Rachel Fisher is the awesome owner of #ThreeOaksFarm, an #organic 6 acre mixed vegetable and fruit #farm just 30 minutes from #VictoriaBC (Vancouver Island) by bus.
Three Oaks’ farm stand specializes in veggie starts. Spring veggie starts are available May – June, and Fall veggie starts are available in August-Sept.
I pruned this rhododendron way back last year and I was worried that it wouldn't grow back, so this blossom is a nice surprise. Also, there's a witch hiding in the petals.
#DeathCamas - all parts of plant are #toxic & shouldn't be handled. Only bee that can tolerate its toxins is the specialist mining bee. Toxic to animals, especially sheep. Humans have been poisoned after ingesting bulbs; kids have been poisoned after ingesting flowers & flower buds.
Local Indigenous food gatherers would mark spots where death camas appeared - easily identified when they're in bloom - and weed out all bulbs around areas marked in Spring, after plant has died off for season. This is how they managed wild food gardens for generations. Death camas often grows in same fields as common camas, the latter is a longtime traditional food for Coast Salish native peoples.
Still struggling today, but hey, look at how happy my plants are. Aren't they total beauties?
The aloe flowers a second time this year (I missed the peak of the flower last time but collected the seeds that I'll try to plant in fall, when the worst of the work travel is over.)