Joe Seals

Yeah, the "bushy" part.

I just did a bit of googling and found no good info. Because "it's bushy" (which kinda makes sense) and because "it's vibrantly colored" (which makes no sense whatsoever). Plus "it was used on roofs to keep away lighting and thunder;" which I'm assuming relates to Jupiter, the god of thunder.

That's a long "read" at 1 hour, 30 minutes. But I think everyone involved in the farming industry (the actual farms and all the spokes from that) should watch this.

It's Eristalis tenax, COMMON DRONE FLY. It's a member of the Syrphidae, the syrphid flies, flower flies. "Bee flies" are members of the Bombyliidae. It's called a "drone" fly because it looks like a honeybee drone. It is found throughout the year everywhere in the UK and most of the Irish Isle.

Sophora microphylla, (small-leaved) kōwhai. Closely related to "Senna."

Is this all one daffodil in various stages of opening. The one bottom right could be 'Las Vegas' or 'Sugar Dipped'. If dwarf, maybe 'Topolino' or 'Wisley'. My best guess, however, is Narcissus pseudonarcissus, the species that gave rise to all true daffodils. In the wild or a garden seedling.

This is Narcissus tazetta and probably the subspecies orientalis. It's an old Narcissus, rarely grown anymore; many newer tazetta hybrids have taken over the market. It's among the group commonly called bunch-flowered narcissus or polyanthus narcissus; this subspecies is called Chinese sacred lily.

The name Murraya koenigii was published in 1825. Researchers found that Linnaeus had already given it the name Bergera koenigii in 1767 (the precedent). It's also been given the genus names Camunium, Chalcas, and Nimbo. But many still hold onto Murraya.

Rose rosette virus is spread through pruning cuts (on tools from one rose to another) or carried via eriophyid mites. No soil.

What I like and what I think would be perfect for you, too:

the Cotswolds
Cornwall
the Lake District
southwest Scotland
Cambridge
Tresco Abbey Gardens, Isle of Scilly
Huddersfield (PUBS!!)
Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales
Edinburgh, Scotland (people watching!)

WOW

Kinda like a pale 'February Gold' but I'd guess it to be 'Rapture'.

THERE IS NATURE AND THERE IS THE GARDEN ...and Some of Us Are Finding a Place Somewhere In-between.

🌾🌿🌱🌲 #gardeningfeed #gardensky #organic-gardening

There's a lot of talk about regenerative gardening, sustainability, native plants, and how much can we actually make our gardens "more like Mother Nature." So...

open.substack.com/pub/joeseals...

And this bloomed just today:

Oxalis oregana 'Klamath Ruby'

The flower is a little pinker than this photo shows.

2/2...

Narcissus Rijnveld's Early Sensation
Eranthis cilicica
Narcissus Tete Boucle (pictured)

So far, a pretty good winter-overlapping-spring season.

🌾🌿🌱 #gardeningfeed #gardensky

Blooming so far, for 2026, in the PNW, in approx. order:

Arctostaphylos Austin Griffiths
Bergenia Tubby Andrews
Clematis cirrhosa Lansdowne Gem
Narcissus papyraceus
Narcissus Ice Follies
Helleborus Golden Lotus
Helleborus Sparkling Diamond
Anemone blanda ... 1/2

They no longer carry any Nerine. Sigh.

On my bookshelf. I've had this book for almost 40 years! Looks like a children's book but it's wonderfully science based and even technical in many aspects (thorough with its scientific names, for instance).

🌾🌿🌱🌲 #gardeningfeed #gardensky #organic-gardening

Who's growing Nerine hybrids and where did you buy them?

US source, please.

2/2... It's important to clean the plant THOROUGHLY before bringing it back indoors at the end of the season. The pests will find your plant again for protection during the coming cold months. When you bring it back indoors, the pests will think it's spring again and their population will explode.

Indoor plants are more susceptible to recurring/continuous pest infestations because they lack the pests' natural enemies. (Plus poorer light and reduced air circulation). Putting the plant outside will subject those beasties to their enemies. Or you can buy specific beneficials. Important: 1/2...

Yep, and that's the dilemma. When you put them outside, how long do you keep them outside?

You can make your own insecticidal soap (a Tbs of dish soap to a quart of water). But there is a problem with it -- the soap can slowly dissolve the protective waxy cuticle on the leaves and soft bark of the plant. It's imperative to spray it only on the insects and minimize what gets on the plant.

2/2 ... Biocontrol is most effective for these pests but these beneficial species are impractical for indoor plants.

Physically removing them (scraping off with your thumbnail or a not-too-sharp blade). Then applying insecticidal soap (not homemade) regularly when you see them and only onto them (versus spraying the foliage all over). Bio-control methods (various ladybug species, parasitic wasps, lacewings)...1/2

BEPs are also drought-tolerant with age. But they will grow with water throughout their growing season (not toward harvest time). Providing water will keep the humidity up. Even if you don't get a large harvest, it's nice to know that you can eat the fresh, young leaves as well as small pods.

I spent time in South Carolina and yep, BEPs were everywhere in summer. Along with the humidity (yuckkkk). The BEPs are tolerant of moderate humidity but I've never read any science-backed research that says they need it. Too much humidity, in fact, leads to fungal issues.

I'm in Corvallis (not too far from Cottage Grove). Some small farmers in the area have grown ‘California Buckeye #5’, ‘Fast Lady Northern’, and ‘Pinkeye Purple Hull’. Territorial has a large collection of seeds truly suited to the PNW and b-e-p's just didn't make the cut.

Yes, avoid N fert altogether. I wouldn't add any fert unless you know there's a deficiency (plant symptoms). And yes, keeping them picked is key to continued flower production). If you're growing in raised beds with some kind of "soil mix," do inoculate your beans before sowing.

ATTRACTING BIRDS — THE NATURAL WAY – part 1 What Birds Need

I am a plant & bird peeper. I have many birding guides and I think that's a good starting point on this subject. Aside from "Nature's Best Hope" by Doug Tallamy, I have no books on gardening for birds. But may I offer this three-part series on gardening for birds:

open.substack.com/pub/joeseals...