol (The scarf is cream coloured and rests on the left shoulder as you view her.)

Canon EOS REBEL T1i, Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm.

Adjusted in Corel Paint Shop Pro.

Nymph ~ Spirit Who Animates Nature by SummerJade

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In Memory of Astrid

"Ikebana is not just about sticking a flower into a vase: it is about the love and need of the artist to create beautiful forms."

Sofu Teshigahara

Baiko is the Japanese name of artist Astrid Stadt, Ikebana master (Sensei) of the Sogetsu School of Japan.

Baiko means plum blossom, a very revered flower in Japan. White to rose in color, the plum blossom appears in early February, a harbinger of spring. The Japanese admire it for its resilience against the cold of winter.

Baiko is a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity. Astrid received the name Baiko when the Sogetsu School awarded her the title Sensei. All the prints of her creations are stamped with her Baiko seal.

Ikebana

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Ikebana

129

Ikebana

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Ikebana

033

Ikebana

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Ikebana

017

Ikebana

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Baiko

Baiko

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The Quabbin Reservoir located in central Massachusetts was built in the 1930’s to provide clean drinking water for the Boston region. Over 2500 people in the towns of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, Prescott, and parts of seven other towns, were forced to give up their homes in the Swift River Valley to make this project possible. Today, Quabbin is recognized as one of the largest drinking-water reservoirs in the world, a remarkable feat of engineering, an “accidental wilderness” that is home to an impressive variety of wildlife, and a place that brings bittersweet memories to many who once lived there.

The word “Quabbin” is a Nipmuck Indian word that roughly translates to “the meeting place of many waters”. The Nipmucks inhabited the Swift River Valley and referred to this area as the Quabbin Canon EOS REBEL T1i, Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm Location: Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown, Massachusetts (USA).

Edited in Corel Paint Shop Pro.

An Autumn View of the Quabbin

by SummerJade

Katie Freeth I have had some sleepless nights recently; watching the moon wax and wane while creeping outside in the small hours, bucket of manure in hand …….

I exaggerate, of course, but following a 2-day workshop learning how to do it, I have been trying to put into practice my interest in, and recent study of, biodynamic growing.

So what is biodynamic growing (farming/horticulture/ viticulture)?

Biodynamic agriculture was first developed in the 1920s based on the spiritual insight and practical suggestions of the Austrian writer Dr Rudolf Steiner.

Subsequently Steiner’s principles have been developed by proponents of biodynamics into a complex toolkit of philosophies and techniques.

Steiner delivered a series of eight lectures to an audience already familiar with his anthroposophical ideology. He proposed that farming methods should be practical, energetic and spiritual.

•

Practical by increasing the microbial life, structure and nutrient availability in the soil

•

Energetic in that they synchronised the earth with influences of the moon and the planets

•

Spiritual in that by taking an anthroposophical approach to agriculture, humans would reconnect to the spirit world.

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Building a compost heap

Making cow pat pits at Wirra Wirra

adding egg shells & silica to cow dung

Making cow pat pits at Wirra Wirra cow dung mix in pit with holes for solid preparations to be added.

Biodynamics is an ecological, holistic, self supporting farming system that manages the soil, crops and animals in such a way that all facets of a farm strengthen and support each other.

Biodynamics has no adverse environmental effects; the soil is held to be the prime capital and wealth of a farmer; biodynamics promotes soil enrichment, conservation and construction. The triple bottom line of ecological, social and economic sustainability is embodied in biodynamic principles and practices.

Energetic stimulus for life on earth (physical element) is provided by the spiritual (non-material) element of the sun and the cosmos extending to the farthest expanse of the universe.

The plants and the soil represent dynamic manifestations of a relationship between two poles.

adding diluted valerian 507 to pit

Special manure and preparations made from minerals and herbs are applied to the fields and compost to enhance and stimulate the microbiological life in the soil and improve fertility.

The manure preparations are known as Horn Manure 500 and Horn Silica 501; preparation 500 is produced by filling cow horns with cow dung and burying them in the autumn for up to 6 months. When lifted the contents of the horns have metamorphosed into a potent manure; preparation 501 is made in a similar way bur crushed silica is used instead of cow dung and horns are buried in spring.

cow pat pits with finished compost heap in background

The Culture of Plants – Biodynamic Culture

diluting & stirring preparation 507

cow dung

grape marc

olive marc

organic matter

vine pruning

The compost heap ingredients – Biodynamic Culture Katie Freeth

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To understand fully the significance of these

astronomy – the physical stars and planets in the sky –

preparations we must change our perception of a cow

not astrology. Growers observe that crops grow or

horn. Horns are an integral part of the digestive cycle of

mature at different rates; sometimes late plantings are

a cow, not merely an appendage for defence or attack.

ready before earlier ones. By understanding the

Colloidal horn manure enhances soil biology, thus improving the vigour of plants and encouraging deeper rooting. Horn silica stimulates and strengthens the sun and light metabolism, increasing photosynthesis.

Very small amounts of the preparations are stirred in water, rhythmically alternating a clockwise and anticlockwise direction for a total period of an hour. This creates alternate vortices; the vortex is the dynamic of life moving from cosmos to earth – observed in nature in plant spiral forms or an umbilical cord. The stirred preparations are sprayed over the land area; specifically horn mature as coarse droplets in mid-late afternoon with horn silica as a fine mist spray in early morning to stimulate growth and late afternoon to promote

influence of the moon and planets one can understand these growth variations too. Using the subtle rhythms associated with the sun, the moon and the planets an annual planting calendar is produced. Growers can use this as a guide to optimise production.

Food security; sustainability; soil degradation are all subjects of discussion today. Steiner gave us principles by which we can renew our agriculture and rejuvenate our land.

We can enliven our environment while

developing an affordable, sustainable system of growing plants and animals.

What are we waiting for?

Biodynamic growing works; it is commercially viable

ripening.

Preparations made from minerals and herbs and added to a compost heap, are also used to improve metamorphosis of organic matter into humus.

One example is Valerian Preparation (507). It stimulates phosphorus levels by mobilising the phosphorusactivating bacteria in the soil; as well as stimulating levels of selenium and magnesium. The 507 creates an

~ maybe next month I can show you why I believe this?

My thanks to Hamish Mackay of Biodynamics2024 Pty Ltd, who showed me how it is done! www.biodynamics2024.com.au

atmosphere of warmth around the compost heap and

Richard Wellsmore, Viticulturist at Wirra Wirra, McLaren

assists humus formation. If used on blossoms in spring

Vale, South Australia who provided a venue

as a foliar spray, it can protect against damage from late

www.wirrawirra.com

frost.

Bibliography

The rhythms of the sun and the moon are visible in our

Steiner, Rudolf 1993. Agriculture: trans. CE Creeger & M

daily lives. Many of us know that the moon influences

Gardner; Biodynamic Farming and Garden Association

the tidal patterns and movements in our seas and

Inc, Junction City, Oregon, USA

oceans.

What is less well known is that the moon

influences all the fluid elements in the ground and in plants, down as far as magma in the earth’s centre and up into plants’ saps. Biodynamic growers work with

Proctor, Peter with Cole, Gillian. 2011. Grasp the Nettle: Making Biodynamic Farming & Gardening Work Random House New Zealand, Auckland, NZ

Katie Freeth

A Collection of ... fungus |ˈfʌŋgəәs| noun ( pl. fungi |-gʌɪ, -(d)ʒʌɪ| or funguses ) any of a group of unicellular, multicellular, or syncytial spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including moulds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.

• [ mass noun ] fungal infection (especially on fish).

• [ in sing. ] used to describe something that has appeared or grown rapidly and is considered unpleasant or unattractive: there was a fungus of outbuildings behind the house.

Fungi lack chlorophyll and are therefore incapable of photosynthesis. Many play an ecologically vital role in breaking down dead organic matter, some are an important source of antibiotics or are used in fermentation, and others cause disease. The familiar mushrooms and toadstools are merely the fruiting bodies of organisms that exist mainly as a thread-like mycelium in the soil. Some fungi form associations with other plants, growing with algae to form lichens, or in the roots of higher plants to form mycorrhizas.

Fungi are now often classified as a separate kingdom distinct from the green plants.

ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin, perhaps

from Greek spongos

88 Garden Tripod 16

Larger Than Life Fungi by julieapearce

Toad Stool by rosaliemcm

Fountain of Fungi by Lynn Gedeon

90 Garden Tripod 16

Under The Shroom Staying tall...

by EbyArts

by WildestArt

mushroom by Nicole W.

92 Garden Tripod 16

World of faeries

by Photography by Mathilde

A Pleasant Cluster

by trueblvr

Pink Blushing Mushroom

by MotherNature

Magic in the Garden

by Clare Colins

Ann Horn

Ann Horn, avid photographer and sometimes published poet, is always watching for visual images for photo and/or word, ever intrigued by light, color, pattern, people... and surprise, always hoping to see the world with greater clarity, deeper understanding, and ceaseless wonder. You will find her selection of photographs eclectic and evocative.

Misty Morning

Mows No More Ann Horn

Winning image in the Garden Tripod Contest Lawnmowers

96 Garden Tripod 16

Fall

Autumn Water Colors

Autumn Alaze

Autumn Woods

Illumining Autumn

Autumn Photography Ann Horn In autumn an outrageous show of brilliance seems bent on surpassing the loveliness of summer, most especially, it seems, where I live in the state of Michigan. Trees are alight with flaming red, glittering gold, burnt orange, and burnished brown, a delight to the eye, until trod underfoot and left to replenish the earth.

Question Corner

with Richard Fenwick

Q. A.

Richard has got stuck with a bug he found on a fact finding mission

new dates arriving soon

94 Garden Tripod 15 Garden Tripod 16 106

If you have a question for Richard Just send an e mail to gardentripod@yahoo.com Please say where in the world you are sending from, along with images you have taken yourself that may be shown as part of the reply.

Please label your email Question Corner Richard will reply to one question each month in the Garden Tripod

Roses on a Trellis by SummerJade

Canine Notice Board

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Independent advertisement Saluki Snippets

‘Safe in our hands’

The Newsletter for Friends and Supporters of the Saluki Welfare Fund Edited by: C. Mclenahan

Spring/Summer 2013

The mission of the

Saluki Snippets

Angel On Call Dog Rescue, Inc

the Saluki Welfare Fund, in the UK.

Rescue, rehab and re-home, in the Northwest Ohio area. http://angeloncalldogrescue.org

http://www.facebook.com/angeloncalldogrescue

twitter @aocdogrescue

108 Garden Tripod 16

This is a News Letter for

For details of how to subscribe please send an e-mail to: salukisnippets@yahoo.com

www.exhibitionswithoutwalls.com

Contributors: Editor & Treasurer TheAgency C Mclenahan Cover image A Novel Idea (1) by nopostonsundays

News Hound WinterTrees, Reflection by debraroff

Exhibitions & News Bev Woodman

Spotlight features debraroffo AngelRays Baiko Ann Horn

Features by Nicole W. Andrea Durrheim Katie Freeh

I Spy, Challenge Catalogue Water Mint, by marens Yin Yang Landform by Mui-Ling Teh Waterlilies on Isolabella by Arie Koene My water Domain by jessiejoe Water by debraroffo Villa on Lake Como by Karen E Camilleri Water Garden by Lotus0104 Estate Wall and Gates by WildestArt Old walls ... by bubblehex08 Moss Wall by BlueShift Purple Aubrieta by Ludwig Wagner Walkway to Water by Monnie Ryan Stone Walk by phil decocco Waratah. by Bette Devine Well Watered by Rosemary Sobiera Tip me over and pour me out by vigor Watsonia by Denice Breaux Red Wattlebird by Eve Parry Golden Silk Orb Weaver's Web Design

by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch Westbury Court Garden by RedHillDigital Vintage Wheel Garden Scene by Sandra Foster Wheelbarrow by ElsT

feature

fungus

Fountain of Fungi by Lynn Gedeon Larger Than Life Fungi by julieapearce Toad Stool by rosaliemcm mushroom by Nicole W. Under The Shroom by WildestArt Staying tall... by EbyArts World of faeries by Photography by Mathilde A Pleasant Cluster by trueblvr Pink Blushing Mushroom by MotherNature Magic in the Garden by Clare Colins

110 Garden Tripod 16

White Morpho Butterfly by hummingbirds White Flowers around the door

by Touchstone21 Backyard Windmill by Elaine Teague From My Bedroom Window

by Vicki Spindler (VHS Photography) Charleston Windows by JHRphotoART Wisteria among the bougainvillea by Celeste Mookherjee Wisteria Garden Waltz by Marilyn Cornwell Laden Bough Of Wisteria by lynn carter The Wisteria Arbor in the Garden

by SummerJade Wisteria Cascade by Lozzar Flowers & Art Wisteria Tree by AnnDixon Wobbly Hedge by lezvee Juvenile great spotted Woodpecker. by Nicole W. Woodpoppy by cclaude wonga vine & wattle by GrowingWild

Random

Dance Ballerina by Sandra Fortier Nymph ~ Spirit Who Animates Nature by SummerJade An Autumn View of the Quabbin

by SummerJade Roses on a Trellis by SummerJade

All The Materials Contained May Not Be Reproduced, Copied, Edited, Published, Transmitted Or Uploaded In Any Way Without the artist/ photographers Permission. These Images/writings Do Not Belong To The Public Domain. All images and information within the Garden Tripod magazine are the responsibility of the owner/artist/writer/photographer & not the Garden Tripod magazine 2012-2013