Waiting
Garden Update 060912
Praying for rain! Just finished watering the garden, by the time I was done it looked as if I hadn't even watered. Tomorrow I'm putting down the final layer of heavy mulch along with the seaper hoses!
My grapevine has grapes on it for the first time in 8 years, mainly because the neighborhood thief didn't shear it off to the quick this past winter!!! Yes I actually have someone who has been coming into my yard and cutting back my vines, and then stealing them!!!
Anyway, we'll be putting netting on the arbor this coming week to keep the cardinals, and other birds, from stealing my grapes. Mainly it's the cardinals that have been causing problems, they did a pretty good job of stripping the cherry tree that's just behind the grape vine, and the cherries hadn't even turned red yet.
Studio Update 021212
Madder Root
Fresh Madder Root from my best friends green house - picture and roots courtsey of Karen Hartshorn!
YES there is a discernable difference in the color and the intensity of the colors you get when using fresh or dried madder root! If you can get fresh roots that is the best way to go, much better reds. The lightfastness and washfastness will be the same but the overall intensities will be different.