Category Archives: Plants

Helping hands….

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Everyone needs some help at times of the day, the year, or even in a moment.

We all know it’s spring thank goodness it’s time for flowers and herbs and gardening again! Peaceful. Healthy. Beauty. Color. Meditative. Calming. Soothing – those all words I associate with gardens and gardening. Here in my little piece of the world I have a back deck that turns into a little piece of all those words for me each year. It is a deck that I surround with “window boxes” or in this case rail boxes, that I mostly fill with Herbs. I use the herbs for cooking, ice tea (yes I grow many mints,) and just because I love being able to go out there and have all these possible scents surround me. There are naturally flowers too…but enough about what I personally plant.  The real point of this story is helping hands…..so…. I was at my local garden center to buy the soil for the boxes. There was even a special deal price of my favorite soil in a 2 1/4 cubic feet bag.  Great! Now, you need to know that I am pretty strong and about 5 foot 8, so I am not a small weak wisp of grass…. these bags are HEAVY! I struggled to get the first on my cart. Then the helping hand came. A couple came walking by, the man asked if I was getting another bag. I said yes, and he (with some effort too I may add) put the second one on cart. FAB! Then to add to the goodness, they were right behind in line to pay, and he offered to put them in my car for me. A big win for Kindness and for me. Thanks you universe for that helping hand when I needed it.

Helping Hands image

Helping hands…holding hands… the two often mix. That’s a very good thing.

 

 

 

 

 

Groundhog day…

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Izzy and the Groundhog

Izzy and the Groundhog in the South. This is NOT  New England in February with those flowers! Or… we have a bigger climate change problem than we knew!

Izzy escaped the winter and went south to work on her art for a bit. However, she did her part for those us up North,  found the local Groundhog…and asked…  6 more weeks or not? 

Info from National Geographic- Groundhog…. click here

“The groundhog, or woodchuck, is one of 14 species of marmots. These rodents live a feast-or-famine lifestyle and gorge themselves all summer to build up plentiful reserves of fat. After the first frost, they retreat to their underground burrows and snooze until spring, drawing their sustenance from body fat. (Maybe they have it all figured out? Eat eat eat, hide, dissolve the fat and reappear! ) While hibernating, the animal’s heart rate plunges, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow.

Groundhog hibernation gave rise to the popular American custom of Groundhog Day, held on the second of February every year. Tradition dictates that if a groundhog sees its shadow that day, there will be six more weeks of winter, though such a prediction seems a sure bet over much of the groundhog’s North American range.

In the spring, females welcome a litter of perhaps a half-dozen newborns, which stay with their mother for several months.

Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family. Though they are usually seen on the ground, they can climb trees and are also capable swimmers. These rodents frequent the areas where woodlands meet open spaces, like fields, roads, or streams. Here they eat grasses and plants as well as fruits and tree bark. Groundhogs are the bane of many a gardener. They can decimate a plot while voraciously feeding during the summer and fall seasons.” -Info from National Geographic- Groundhog…. click here

 

All Hallows Eve

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Need I say more? Hope you all are safe, dry and “powered” – may the little ones have a good time this eve.

Birdelli ready for Halloween

Birdelli ready for Halloween – from the archive.

Like Pie? Like Art? Like Fairs?… how about gifts?

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The weather forecast is glorious and we hope to see you there! This is a 2 part post… check the second half for a preview of our new Holiday Product line! You can click on the images to see them larger.

Pies
mug gift sets
This is a preview of our NEW READY TO GO GIFT SETS.
One more theme will be coming…but here is 3 out of 4!It’s a “pick and pay” easy peasy gift solution.There will be 4 themes:
3 are ready and will be available this weekend!

  • Jolie with a “Love to you” mug set.
  • Ron with a Garden mug set.
  • Vaboom with a Desk mug Set.
  • The 4th and final one is a DOG set- stay tuned!

♥ Jolie: Our Herbalist who creates, makes, produces, and shares her products of Herbs and natural oils for both Beauty and medical remedies. Her image is featured on her set, and the mug holds:
Delightful Body products made from all organic materials made by Garden Gate Herbals right here in Franklin MA : Lip Balm to pamper your fall and winter lips- either Lavender or Wintergreen / Comfrey Salve – for reliving minor rashes, insect bites wounds – like those paper cuts from gift wrapping! Rosehip or Lavender Glycerite: Rosehips are high in Vit. C and tasty too! Both are Calming for all ages. (Take a few drops on your tong or right down the hatch!) …Topping off  this set is 3 bookmarks,  a flower and gift box adornment.

♥ Ron: Our Master Garden and Climate change guy: His mug contains 3 packs of Burpee Garden seeds that all have long shelf lives-have fun and plant inside now or you can wait. They all have a small Garden Sick/Marker with a butterfly attached for Garden Dreaming all winter long! They too have a Body product, made by another woman who’s business is called: Aromatherapy for the 2 legged & the 4 legged,  this time so local it’s down the street! Enclosed is a Garden Lavender Salve  for soothing and calming yourself as needed! …Topping off  this set is 3 bookmarks and a gift box adornment.

♥ Vaboom: She is the Keeper of New Words, kindness and Eco words are her thing and she is champion of the Desk Set Gift. Her mug holds: 3 Bic Pens, 3 fun Pencils, 1 Ruler, 1 fun chunky roundish Pretty Pen, and a bottle of “Mental Clarity“  Spray. This spray helps keep the “muddle” at bay! This one is also by Aromatherapy for the 2 legged and 4 legged and is essential oils – you spray this very yummy warm and comforting spray in your “personal area” and you indeed feel better and “clearer in the head!” Amazing!! ..Topping off  this set is 3 bookmarks and a gift box adornment.

All are wrapped and ready to go! All include a small according folded pamphlet with a story about Collaboration, Community, woman helping woman in business and in life, and why that Botanical is champion of that gift set. Each package has a cushion on the base of eco friendly shredded paper, a clear bag, a ribbon and even a GIFT TAG… but you may still want to purchase a special Botanical Beauty Card as well!

 

 

 

 

 

THIS WEEKEND! Plants, a lovely spot on earth, and Art…how can you say no?

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The Show season begins, and we excited to get out in the air and meet new friends. The Botanical Beauties & Beasties will be displaying our ‘wears’ at the Herb and Garden Show in Tiverton RI. If you have never been to this area in RI you are missing a “little piece of heaven” – it’s beautiful and full of wonderful places to visit, shop, browse, stroll…and…we will be there, it’s like icing on the cake. 

We hope you can join in the fun; this should be a lovely day! Plants galore, Herbs (my favorite) and Art! Again I ask, how can you say no? How can you go wrong?

Herb & Garden Show

When: THIS WEEKEND! Saturday, May 26th, 2012 : 10 am-4 pm  (RAIN DATE:  Sunday May 27th 10 am-4 pm, but the weather is looking good right now, hopefully it stays that way!)

Where: On the Lawn of the Soule-Seabury House (which is also the grounds of the Tiverton Four Corners Arts Center)

TheSoule-Seabury House is 3852 Main Rd., Tiverton, RI, 02878:  Visitors will have an extensive selection of locally grown flowers, herbs and vegetables as well as hand-made jewelry, wood carvings, handbags, wind chimes and other crafts.  The site includes over an acre of landscaped grounds which are used for exhibits, concerts, outdoor dance, sculpture, theater, and a variety of other special events. See you there!

“Located within a one hour drive of Boston, Providence, Newport, and the towns of Southeastern Massachusetts, Tiverton Four Corners has become an important center for antiques, fine art, decorative crafts, and cozy shops nestled into a quaint New England Village of 18th century buildings. Enjoy the fresh air as you walk the few steps between shops to peek in windows, sample gourmet treats and purchase quality goods of all kinds in an unhurried, friendly and charming atmosphere.” -http://www.tivertonfourcorners.com/

DIRECTIONS:: Tiverton Four Corners is located within a one hour drive of Boston, Providence, Newport, Cape Cod, and the communities of southeastern Massachusetts. For door to door driving directions, go to Mapquest. 
FROM BOSTON: Rt. 128 to Rt. 24 South. In Fall River follow the signs for Rt. 195 West to return to Rt. 24 South.
Exit 5 onto Rt. 77 South; 6 miles to Tiverton Four Corners. (approx. 1 hr.)
FROM CAPE COD: Take Rt. 195 West to Rt. 24 South. Exit 5 onto Rt. 77 South; 6 miles to Tiverton Four Corner.
FROM PROVIDENCE: Take Rt. 195 East to Rt. 24 South. Exit 5 onto Rt. 77 South; 6 miles to Tiverton Four Corners.


map

 

116th Boston Marathon. April 16, 2012

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“DISTANCE: 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 Kilometers)

The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world’s most prestigious road racing events. …The Boston Marathon has distinguished itself as the pinnacle event within the sport of road racing by virtue of its traditions, longevity and method of gaining entry into the race (via qualification).” http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/event-information.aspx

Zoie runs the Boston Marathon

 

…and there she goes….. Zoie is proud to have been qualified and is off and running!  She has special fan wings made to help her with the heat today!  Those inventors in the Whimsical World of Botaniumus are very clever!

For those of you who may be new to our world/site Zoie is Queen of the Woodlands. Her long legs allow her to run like the wind. Her head plumes allow her to sense all. She ensures that there is a natural balance in the woodlands.

Family resemblance…continued

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We are continuing our series today “Can you see the family resemblance?”  This series will will be collimated in a mini display/event at Whole Foods Market in Cranston R.I, at the end of April or the beginning of May (date still TBD.)  Let the good times bloom!

Beau and Bleeding Heart Flowers

Beau with his native sons. (ha ha)

You can’t really miss on this one, the resemblance is clear!

The Plant: Bleeding Hearts are a sign that Spring is in full swing. I love their beauty, color, and in my yard their robustness. It’s small delicate mounded foliage with soft arching stems of beautiful, heart-shaped flowers are an old fashioned type of wonderful. For it’s home: shade-lover, cool, moist conditions but well-drained soil. Beau house is along a nice cool shady wall.

The Beautie: Boubolicious: Boubolicious (Boubo, or Beau, for short) is a very wise and knowing creature. Many come to him to ask questions of life and love. He guides his friends through many tough times and thrives on the happy ones. He is Ambassador of Wisdom.  He is a wise, knowing and gentle soul!

Beaudacious

Beaudacious – another view.

Saturday artwork for fun

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Two Birds of a feather….. If opposites attract  then what is this?

2 Birds....

   Zoie and her friend. (friend is a iPad sketch we did from SketchBook Pro) 

 

A bit of flower sun in the winter….

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Ron La Fleur - Ron is Twinkles (Goddess of the Shimmering Snow) Cousin. Carefree in personality but not in Nature  (the ecosystem.) He is all about fun in the sun and the brightness of yellow.  His cause is Climate Change.

In case you are not aware of another very spectacular cousin Ron wants to introduce you to Chinese Witch Hazel - Hamamelis mollis. Remember that most of the Botanical Beauties and Beasties start with a floral part. So Witch Hazel is yet another branch (ha ha, could not resist) of the family! 

Ron and his cousin Witch Hazel

These fun plants add a splash of color when you often really need it, i.e in the WINTER! We here in MA., have had a very mild winter season and barely any snow. As a matter of fact we have had odd, admissible delightful, spring temps in Feb. This week that has changed – it is actually SNOWING FOR REAL! Unfortunately the warm temps have made many of my spring bulbs beginning to pop out of the grown, but those tips and the snow made me think of Witch Hazel, no real connection other than bulbs are early spring delight and the Chinese Witch Hazel is winter delight! It is technically still winter, so Ron wants to share some fun things about this plant with you.

  • Flowers are fragrant and may be shades of yellow, red and orange
  • Witch hazels do best in a spot that gets full sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Size: – cane up to 12′ tall and wide
  • Why it;s fun: It blooms in the winter! It’s flowers are  incongruously fragile-looking blooms in the harsh bold winter.  Its flowers, profuse along bare stems, have narrow yellow petals up to an inch-and-a-half long, surrounding red centers, and are scented! If you use your design skills and plan your Witch Hazel against a dark backdrop then WOW a big visual POP and a breath of flower sunshine when you least expect it. Awhhhhh, how can you not like that!? 

Have a great weekend – we will be back on Tuesday. In the meantime, don’t forget you can find some great information, drawings and/or links to wonderful things on our Facebook pages  and our Twitter feeds  M – F with The Botanical Beauties & Beasties and Birdelini.

https://www.facebook.com/BotanicalBeautiesBeasties

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Birdelini/240980389318537

https://twitter.com/BotanicalB_B

https://twitter.com/birdelini