In Images: Stunning Flower Fields of the Atacama Desert

The normally barren, almost Martian landscape of the Atacama Desert recently erupted in flowers, painting the hillsides, blue, fuschia, orange and yellow. 

The almost magical transformation occurred thanks to heavy rains earlier in the year, which watered flower seeds that had lain dormant for years. One Twitter user, Tomás Cuadra Ordenes, captured photos of the gorgeous blooms.

Earlier in the year, the Atacama Desert received heavy rains, with the town of Antofagasta, Chile receiving seven years' worth of rain in a 12-hour span. 

Those heavy rains turned the parched desert into rivers of mud. But the same rainfall watered seeds that had been buried in the ground for years, waiting for their chance to bloom. Here, photos of the blooms painting the landscape.

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Desert deluge: Cars, entire houses swept away by freak mudslides in Atacama (VIDEO)

21 Delicious Ways to Enjoy All Kinds of Mushrooms for National Mushroom Day

On October 15^th, people come together to celebrate fungi on National Mushroom Day. There are over 14,000 different varieties of mushrooms though not all are edible. We, of course, will only concern ourselves with the ones we can enjoy in our recipes – the white button mushrooms, the cremini, the Portobellos, the oyster, shiitake, and trumpet mushrooms – to name just a few.

When you want that meaty taste, that umami, mushrooms are the way to go. Their flavor is rich, earthy, and meaty, especially cremini or Portobello mushrooms. Their texture, as well as their taste, lets mushrooms replace meat in any recipe. Check out The Missing Link: How to Add Umami Flavor to Your Vegan Meals.

Mushrooms are also healthy. They are low in sodium, low in calories and filling so they can help us maintain our weight. Mushrooms are fiber-rich and can help regulate cholesterol. They are a good source of protein, potassium, B vitamins and the only plant source of vitamin D. To learn more about the health benefits of mushrooms, read Mushrooms: Health Benefits of the Humble Funghi and Recipes!

Mushrooms are also versatile. You can eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They can be sauteed, roasted, baked, grilled, stuffed or eaten raw. Mushrooms make delicious appetizers, gravies, soups, casseroles, and pasta dishes. Check out these 30 Cool Vegan Recipes Made with Mushrooms and 10 Delicious Ways to Cook With Mushrooms. Then take a look at these 21 incredible ways to enjoy all kinds of mushrooms.

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Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) and it's healing powers

How Chaga Mushroom Can Help You Be Healthy

Being There With Chance The Gardener

Chance (Peter Sellers) is a middle-aged man who lives in the townhouse of an old, wealthy man in Washington, D.C. He is simple-minded and has lived there his whole life, tending the garden. Other than gardening, his knowledge is derived entirely from what he sees on television. When his benefactor dies, Chance naively says he has no claim against the estate, and is ordered to move out. Thus he discovers the outside world for the first time.

Wikipedia

"Being There" quotes:

President "Bobby": Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives?  [Long pause]  Chance the Gardener: As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden.  President "Bobby": In the garden.  Chance the Gardener: Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.  President "Bobby": Spring and summer.  Chance the Gardener: Yes.  President "Bobby": Then fall and winter.  Chance the Gardener: Yes.  Benjamin Rand: I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we're upset by the seasons of our economy.  Chance the Gardener: Yes! There will be growth in the spring!  Benjamin Rand: Hmm!  Chance the Gardener: Hmm!  President "Bobby": Hm. Well, Mr. Gardner, I must admit that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I've heard in a very, very long time.  [Benjamin Rand applauds]  President "Bobby": I admire your good, solid sense. That's precisely what we lack on Capitol Hill.

IMBd

"Being There" Movie Trailer starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine

Bumblebee Species of Britain

Every bumblebee species found in Britain illustrated in water colour, with a border showing the best flowers to plant for bees in the spring, summer and autumn.

Catherine Pape illustration

Garden Centre Owner's '10% Tax For Tory Voters' Sign Goes Viral

Matt Woodruff says he stands by anti-Tory views on his shop’s blackboard in Lewes, East Sussex, despite some criticism from customers.

The owner of a small garden centre in East Sussex whose anti-Tory blackboard went viral on social media says he has no regrets, despite admitting it could put him out of business.

Matt Woodruff, the owner of Woodruff's Yard in Lewes, said he was moved to vent his political views on his shop’s blackboard after the Conservatives took the local seat that had been occupied by the Lib Dem former Home Office minister Norman Baker.

The sign proposes a “Tory tax” of 10% on any customer who voted Conservative as one of the “‘tough’ decisions I need to make to ‘balance the books’ under your preferred government”.  

The sign also says Ukip voters should “shop elsewhere”.  

Pictures of the sign have been retweeted hundreds of times and posted from a number of different accounts on Twitter.

So far, no one has paid his “Tory tax”, Woodruff said. “Only one woman has told me she voted Tory – and that was after she paid so I couldn’t add on the tax,” he said. “Obviously that’s a joke anyway, and she was very friendly about it. 

“The only bad reaction I’ve had were one Tory couple and a couple of people from Ukip,” he added. “I don’t really care about the repercussions. I don’t earn a fortune and this might be the death of my business but so be it. Sometimes you have to just stand up and say what you believe in.”  

The sign has transformed his small plant store into a hub of political conversation, Woodruff said, with many visiting his shop to talk about the new direction of the left.

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Cleavers: The Cleansing Velcro Plant

Today as I went wandering through the garden looking for cleavers to photograph I was captivated by the variety and abundance of weeds growing everywhere. 

 

Healers all, I felt such a gladness come over me. Every square metre of ground let run wild, had a fabulous collection of medicinal plants. Under the orchard where we have neglected to mow for nearly 3 months, and with the spring growth it was just delightful. Represented were so many plants I am already familiar with and so many more yet to discover. 

 

Cleavers, quite a nondescript plant and more often a real annoyance to most gardeners has been used for centuries as a champion to assist with lymphatic drainage, and detoxifying the body. 

 

All over the world and throughout so many different cultures this plant has been used for the same purpose. Now to me that is really saying something, and I certainly won't be looking at it in quite the same way anymore. Next time It's burred seeds stick to my clothes I'll discard them more carefully and bless them on their way. For more details read the full post.

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Spring Wild Green Cuisine (Archive for the ‘Cleavers’ Category)