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Did you buy an "Arthritis Plant" or "Gota Kola", Centella cordifolia
three years ago when they were all the rage? They were claimed to cure memory loss, stop
the aging process, stem arthritis and I could go on. Anyhow I bought one and Annie and I
ate our two leaves a day and I still haven’t got arthritis! We grew it in a hanging
basket and it has thrived, but needs regular dividing to maintain vigour and right now is
the ideal time to do that.
Last year the rave herb was Stevia rebaudiana or "Bertoni" a South Amercian
sugar substitute. It is claimed to be 30 times sweeter than sugar. If you read a Canadian
Government website on Stevia it claims to be 500 times sweeter than sugar. Anyhow,
it seems one element of sugar is very highly represented in Stevia and it is safe for
diabetics. My first plant died in a heat wave.
Now I thought coming from hot old Paraguay it would take the heat. Nursery grown though
things get soft and there in lies the problem. They need hardening off, so I put one of
those new water jackets around my second Stevia and it is now thriving. The water jackets
are clear poly cells with cavities in them that you fill with water and they provide a
mild but humid environment for soft plants. I’ve got one on a new passion vine too,
that is going ballistic.
This year Brian Noone of Cottage Herbs tells me the miracle herb is "Brahmi",
Bacopa monnieri and that it not only improves memory, but also intelligence within 30-45
days and that you will notice the benefits after just 5 days. It’s taken as an
infusion, like tea. If you try it and find it works, see if you can remember to let me
know.
It’s still not too late to treat your lawn to control the "Black Lawn
Beetle." I was digging a trench through my lawn last week and noticed a lot of
larvae, so I did mine. You just sprinkle "Lawn Beetle Blitz" (active agent
chlorpyrifos) at the rate of 4 grams per square metre and water it in well. Use rubber
gloves when handling and keep the pets off the lawn for at least two, days.
Aren’t the "Crepe Myrtle" stunning this year in this area? Just wait
until next year if you are thinking of buying one. I’ve seen the new dwarf
"crepe Myrtles" due for release next year and they are stunning and only grow to
1.5 metres! One new cultivar is totally prostrate with deep maroon flowers.
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