Bees underwent massive extinction when dinosaurs did

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For the first time ever, scientists have documented a widespread extinction of bees that occurred 65 million years ago, concurrent with the massive event that wiped out land dinosaurs and many flowering plants.

For the first time ever, scientists have documented a widespread extinction of bees that occurred 65 million years ago, concurrent with the massive event that wiped out land dinosaurs and many flowering plants. Their findings, published this week in the journal PLOS ONE, could shed light on the current decline in bee species.

Lead author Sandra Rehan, an assistant professor of biological sciences at UNH, worked with colleagues Michael Schwarz at Australia’s Flinders University and Remko Leys at the South Australia Museum to model a mass extinction in bee group Xylocopinae, or carpenter bees, at the end of the Cretaceous and beginning of the Paleogene eras, known as the K-T boundary.

Previous studies have suggested a widespread…

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Mammillaria – the Nipple cactus

aristonorganic

The first species was described by Carolus Linnaeus as Cactus mammillaris in 1753, deriving its name from Latin mammilla, “nipple“, referring to the tubercles that are among the distinctive features of the genus.

Most of the mammillarias are native to Mexico, but some come from the southwest USA, the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala and Honduras

Mammillaria

 

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Rendering raw Beeswax

aristonorganic

Beeswax is another major hive product, though neither its uses nor its value are as widely known as those of honey.

From the raw honey comb above, the residue of wax that is left over looks very dirty and full of debris.

Place the wax in a double boiler, add  double the amount of water, and heat slowly until all the wax has melted. Turn off the heat and allow the wax to set. The wax will always set above the water.

When the wax is set, use a sharp knife to prize the wax out of the pot. Discard the water down an outside drain. The water will be very full of the impurities, but some will still remain in the  set wax. Scrape off as much as you can.

Place the wax again in the double boiler and melt on a low heat. Using an…

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Nelson Mandela/ Madiba/Tata

Tata you will be forever in our Hearts

aristonorganic

Gardening as a pastime has been for centuries enjoyed by Princes and paupers alike.

Even Nelson Mandela enjoys gardening. It was one of the few privileges allowed to him during his later years of imprisonment. In his autobiography, Mr. Mandela states –

to plant a seed, watch it grow, to tend it and then harvest it, offered a
simple but enduring satisfaction.”

“Nelson Mandela mini biography

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Remembrance….

With special remembrance to Nelson Mandela (Madiba) Tata,

aristonorganic

To everything there is a season,
And a time to every purpose under the heaven.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck
that which is planted;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and time of peace.

-Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I dedicate this post to two special Ladies who passed this month.

…Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you…
I loved you so – ’twas Heaven here with you.

-Isla Paschal Richardson

 

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Wanted! A vegetable that will grow in any climate, will rival meat in nutritive value, will mature in 3 to 5 days”

aristonorganic

Super Sprouts

Some Commonly used Sprouts

Alfalfa Sprouts are one of the finest food sources of saponins. Saponins lower the bad cholesterol and fat but not the good HDL fats. Animal studies have proved their benefit in arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Saponins also stimulate the immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer cells such as T- lymphocytes and interferon. The saponin content of alfalfa sprouts multiplies 450% over that of the unsprouted seed.

Lentil Sprouts are 26% protein. They can be cooked or eaten raw.

Onion Sprouts give distinct onion flavor without the tears and the waste! Onion sprouts are 20% protein and good source of vitamins A, C and D.
Mung Bean Sprouts are good source of protein, fibre and vitamin C. A 3 oz serving contains only 30 calories.

Fenugreek  used as spice in Indian food and a digestive aid. It is a very fragrant…

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Plants you can grow from scraps #homegrown

aristonorganic

Growing Leeks, Spring Onions, Scallions ,and Fennel

You could go out and buy some vegetable specifically for growing but I like to wait till I actually have a call for them in my cooking. With all 5 of these examples you will use the end of the vegetable with the white roots.

green onions from kitchen scraps

Take the left over white roots and place them in a container with a small amount of water in it. You want the roots to be wet but you don’t want the entire thing submerged. Take your container and place it in a sunny window sill. I’ve actually grown green onion scraps in a fairly shady window on the north side of our house, your success may vary. I like keeping some in a window in the kitchen for my morning eggs, and in my office for snacking on (the wife loves kissing me after…

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Caterpillars ?

aristonorganic

Do you have a problem with caterpillars on your Crinum and Clivias?

This innovative method was sent to me via Jeremy Taylor from Sydney.

 

Simply drape netting over your plants, this stops the butterfly from laying her eggs on your plants.

Photo credits Jeremy Taylor

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Star Dancing

aristonorganic

You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing STAR. Friedrich Nietzsche

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SUNrise

aristonorganic

We can only appreciate the MIRACLE of a SUNrise if we have waited in the darkness

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