So Ted, What are you going to do with all of that blue corn anyway?

**Ozark Ridge Rider** · 9th December 10, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

That might have been Hopi blue maize, and yes it is very drought resistant, it can also be planted very deeply and still germinate making it even more drought resistant.

I'm guessing you used baking soda in the corn bread, and it released the Bloody Butcher's colors with the PH change.

I'm sure you're right. I only use Rumford baking powder, and it's got a lot of sodium bicarb in it. It looked strange, but sure tasted good.

**Bugbear** · 12th December 10, 07:27 PM

Ok, Ali, I had pictures made.

These are the "Three Sisters" of Native American lore: squash, beans, and maize or corn. The maize is, of course, the blue corn I am working with in my project. The squash is usually called spaghetti squash; this is a very small one because he was late and the last of the season. The beans are turtle or black beans.
They are sitting on standard 9.5 inch envelopes; I had to rip open the old envelopes, so labeled new ones. This ear of maize is actually A1.1, which means it was the first ear on the first plant to make an ear in group A; group A was the first group. I estimate there are around 150 kernels on the ear.

* picture removed *

Then there are the purple mum flowers for Madam Pleater.

* Picture removed *
They're the mums growing in my backyard. Aren't they cheery?

**ali8780** · 14th December 10, 09:51 AM

very cheery! Thanks for the pictures Ted, I'm very impressed

**Bugbear** · 14th December 10, 10:06 AM

Thanks!

What is your favorite flower, Ali?

**ali8780** · 14th December 10, 10:08 AM

peonies

do you need my address too Ted?

**Bugbear** · 14th December 10, 10:23 AM

Oops, sorry, Ali. Just wondering... Peonies Don't do well here.

I am going to order native wild flower seeds sometime soon to cover my ugly yard in a mass planting of flowers.

**ali8780** · 14th December 10, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

Oops, sorry, Ali. Just wondering... Peonies Don't do well here.

I am going to order native wild flower seeds sometime soon to cover my ugly yard in a mass planting of flowers.

yeah, actually peonies do very well up here, I really should put in the effort to grow them someday.

How about poppies for your yard? Do they grow well down there?

(PS Ted, don't pay any mind to my teasing you

)

**Bugbear** · 14th December 10, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by ali8780

yeah, actually peonies do very well up here, I really should put in the effort to grow them someday.

How about poppies for your yard? Do they grow well down there?

(PS Ted, don't pay any mind to my teasing you

)

Yes, Ali, California poppies grow in a patch in my yard. There are also Mexican poppies which are very much the same. I don't know about red poppies.

The California poppy leaves and stems kind of remind me of carrots.

And I am trying to grow carrots in a trash barrel full of compost and sand this winter.

I eat a carrot or two for breakfast every morning while looking at the new threads on the forum; I'm the garden bunny.

So, somehow it all kind of looks connected.

**piperdbh** · 14th December 10, 09:28 PM

Is it too dry where you are to grow statice and/or alstromeria? The former has a pretty purplish bloom, with a square stem, and the latter blooms in a range of colors with a bloom shape sort of similar to a lady's slipper.

**Bugbear** · 14th December 10, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

Is it too dry where you are to grow statice and/or alstromeria? The former has a pretty purplish bloom, with a square stem, and the latter blooms in a range of colors with a bloom shape sort of similar to a lady's slipper.

I looked them up. It looks like statice will grow here, and is also very salt tolerant; we have sodium salt in our hard water along with calcium and magnesium salts, and who knows what else...
I doubt alstromeria will grow here.

By the way, did those pictures come out OK?