Totems: Ladybug

The ladybug is well known for being a creature that helps rid of aphids, but certain varieties of ladybugs can be pests themselves.

As an insect it may seem weak, it is however a strong creature in its own right. It teaches to defend oneself when needed and to be clear with warnings. For the ladybug it is wrong to attack others, but it is fine to defend.

To allow things come at a pace of its own doing when fulfilling dreams or wishes is only natural. It is not good to try to be hasty or to try too hard, it will cause one to tire easily and possibly too soon. The ladybug recognises the power of allowing time to help over the use of haste.

English Box

Buxus sempervirens is the botanical name of a popular hedging plant. Its common name is English Box and is a slow growing shrub that is evergreen and has a dense growth that makes it alike to a living fence or wall. It can grow 1.5m in height and 50cm in width.

While it is tolerant of shade, drought and frost, it cannot tolerate high summer temperatures. Cooler climates and full sun is the preference for the English box. While the English box can grow in sand, loam and clay, it grows best in loam and it is preferable to avoid growing it in either sand or clay. Little water is needed for this particular plant.

Summer Joys

Summer being summer, the weather has been filled with clouds and rain with more expected. The joys of Melbourne weather to say the least; certainly giving help in keeping the garden well watered, just not so great if a day out is wanted.

Summer being the time of certain foods, it is also the time of year where blackberries are fruiting. As annoying as blackberries are as a plant and as a problem within Australia, it is nice to be able to find some blackberry plants with ripe fruit on it. Free is free. Just the fun of finding blackberry plants now if fruit is wanted.

Radigast

Radigast is a Slavic god, of hospitality, the sun, war, fertility, crops and the harvest. His name is also spelt Radegast, Redigast, Riedegost and Radogost. He carries with his a two-headed axe, a bulls head on his chest and wears a flying swan on his head. He is also thought to have invented beer.

Totem: Falcon

The falcon flies high and can change direction suddenly. A fast bird which looks for possibly prey on perch or within the skies, diving at it amazing speeds to capture its next meal.

Know how to recognize opportunities, and take them with knowledge of all possibilities of what is to come. The falcon teaches where to know opportunities and how to take them is in high regard to this bird.

Just as recognizing opportunities are taught, patience is of great importance. Just as one waits opportunities to arise, patience will be needed in the search. Going far with opportunities will not occur if one is impatient.

Chinese Lantern (Physalis alkekengi)

Physalis alkekengi is the botanical name of one of the plants with the common name of Chinese Lantern, this is due to the shape of the bright orange to red covering over its fruit resembling lanterns. It also has the common names of Bladder Cherry, Japanese Lantern and Winter Cherry.

A perennial plant, it grows typically between 40 and 90cm tall and spread of 60cm to 90cm. Full sun or partial shade will be needed, the soil can however be sand, loam or clay and alkaline neutral or acid. In dryer climates, watering will be needed.

Its fruit are alike to cherry tomatoes in appearance and are high in Vitamin C. However, if the fruit is unripe it can be poisonous. Flowers are white and appear in mid-summer.

As an ornamental plant, it should be kept well as it has an invasive nature thanks to its root system. Its root system allows for it to send up new shoots distance away from where it was originally grown.

New Year

The sun may have been blocked by the clouds late last year, but it currently shines down upon this newer year. 2012 may be a year of where it is claimed that the world shall end, yet alike to many other years the world was to end, the years events were able to live on, to be told to others. The only differences with this end of the world are how it is supposed to end and how seriously it is taken. As far as many justly view it, as 2012 comes to a close, 2013 shall arise from what the previous year gave it. Now is where people can simply watch as 2012 pass, where the events of the year are to be seen unfolding.