Caution!

 The Trumpet Flower!

( Datura Stramonium/ Candida)

 A beautiful flower and a sad patient.  So what do these two pictures have in common with each other? I think a lot.

    I love Trumpet flowers!  They are evening bloomers but by the next afternoon their blooms wither and droop.  Some verities have a sweet, pungent smell that can fill the night air.  This is my third year with Trumpet Flowers and for the last two years I've kept them in pots on my patio right near my front door.  The fragrance is incredible and spirit lifting, the blooms breath taking.  Everyday as I walk by these plants into the house, I snap off the old blooms and toss them aside-bad idea!

     A few weeks ago I went to the emergency room with a dilated pupil, blurred vision and dizziness!  I was treated for a possible stoke or aneurysm.  It was really scary!  I spent the night in the hospital in the stoke unit, and underwent a MRI and CAT Scan.   I was poked, and prodded, it scared my husband and family to death (sorry everyone). Nothing was found wrong.  In the end I was released because my symptoms started to go away.  "Maybe we'll never know," the doctors said as they scheduled me for more tests.  The crazy thing about this is we are uninsured, so....

    Since I've left the hospital I've doing a lot of research which is when I stumbled across people that had the exact same experience as me.  It turned out to be poisoning from one of my favorite flowers! 

Blurred vision

Dilated pupils

Extreme thirst

Headache

Dizziness

Confusion

*Please note that if you ever have these symptoms, you need to go to the hospital right away.  The knowledge of the Trumpet plant can give you more information to give your doctors if you've been exposed to them.

      My Doctor told me he feels it is very unlikely my symptoms resulted from exposure to the Trumpet Flower. (At this point, I tend to disagree.)  I might not ever know what in the world happened. However,  I think you all out there should know about this anyway.  These can be very dangerous plants if not handled very carefully.  Please research this plant before you buy one, there is a lot of information on line.  

     In some areas it is illegal to buy or sell this plant, but not in Vermont.  You'll see them in many Vermont gardens.  I was told they are in the landscape at UVM and I've seen them downtown Middlebury.

Guatemala 2011.  I've always known that the type of Trumpet Flower in Central America was one to admire from afar.  For some reason I didn't connect this huge plant with my small potted plants right on my front porch.

     Trumpet Flowers contain a chemicals called alkaloids.  They are stimulants, from what I've read, and can effect the nervous system.  Alkaloids are found in the plant that is used to make cocaine (which might be why the doctors asked me if I had taken cocaine).  Anyway, kids die from the drugs they try and make from this plant every year.  It's serious stuff.

Please be careful and if you have any more information or even a correction,  please share.

Another Garlic Scape Arrangement!

 

I've never seen this or thought of it until Audra sent me a picture a few weeks ago and I posted it. Last week my mother in law had made one too.  It's such a neat idea!

 Check out this Garlic Scape Center Piece!  

My friend Audra from the Stowe area, sent this fun and unusual idea for  a center piece.  It's seasonal, useful and beautiful all at the same time.  It's a like having a little sculpture on the table.

Do you have any ideas how to use garlic scapes while cooking? 

First Seasons Green Houses!   2153 Button Bay Rd Vergennes

(The day I took this picture there was no sign out.)

Over forty years in business!

It is SO much fun to go plant shopping at First Seasons.  It feels like a definite adventure.  I never know what I'm going to find and the prices are so reasonable!

There are a bunch of greenhouses loaded with plants. (24 I believe)  You take a winding path to each greenhouse, it's a pretty big lay out.  Oh, don't forget to get a price sheet on your way in.  If you do forget, there are prices are taped in the outside of most greenhouses.

A few years ago we bought a hydrangea tree here for $30.00 (in fact we've bought most of our perennial plants here) and it's doing really well.  A few days ago I saw one for sale at another nursery, for $150!

As the summer goes on the plants get cheaper and cheaper.  You'll probably end up  taking several trips out.  Also, check out the pot section.  (You might need to dig around for minute.)

Some ancient ruins along the way.

Tons of Veggie plants!

 

Don't forget your mud boots!

Jack in the Pulpit. Ariaema Triphyllum 

Jack in the Pulpit is my favorite Vermont wild flower.  The first time I saw it I thought I must have found something really rare.  Come to find out, it's very common here in the Eastern United States.  Now that I know where to look I see them everywhere!  They grow in the shade, are found in the woods and floodplains and love rich, moist soil.  

I think to truly enjoy these flowers you need to take the time to get down and lift up their "hoods."  You'll see the amazing stripes and the spadix, or spike.  If you look really close, down at the base of the spadix, you'll see tiny flowers or berry like things.

I transferred one flower from the woods to my shade flower bed.  That was about 4 years ago and now I have about 6 growing.  In a flower bed they grow much bigger then they  do in wild.  Just beware while handing, they can be a skin irritant.

Parts of the Jack in the pulpit are edible after being cooked.  I've never done this, but there are directions on the Internet if any of you want to try.  Let me know if you do!

Oh growing tomatoes...at 1500 feet!

In the Green Mountains it can be a challenge to grow tomatoes. We live at 15oo feet, so the growing season is a bit shorter then just 5 miles down the mountain road leading to our small town.  Four years ago my husband made three raised beds for a small kitchen garden.  With some tips from  his mother and some innovation, we are slowly  learning some tricks to growing tomato in a short season. 

First thing every spring before we plant, my husband puts up a removable green house he made with PCV pipes and sheets of heavy plastic. This is a view from the inside so you can see how it's connected.

There are plastic PVC pipes that have been screwed into the sides of the beds.  The frame of the green house just pops right in!

 Next we buy the biggest tomatoes plants we can find.  My mother in law taught me to remove the small leaves at the bottom and plant the plant deep into the dirt.  I planted mine about two inches up the stem.  The plant will send out roots up the stem.  It makes for a hardier and healthier tomato plant.  

This year I'm planting tomato plants further apart and in rows.  I'm hoping this helps with air flow.  I've had problems with blight for the past two years.

During the day we leave the sides up and then close them again during some of the chilly spring nights.  I've planted some other herbs and vegetables in there too.  Also, I'm all storing some plants  that I plan on planting out my flower beds, after the "fear of frost".


               

                    
                  Do you have any other ideas?  Let me know!

Golden Russet Farm.  Plant shopping!

Golden Russet Farm is one of the best places to buy plants,  especially vegetable plants.  Everything is organic and pristine.  I've never seen a better selection of tomato plants anywhere!

The address is, 1329 Lapham Bay Road Shorham.  Before you go check out their website at goldenrussetfarm.com-there might be coupons.

It was my friend's first time to Golden Russet.  She was very impressed with the flowers and the fresh herbs.  I bought a bunch of tomato plants, some flowers and herbs. We'll be back soon... for round two!