Nature Art: Short Verse Wednesday, Joys of a Wildflower & Cool Creek Water

 I was inspired to pen several short verse poems for Wednesday tonight.

The first is about a nana & a garden bloom:

Solitude fed grandmother's heavy heart
laughter's echo now silent
today a solitary wildflower in her unkempt garden
soft smile curved her lips
and she whispered a joyful word

...

Joys of a Wildflower

And the second, a neo-haiku about a happy wren bathing in the creek:

Joyous Wren Splashing in the Creek

In babbling creek
wren does dance in ecstasy
water's glee cool song

...

Nature Art: Spending Time In The Forest & Swamps, A Source of Art Inspiration

 Spending time in forests can greatly inspire an artist looking to create native plant artwork, offering them an opportunity to explore and understand the intricate beauty of nature in its purest form.

Nature Art, Finding Inspiration In the Forests and Swamps

Below are some of my thoughts about the many ways how a forest could serve as a wonderful resource for any artist but especially a native plant artist:

1. Observation and Realism: The first and foremost benefit of being in a forest is the opportunity to observe native plants in their natural habitats. The artist can study their forms, colors, and textures in detail. This direct observation can lead to more realistic and accurate representations in the artwork.

2. Seasonal Changes: A forest presents an ever-changing tableau as the seasons shift, offering a range of different visuals from fresh spring blossoms to autumn foliage. The artist can depict the lifecycle of the plants or create a series of artwork illustrating these transitions.

3. Connection with Nature: Immersion in a forest allows the artist to develop a deep, personal connection with nature. This emotional bond could be reflected in the artwork, creating pieces that not only depict the physical aspects of the plants but also the artist's feelings towards them.

4. Understanding Ecosystems: A forest provides a unique opportunity to understand the interdependence of various life forms. By noticing how plants interact with other elements of the forest, such as animals and weather, the artist could incorporate these aspects into the artwork, making it richer and more complex.

5. Inspiration and Creativity: The serenity and beauty of a forest can stimulate an artist's creativity. The variations in landscapes, the play of light and shadow, the myriad colors, shapes, and textures, all contribute to an array of visual stimuli that can trigger new ideas and approaches to the artwork.

6. Symbolism: Plants in a forest can carry a wealth of symbolism, often tied to cultural or spiritual beliefs. An artist may choose to incorporate these symbolic meanings into their artwork, adding layers of depth and interpretation to their pieces.

7. Learning Different Perspectives: Spending time in a forest can lead an artist to see things from different perspectives. They might find beauty in the understory that many overlook, or see the towering majesty of old-growth trees. Each new perspective provides fresh inspiration for artwork.

8. Healing & Health: I can speak from first hand experience here as to just how spending time in the wilds has redirected my mind from dwelling on my physical challenges and instead allowing me the opportunity to instead see the beauty of the natural world around me. Fresh air, sunshine, earth colors & hues, wildlife sounds, bird calls, all these help me breathe deeper and feel more whole. When I feel uplifted physically then my mind is ready to create art.

So, spending time in forests allows me to develop a deeper understanding of the natural world, fostering creativity and providing endless inspiration for my native plant artwork. Through direct observation and immersion in nature, we artists can create pieces that are not only visually stunning but also imbued with a sense of authenticity and emotional depth.

Nature Healing: Exploring Ecotherapy as a Health Modality

 Spending time outdoors (I call this outdoor time 'ecotherapy') can be incredibly beneficial for individuals experiencing trauma for several reasons. 

Ecotherapy & the study of the Languages of Nature has helped me with my aortic dissection healing

Here are a few key ways in which it can help:

1. Stress Reduction: Exposure to nature has been shown to reduce stress, with research demonstrating that spending time outdoors can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Trauma can create chronic stress conditions, and mitigating stress is a significant step towards healing.
2. Mindfulness and Presence: The natural world can encourage a state of mindfulness, which involves focusing on the present moment rather than ruminating on past experiences or worrying about the future. This can be particularly helpful for individuals dealing with trauma, as it can provide a break from distressing memories and anxiety-provoking thoughts about the future.
3. Physical Activity: Outdoor environments are conducive to physical activities like walking, hiking, or cycling. Regular exercise has been found to reduce symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's natural mood lifters. Physical activity can also promote better sleep, which is often disrupted in those dealing with trauma.
4. Increased Social Interaction: Spending time outdoors, particularly in public parks or community gardens, can lead to increased social interactions. Social support is often a crucial component of trauma recovery, providing opportunities for shared understanding, emotional expression, and reassurance.
5. Restorative Environment: Nature has been described as a 'restorative' environment that can improve concentration and motivation. This is beneficial for those healing from trauma, where cognitive functioning can often be affected.
6. Improved Mood: Research has also linked exposure to green spaces with improved mood and mental health. This can be especially beneficial for those recovering from trauma, who may be experiencing issues such as depression or anxiety.
7. Ecotherapy: A form of therapeutic treatment which involves doing activities in nature. It can help to improve your mood, reduce feelings of stress or anger, help you take time out and feel more relaxed, improve your physical health, improve your confidence and self-esteem, help you be more active, help you make new connections, provide peer support, and provide a sense of belonging and community.  Ecotherapy benefits us through a variety of ways, such as;

• Improved Mental Health:
• Reduces Stress: Exposure to natural environments has been shown to lower cortisol levels, a hormone that the body produces in response to stress. This reduction can help mitigate feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Improves Mood: Nature has a calming effect that can elevate a person's mood. The simple act of taking a walk in a park has been found to trigger the release of endorphins, the body's natural mood elevator.
• Enhances Cognitive Functions: Natural settings can be restorative for our cognitive abilities. Research suggests that nature can help restore attention, improve problem-solving and creativity.
• Improved Physical Health:
• Physical Activity: Ecotherapy often involves physical activities such as gardening, conservation work, or walking, which can help improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and overall physical fitness.
• Exposure to Sunlight: Outdoor activities increase exposure to sunlight, which facilitates vitamin D production. Vitamin D is important for various bodily functions, including strengthening the immune system and bone health.
• Lowered Blood Pressure: Spending time in natural environments has been linked with lowered blood pressure, beneficial for heart health.
• Improved Emotional Well-being:
• Building Connection: Engaging with nature can help individuals feel more connected to the world around them, combat feelings of isolation, and build a sense of belonging.
• Mindfulness: Natural environments encourage mindfulness and can make it easier for individuals to focus on the present moment. Mindfulness has been linked with a range of health benefits, including improved emotional regulation and reduced rumination.
• Improved Social Health:
• Community Engagement: Many ecotherapy activities involve social interaction, promoting community engagement and social skills, which can be beneficial for individuals feeling isolated or struggling with social anxiety.
• Increased Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence: Accomplishing tasks in nature, like growing a garden or hiking a trail, can instill a sense of achievement, thereby boosting self-esteem and self-confidence.

Despite the noted benefits, it's important to mention that ecotherapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Spending the day swimming in Wakulla Springs recently was so very relaxing

What works for one individual may not work for another. For some, ecotherapy might best serve as a complementary approach alongside traditional therapy or medication.  This form of therapy is based on the idea that people are connected to and impacted by the natural environment. It leverages the benefits of nature to promote healing and growth. 

While I personally attribute time outdoors to having contributed to healing PTSD and trauma associated with my aortic dissection, it should be noted that ecotherapy isn't considered a replacement for professional treatment methods such as psychotherapy, medication, or cognitive-behavioral techniques. Rather, it's an adjunct therapy that can support and enhance these other treatment modalities.

Regardless, I've found that spending time outdoors has provided me with so many healing health benefits since my dissection and aorta operations and highly recommend discussing ecotherapy with a professional for anyone seeking to anyone seeking relief from mental or physical trauma.

IPM: Yellowing Hemp Leaves? Lots of Reasons but Always Check pH of Soil and Water

 Yellowing of the lower leaves in hemp plants can be caused by several factors, and it's important to identify the correct one in order to address the issue effectively.

Yellowing Hemp Leaves caused by root zone pH being too high.

We try and provide the optimal growing conditions here at Arendell Hill Nursery in Tallahassee. Yet sometimes, no matter how intentional we are with organic nutrient application, good soil texture, adequate drainage, proper sunlight exposure and continual IPM we still encounter problems with plant growth.

Lately I've been seeing a bit of lower leaf yellowing on some of our container grown hemp plants. I know they have been properly watered and fertilized however the yellow seemed to be persistent.

There are many cultivation variables known to be responsible for yellowing hemp leaves.

Here are some common causes:

1. Nutrient Deficiency: This is often the most common cause. In particular, nitrogen deficiency can lead to yellowing of the lower leaves because the plant moves available nitrogen to support new growth at the top. Other deficiencies that can cause yellowing include potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

2. Overwatering or Underwatering: Both of these can stress the plant and cause yellowing. Overwatering can lead to root rot and oxygen deprivation, while underwatering can cause the plant to become dehydrated.

3. pH Imbalance: Hemp prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH levels (around 6-7). If the pH is too high or too low, it can lock out essential nutrients and lead to yellowing.

4. Poor Drainage: If your hemp plant is in a pot or soil with poor drainage, it can lead to waterlogging and oxygen deprivation for the roots, causing leaf yellowing.

5. Pests and Diseases: Certain pests and diseases can also cause leaf yellowing. For instance, fungus gnats can damage the roots and lead to yellowing of the lower leaves.

6. Temperature Stress: If the temperature is too high or too low, it can cause stress to the plant and result in yellowing.

7. Light Burn: If the plant is exposed to too intense light, it can "burn" the leaves and turn them yellow.

In our case the yellowing was a result of our irrigation water's naturally high pH of around 8.0 to 8.5. High pH water can, as mentioned above, prevent the hemp plant roots from taking up nutrients, even if those nutrients are available and exist in plentiful quantities within the hemp plant's root zone.

Irrigation pH balancing involves taking into account acidic rainfall amounts and then pH of natural irrigation water. During droughts, when more higher pH irrigation water from the well is used, more 'pH Down' (a water acidifier we use) must be added to irrigation to keep the root zone pH around 6.0-6.5.

When we have periods of significant rainfall, the hemp plant's root zone is less likely to exhibit a higher pH simply because we are using less well water.

Portable, battery powered pH meters are an important tool for Florida hemp growers (and any gardener for that matter). Here is a link to the pH meter we use.

Remember, identifying the exact cause requires observation and sometimes a process of elimination. Always consider the overall growing conditions including light, temperature, humidity, and the plant's watering schedule. If you're growing indoors, you can more easily control these factors compared to outdoor growing.

Nature Healing; Immersed With Frog & Wading Bird Night Calls, 4 hours

 Doing field-recording & nature audio immersion has helped me manage and heal both my aortic dissection symptoms and my kidney cancer.  Not only do I find immense pleasure in hiking far into the wilderness to place the recorders in isolated habitat, but processing the audio and then listening to the languages of nature makes me feel like I am cloaked with a snug, weighted blanket woven by Gaia.

I really enjoy this one audio clip and think you would enjoy listening to it also.

Four hours of mid-May post-sunset amphibian calls across the wide, tidally influenced West Goose Creek marsh in the Wakulla District of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The audio begins around 7pm EST and continues to 11 pm EST during a light drizzly rain. Recorded frogs include pig frogs (Rana grylio), leopard frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus), green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) and others. Herons and other wading birds can be heard in the background occasionally and the periodic aircraft engine noise passing overhead. The wide open marsh is covered with black needlerush (Juncus spp.) and crimson marsh mallow (Hibiscus coccineus). Our Sony D10 recorders equipped with Clippy stereo microphones protected with windbubbles and dry bags were placed about 2 meters above the saturated ground secured in evergreen branches of wax myrtle shrubs (Morella cerifera).

Drizzly Marsh Night, 4 hours Nature Audio

IPM; Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, an Important IPM Plant Protecting Hemp and Vegetable Crops

 Phytolacca americana, also known as pokeweed, poke sallet, or poke salad, is a perennial plant native to the eastern United States. It's known for its large, smooth leaves, clusters of dark berries, and distinct red stems. We welcome pokeweed plants and always invite them to grow in the hemp and vegetable gardens because of important roles pokeweed plays in our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan.

One of our FAMU pilot varieties of hemp, growing near a large pokeweed plant.

Pesky bugs will usually choose a pokeweed leaf over just about any other plant. Pokeweed's lure and trap capabilities have earned it a reputation as an important Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan component.

Another potential benefit is that pokeweed can attract birds due to its berries. Birds play a crucial role in pest control, as they eat many types of insects. So, having pokeweed in your garden may draw birds that will feed on your pest population. However, be aware that the berries are toxic to mammals, including humans. We have also noticed that because pokeweed's leaves are rather large, pest insects, Southern Armyworm, Spodoptera eridana and other caterpillars make easy forage targets for our bluebird, nuthatch, finch and wren populations.

Yes, if certain pests in your local area are more attracted to pokeweed than to other plants, they may congregate on the pokeweed, reducing their numbers on more valuable plants. The efficacy of this would depend on the specific pests in question and their feeding preferences. We find that the armyworms love to forage on our pokeweed plants leaves. While these caterpillars are devouring pokeweed leaves they are not eating our other garden plants, including our hemp and they are becoming meals themselves for foraging songbirds.

Another pokeweed plant in the hemp garden, its leaves eaten by insect pests.

Pokeweed is a common plant native to the eastern parts of North America. It has distinctive red stems and produces dark purple berries that are attractive to many bird species. As for why garden insects are drawn to pokeweed, a few factors could be at play:

1. Plant Chemistry: Like many plants, pokeweed has a unique chemical makeup that can attract certain insects. It's possible that some insects are attracted to particular compounds in pokeweed, whether for food, a place to lay eggs, or another purpose. For instance, pokeweed produces toxic compounds, such as saponins and oxalates, which deter many herbivores but may not deter certain insects adapted to handle these toxins.

2. Leaf Characteristics: Pokeweed has large, soft leaves, which may be easier for certain insects to eat compared to tougher, smaller leaves on other plants.

3. Availability and Accessibility: Pokeweed is a vigorous grower and can produce large quantities of leaves and berries, making it an abundant food source for insects. Its size and growth habit also make it accessible to a wide range of insects.

4. Species-Specific Relationships: Some insect species may have developed a preference or even a dependence on pokeweed through co-evolution, much like monarch butterflies and milkweed. For example, the pokeweed leaffooted bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus) is known to feed on pokeweed.

However, using pokeweed as a trap crop can have some downsides. For example, if the pests are not adequately controlled on the pokeweed, it could become a breeding ground that exacerbates the pest problem. Moreover, pokeweed is a vigorous plant that can become aggressive in its growing habit if not carefully managed. Also, as previously mentioned, all parts of the plant are toxic to mammals when raw and can be dangerous if consumed.

We are convinced that the pokeweed plants growing alongside our garden vegetables, wildflowers and hemp plants offer important IPM benefits as pest insect trap plants. We always remember to treat pokeweed with care because of the plant's toxicity. Importantly, before deciding to use pokeweed as a lure or trap crop, it would be wise to conduct a thorough assessment of your garden's needs and the local pest and wildlife populations. Consulting with a local extension service or a pest management professional could provide valuable insights.

Remember, successful integrated pest management usually involves a combination of techniques, including biological control, use of resistant plant varieties, and crop rotation. A single plant species is unlikely to solve all pest problems yet pokeweed has demonstrated it can lure our garden's pest insects away from our important crops to pokeweed's broad leaves where songbirds and anoles then treat the pest insects as food.

Nature Healing: How Forest Bathing Helps Manage Trauma

Forest bathing, also known as "Shinrin-Yoku" in Japanese, refers to spending time in a forest or natural environment for the purpose of enhancing health, wellness, and happiness. The practice is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging; it is simply being in nature, connecting with the universal through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.

Very real health management substances can be acquired through Forest Bathing

The connection between forest bathing and healing trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been known to traditional healers since the beginning of time but has only recently been acknowledged in scientific literature.  

One of my favorite Forest Bathing places is found deep in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Importantly, some potential reasons and mechanisms to explain how forest bathing could be beneficial include:

1. Stress Reduction: One of the significant benefits of forest bathing is stress reduction. Natural settings can decrease cortisol levels, pulse rate, and blood pressure, which are typically heightened in individuals suffering from trauma or PTSD. Lowering these stress indicators can help individuals manage their symptoms more effectively.
2. Mood Enhancement: Nature and forest environments are associated with enhanced mood and feelings of wellbeing. This could be beneficial for individuals with PTSD, who often suffer from mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
3. Mindfulness and Presence: The practice encourages mindfulness and living in the present moment, which can help distract individuals from traumatic memories and intrusive thoughts that contribute to PTSD.
4. Improved Sleep: Forest bathing can contribute to better sleep, which is often a challenge for individuals with PTSD. Better sleep can lead to improvements in mental and physical health.
5. Boosts Immune System: Exposure to forests enhances the activity of natural killer cells, a component of the immune system that helps combat disease. This is partly due to inhaling phytoncides, organic compounds with antibacterial properties released by trees.
6. Therapeutic Setting: A forest can provide a calming and safe environment for therapeutic activities, such as trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
7. Nature Connection: Some research suggests that developing a connection with nature can aid in trauma recovery, as it can promote feelings of peace, resilience, and overall mental wellbeing.

Remember, while forest bathing may provide potential benefits, it should not replace traditional treatment methods for PTSD and trauma, such as psychotherapy and medication. If you or someone else has PTSD or has experienced a traumatic event, it's crucial to seek help from a mental health professional.