zalein

Scientists’ top 10 bee-magnet blooms—turn any lawn into a pollinator paradise

Botanists from the University of Copenhagen and the UK set out to find the best flower combinations for bees and hoverflies.
Danish and Welsh botanists sifted through 400 studies, field-tested seed mixes, and uncovered a lineup of native and exotic blooms that both thrill human eyes and lure bees and hoverflies in droves, offering ready-made recipes for transforming lawns, parks, and patios into vibrant pollinator hotspots.

Below are the plants recommended for European and United Kingdom uses...

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

zenigotchas posting in

justcreate

What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?

Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?

What do you just want to talk about?

What have you been watching or reading?

Chores and other not-fun things count!

Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky

nverland posting in

creative_cooks

Little Starbursts Dishcloth

Hook size: 5.0 mm
Yarn: Worsted Weight Cotton
Gauge: Finished main body = approx. 18 cm x 18 cm

Abbreviations:
Ch: chain
Ss: slip stitch
Sc: single crochet
Dc: double crochet
YO: yarn over

Special Stitches:
Starburst: [Worked over 3 stitches] Draw up a loop in same stitch previously worked in. (Draw up a loop in next stitch) 2 times. YO and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

Main Body

To begin, ch 26.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook. Work starburst stitch. *Ch 1. Work starburst stitch.* repeat from * to * across. Sc in same ch.

Row 2-24: Ch 1. Turn. Sc in top of sc. Work starburst stitch. *Ch 1. Work starburst stitch.* repeat from * to * across. Sc in same sc.

Edging

Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as first dc and ch 1). Do not turn. Dc in same sc. Ch 1. *Skip next row. Dc in next row. Ch 1.* Repeat from * to * 10 times. Dc, ch 1, dc in first unused loop of foundation chain. Ch1. +Skip next stitch. Dc in next stitch. Ch 1.+ Repeat from + to + 10 times. Dc, ch 1, dc in last chain. Ch 1. Repeat from * to * 11 times. Dc, ch 1, dc in first sc. Ch 1. Repeat from + to + 11 times. Join with ss to top of first dc.

Round 2: Ch 1. +Sc in same dc. 3sc in next ch 1 space. Sc in next dc. Work starburst stitch. *Ch. 1. Work starburst stitch.* Repeat from * to * 11 times.+ Repeat from + to + around. Join with ss to first sc.

Round 3: Ch 1. +Sc in same stitch and in next sc. 3 sc in next sc. Sc in next 2 sc. Work starburst stitch. *Ch 1. Work starburst stitch.* Repeat from * to * 11 times.+ Repeat from + to + around. Join with ss to first sc. Finish off.

nverland posting in

creative_cooks

Cucumber Gazpacho
Prep Time 10 minutes Total Time 10 minutes Servings 3

Ingredients

2 medium cucumbers, cut into approximately ½ inch slices
15 g (1/2 cup) fresh spinach
40 g (¼ cup) chopped white onion
2 garlic cloves
236.59 ml (1 cup) coconut milk
56 g (1/2 cup) unflavored and unsweetened vegan yogurt
29.57 ml (2 Tbsp) lemon juice
12 g (1/2 cup) fresh basil
15 g (1/4 cup) flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
4.5 g (3/4 tsp) salt, plus more to taste

Instructions

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
Taste-test the mixture and add more salt if desired. Adjust any other seasonings to suit your taste, then blend again.
Pour into bowls and serve.

alierak posting in

dw_maintenance

We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.

silvercat17 posting in

justcreate

(One of these days I'll run out of random objects within my eyeline to name the weekly post after)

What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?

Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?

What do you just want to talk about?

What have you been watching or reading?

Chores and other not-fun things count!

Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky

nverland posting in

creative_cooks

Honey Mustard Red Potato Salad
Total Time Prep: 20 min. Cook: 20 min. Makes 16 servings

Ingredients

3 pounds baby red potatoes, unpeeled
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 green onions
1 cup finely diced celery
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 medium carrot, grated

DRESSING:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Place potatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a Dutch oven; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, until tender, 10-12 minutes. Drain and cool.
Mince white portions of green onions; slice green portions and reserve. Combine minced onions with celery, red onion and carrot. For dressing, whisk together vinegar, honey, mustard, thyme, sea salt and coarsely ground pepper. Gradually whisk in oil until blended.
Cut cooled potatoes into 1-inch pieces, preserving as much peel as possible. Combine potatoes with onion mixture. Drizzle dressing over salad; toss to coat. Top with reserved green onion slices.

nverland posting in

creative_cooks

Greek Potato Salad
Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Cool Time: 5 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 6

Ingredients

24 ounces unpeeled bite-sized potatoes
1 stalk celery, diagonally sliced
1/2 cup pitted and sliced Kalamata olives
1/2 cup diced red onions
1/3 cup roughly chopped fresh dill
1 (2 ounce) jar diced pimento, drained
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup roughly crumbled feta cheese, or to taste

Directions

Place potatoes in a large pot, and cover with salted water by about an inch. Bring water to a boil, and simmer just until fork tender, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on potato size.
Drain potatoes, cool just slightly, cut in half, and transfer to a large bowl. Add celery, olives, red onions, dill, and pimento, and stir until incorporated.
Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl, and drizzle over the warm potato salad. Sprinkle feta on top, and gently toss. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

mdehners posting in

gardening

So, I'm sitting on my porch, smoking a Hobbit/Churchwarden pipe, looking downhill to the TVA reservoir cove we live above, watching the birds and bees. Nice.....
This yr I planted Balsam Impatiens in the elevated beds along the N side of the house. My brother, Bless him's heart was in the right place when he put them in before we moved here but he's basically the anti-gardener. He can grow a lawn and that's about it so he didn't know that the N side of a house limits what you can grow. It'd be perfect for mini Hostas but they'd basically be tv trays for deer! I've had/have plenty of Tiarella/heucheras, Bleeding Hearts, Cyclamen and Columbine so after Spring blooms are a bit scarce. I'd originally planned to plant the Balsams in the E garden but with health issues this yr I wasn't able to go about on my knees so I just stuffed them in where there was space. So far they're Mauve and Lilac the former much more vigorous. The Bumblebees love them, esp the Mauves.
Lost pretty much all Lilies not far in the back of the beds to deer. Don't like the leaves but the blossoms?!?
With all the Rain we had this Spring I've lost about 1/2 my Lavender cultivars. Thankfully, most of those were Lavandins and the more sweet(and edible) angustifolias oddly were the survivors...including one vera from seed!
Unfortunately, with the various health issues and accompanying md visits I've hadn't the time, energy or md clearance(just had a spinal electric pain reliever installed 2 weeks ago) to even spend time smoking my pipe and watching the birds(and for you "woo-folk", Nature Spirits;>), let alone keep my beds up. Thankfully, things are slowed WAY down and starting this week I can do more than I have. Got the front 3 ft of the W front yard bed weeded and gave the Salvias a bit of a late "Chelsey Chop";>.
Slow and easy does it!
Cheers, Pat

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Location: Lenoir City(Nevermore;>!)
Current Music: John Dowland Radio

Reading

Bee Food Flowers

Just Create – Cicada Edition

Little Starbursts Dishcloth

Cucumber Gazpacho

Rebuilding journal search again

Just Create - Netsuke Edition

Honey Mustard Red Potato Salad

Greek Potato Salad

Hobbit Time;>!

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May 2014

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