[Sacred Succulents] Solstice!

[benkamm at monitor.net]

(do not ?reply? to this email, send all correspondence to - 
sacredsucculents at hushmail.com )

Solstice greetings,
We already find ourselves here at the Summer Solstice, the longest day of 
the year in all its radiant splendor. 
To celebrate, our Polylepis australis trees have flowered for the first 
time. See attached photos. 
 It is heartening to know that this endangered high altitude tree from 
Argentina is readily adaptable to low elevations and can bloom in just 3 
years from seed. We encourage everyone to try growing this uniquely 
beautiful small tree, which is still on sale this week.
Our spring plant sale officially ends today, however we will honor the 
sale prices for any orders that are post marked this week!

We will have some of our plants and seeds available at an event our 
colleague Caroline Casey is hosting tomorrow night (June 22) in Santa 
Rosa, CA. She offers her unique wit and wisdom to help us clarify our 
collective perspective and better offer ourselves to the pulse of life at 
this auspicious time of year. Caroline has the Visionary Activist show 
each week on KPFA radio and has long been a reverent supporter of all 
things green and growing. 
See 
http://www.coyotenetworknews.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=23&idproduct=666 
  Come to the event and say hello...

For those that want a more intimate evening to fully experience the wonder 
that is Caroline, she?s holding a Solstice Soiree tonight in Sebastopol.
See 
http://www.coyotenetworknews.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=23&idproduct=667 
 for full info.

Another email will fallow shortly listing our increasing number of new 
seasonal offerings...

Sacred Succulents Spring Sale Ends!
The sale on the following officially ends today on the Summer Solstice, 
however we will honor the prices for any orders that are post marked this 
week. 
You can print out an order form- 
http://www.sacredsucculents.com/orderform.pdf and mail it with payment to 
our Po Box

Betula utilis CC5763 ?Bhojapatra? ?Himalayan Birch?
Betulaceae. A gorgeous medium sized birch tree 20?35' tall. Exceptional 
gold and copper peeling bark. The leaves turn a rich yellow and defoliate 
in Autumn. From seed collected by Chadwell at 12,500' Langtang, Nepal, 
just south of the Tibetan border. An important tree, the bark is used for 
wound healing and as a carminative. In India the resin is reportededly 
used as a contraceptive. It is widely used for construction, and the tree 
is now considered endangered in some regions due to deforestation. Easy to 
grow, does well in most soils. Z7a      12?18"+ plant, 2 years old $7.50 
or 2 for $13  Sale Price $6.25 or 3 for $17 

Desfontainia spinosa ?Taique? ?Borrachero?
Desfontainiaceae. Highly ornamental evergreen shrub. Holly-like leaves, 1" 
tubular red flowers with yellow tips, yellow-green fruits. Rare throughout 
its range from the Columbian Andes south to Chile. Considered a monotypic 
species with a family all its own, yet our perusal of herbarium specimens 
in Peru suggest to us that either the plant exhibits extreme morphological 
plasticity or there?s more than one species. We first encountered this 
awesome plant in 1996 in Cusco, Peru between the ruins of Sayacmarca and 
Runkurakay at 12,500'. Used as an ethnomedicinal inebrient, possibly a 
delirient entheogen. The chemistry is poorly understood. Easy to grow, in 
full sun it stays a bush to 6', in part shade it can reach 15' or more. 
Well drained rich acid soil. Drought tolerant once established, but 
prefers ample water. We offer Chilean clones. Z8b              6"+ plant 
$14.50 Sale Price $12.50 or 2 for $22

Disporum cantoniense ex DJHC 729
Liliaceae. From underground rhizomes arise asparagus like stalks 
rich-purple in color and 3?6' tall. Lanceolate leaves, cream colored 
tubular flowers, black-purple berries. Our mother plants are from Hinkley 
collections in China. A forest understory plant that is a giant relative 
to our native fairy bells. The rhizome is used for fever and the young 
shoots cooked as a vegetable like asparagus. Rich moist soil and part to 
full shade. Z6a       Plant 2+ years old $7.50 Sale Price $6

Fabiana viscosa
Solanaceae. Shrub to 3' with small sticky cylindrical leaves. Tubular 
yellow flowers cover the plant. Occurs up to 6,500' in Region 3 & 4, 
Chile. Another beautiful and bizarre erica-like tobacco relative. 
Medicinal, aromatic and possibly psychoactive. Drought hardy. Z9a 8?12"+ 
plant 1+ years old $9.50  Sale Price $7.50 or 2 for $14

Lycium oxyrocarpum ?Wolwedoring? ?Honey-thorn?
Solanaceae. Upright thorned shrub. Lanceolate leaves, violet flowers and 
orange red edible berries. This is another interesting species of 
?gojiberry? worthy of more research. The roots are used for backache and 
reproductive health. Drought hardy. Z8a     8?12" plant 1+ years old $8.50 
Sale Price $7

Polylepis australis ?Kewina?
Rosaceae. Gorgeous small tree with peeling golden bark and often gnarled 
twisted trunks. Smooth to fuzzy pinnate leaves with 5?7 leaflets, small 
reddish flowers. The southernmost species of this Andean genus, occuring 
all the way into the Cordoba mountains of central Argentina. A keystone 
species of the high Andean forests which are recognised as being one of 
the most endangered forest ecosystems in the world. Polylepis are used 
medicinally for lung issues. So far they seem quite adaptable to low 
elevation cultivation. Z4b?5a            Treelet 6?12"+ 2 years old $15 
Sale Price $12.50 or 2 for $20 or 3 for $27.50

Rhaphithamnus spinosus
Verbenaceae. Unusual and alluring shrub 5?20'. Young branches are spiny 
and it boasts a generous profusion of tubular lavender flowers followed by 
glossy purple fruits that are edible and said to be tasty. The foliage 
turns an inciting purple during Winter. Z7b     8"+ plant 1+ years old $10 
 Sale Price $8 or 2 for $14

Trichocereus sp. Torres & Torres
Cactaceae. Dark green upright stems to 12'+ in height and 6"+ in diameter. 
Small, stout, amber colored spines. Similar to T. pachanoi. From material 
collected by archaeologist Manuel Torres & his wife Donna in the northern 
part of central Chile. Z9a                                  6"+ cutting 
$14 Sale Price $12

Tropaeolum tuberosum v. lineamaculatum ?Ken Aslet? ?Mashua? ?Añu?
Tropaeolaceae. Cream colored grub-like tubers with purple speckles, to 6" 
long. Annual climbing stems to 8', rounded lobed leaves. Tubular 
bright-orange flowers. A close relative to the garden nasturtium. Easy to 
grow, highly ornamental, pest resistant and repellent. The tubers are 
cooked like potatoes and can have a slight peppery flavor. Shown to reduce 
testosterone with regular consumption. This is a rare but widespread 
horticultural selection that is productive in a variety of situations and 
daylengths. Z7a when mulched.       Plant $9.50 Sale Price $7.50 

Valeriana jatamansi (= V. wallichii) ?Indain Valerian? ?Mushkbala?
Valerianaceae. A delightful low growing plant with basal rosettes of soft 
heart shaped leaves. 12" flower stalk with small white flowers. Native to 
the temperate forests of the western Himalayas into the mountains of 
Afghanistan up to 10,000'. The plant has a sweet aroma and is a source of 
the legendary Spikenard oil. The rhizomes are rich in valepotriates, 
reported to be effective for leprosy. It also has sedative actions like 
other valerian species. Does best in part shade and moist soil. Z7b        
   Plant 2 years old $8.50 Sale Price $7 or 2 for $12.50

SHIPPING & HANDLING:
Plants (USA only)? First class priority mail= $6.00 for the first plant 
$1.50 each additional plant.
Add $1 per plant if you want them sent potted.
CA RESIDENTS ADD 8.25% SALES TAX
We still only take Cash (USD$ or Euros), Money Orders, or Checks.
You can print out an order form- 
http://www.sacredsucculents.com/orderform.pdf and mail it with payment to 
our Po Box
SACRED SUCCULENTS
PO Box 781, Sebastopol, CA 95473 USA
Email: sacredsucculents at hushmail.com
http://www.sacredsucculents.com
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