#sunflowers — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #sunflowers, aggregated by home.social.
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North: SUNFLOWER
plot of #sunflowers
bold and bright against green fields
they bask in the lightSouth: GLIMMER
gradual sunset
a #glimmer of light remains
before it grows dark -
North: SUNFLOWER
plot of #sunflowers
bold and bright against green fields
they bask in the lightSouth: GLIMMER
gradual sunset
a #glimmer of light remains
before it grows dark -
North: SUNFLOWER
plot of #sunflowers
bold and bright against green fields
they bask in the lightSouth: GLIMMER
gradual sunset
a #glimmer of light remains
before it grows dark -
North: SUNFLOWER
plot of #sunflowers
bold and bright against green fields
they bask in the lightSouth: GLIMMER
gradual sunset
a #glimmer of light remains
before it grows dark -
North: SUNFLOWER
plot of #sunflowers
bold and bright against green fields
they bask in the lightSouth: GLIMMER
gradual sunset
a #glimmer of light remains
before it grows dark -
A bumblebee-adorned sunflower displays both the beauty of summer and a meaningful message: #BeeKind
#bloomscrolling #flowers #sunflowers #FloraAndFauna #bee #BeKind #nature #NaturePhotography #SolaceInNature
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A bumblebee-adorned sunflower displays both the beauty of summer and a meaningful message: #BeeKind
#bloomscrolling #flowers #sunflowers #FloraAndFauna #bee #BeKind #nature #NaturePhotography #SolaceInNature
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Gardener Says a Neighbor Accused Her of Deliberately Growing Tall Plants to Spy Over the Fence, “She Said My Sunflowers Were Watching Her” https://www.allforgardening.com/1822890/gardener-says-a-neighbor-accused-her-of-deliberately-growing-tall-plants-to-spy-over-the-fence-she-said-my-sunflowers-were-watching-her/ #garden #gardener #gardening #hannah #sunflowers #TheSunflowers
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Gardener Says a Neighbor Accused Her of Deliberately Growing Tall Plants to Spy Over the Fence, “She Said My Sunflowers Were Watching Her” https://www.allforgardening.com/1822890/gardener-says-a-neighbor-accused-her-of-deliberately-growing-tall-plants-to-spy-over-the-fence-she-said-my-sunflowers-were-watching-her/ #garden #gardener #gardening #hannah #sunflowers #TheSunflowers
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Will no one help this poor fascist re-embrace his humanity?
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Will no one help this poor fascist re-embrace his humanity?
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Will no one help this poor fascist re-embrace his humanity?
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Will no one help this poor fascist re-embrace his humanity?
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Will no one help this poor fascist re-embrace his humanity?
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All plants planted out on what is likely to be the hottest day of the year. Already 29 degrees here in Herts. Unbelievable weather.
#Tomatoes 🍅
#Courgettes 🥒
#Melon 🍈
#RomanescoBroccoli 🥦
#Sunflowers 🌻
#Lettuce 🥬 -
All plants planted out on what is likely to be the hottest day of the year. Already 29 degrees here in Herts. Unbelievable weather.
#Tomatoes 🍅
#Courgettes 🥒
#Melon 🍈
#RomanescoBroccoli 🥦
#Sunflowers 🌻
#Lettuce 🥬 -
Gardeners urged to plant 5 different crops in May https://www.allforgardening.com/1772078/gardeners-urged-to-plant-5-different-crops-in-may/ #courgettes #Crops #dahlias #flowers #fruit #garden #gardening #GrowingPlants #lavender #PlantGrowing #PlantingAdvice #PlantingTips #plants #sunflowers #tomatoes #vegetables #WhatToPlantInGardensInMay
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Gardeners urged to plant 5 different crops in May https://www.allforgardening.com/1772078/gardeners-urged-to-plant-5-different-crops-in-may/ #courgettes #Crops #dahlias #flowers #fruit #garden #gardening #GrowingPlants #lavender #PlantGrowing #PlantingAdvice #PlantingTips #plants #sunflowers #tomatoes #vegetables #WhatToPlantInGardensInMay
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Transport Evolved Chicken and Garden Update: Catching Up! https://www.allforgardening.com/1747436/transport-evolved-chicken-and-garden-update-catching-up/ #AppleTree #Beans #CherryTree #chickens #courgettes #garden #GardenUpdate #gardening #garlic #gooseberries #Gophers #greenhouse #OregonGarden #peas #strawberries #sunflowers #tomatoes #TransportEvolved #VolunteerPotatoes #zucchini
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Transport Evolved Chicken and Garden Update: Catching Up! https://www.allforgardening.com/1747436/transport-evolved-chicken-and-garden-update-catching-up/ #AppleTree #Beans #CherryTree #chickens #courgettes #garden #GardenUpdate #gardening #garlic #gooseberries #Gophers #greenhouse #OregonGarden #peas #strawberries #sunflowers #tomatoes #TransportEvolved #VolunteerPotatoes #zucchini
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Wildflowers in an earthen vase placed on a sunny window sill, and their reflections on a cabinet nearby.
Oil painting on gessoed heavy paper, 22x22 cm.
#MastoArt #MastodonArt #FediArt #ArtBooster #StillLife #painting #FigurativePainting #SunFlowers #OilPainting #WindowFriday
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Sweet and Hot peppers, and a tray of Maximilian Sunflowers. Also some Shrubby St. John's wort that sprouted after spending a week alternating in the freezer and refrigerator with the sunflower seeds. Peppers were just thinned by the clippers...
#gardening #SeedStarting #GrowYourOwn #peppers #arugula #sunflowers #HelianthusMaximiliani #MaximilianSunflower #GrownFromSeed
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Sweet and Hot peppers, and a tray of Maximilian Sunflowers. Also some Shrubby St. John's wort that sprouted after spending a week alternating in the freezer and refrigerator with the sunflower seeds. Peppers were just thinned by the clippers...
#gardening #SeedStarting #GrowYourOwn #peppers #arugula #sunflowers #HelianthusMaximiliani #MaximilianSunflower #GrownFromSeed
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Could This #Arizona Ranch Be a Model for #Southwest Farmers?
Oatman Flats has undergone a dramatic transformation, becoming the Southwest’s first #Regenerative #Organic Certified farm and a potential source of ideas for weathering #ClimateChange.
" 'We embraced the abundance of #heirloom and native crops in the #SonoranDesert,' Hansen said. 'We are looking at the land and asking it what we should grow, rather than asking the land to grow what we want.' " - Dax Hansen, owner of Oatman Flats Ranch.
By Samuel Gilbert
May 12, 2025Excerpt: "Regeneration Rooted in #Indigenous Practices
"Southern Arizona’s rich agricultural history stretches back more than 5,000 years. By 600 CE, the Hohokam people were constructing North America’s largest and most elaborate irrigation systems along the Salt and Gila Rivers. The descendants of the Hohokam—the Pima and Tohono O’odham—continued to farm the land up to and after the arrival of the Spanish, who began to colonize southern Arizona in the 1600s. They continue to farm in Arizona today.
"At the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation, about two hours southeast of Oatman Flats, the San Xavier Co-op Farm uses historic land management practices and grows traditional crops that reflect their respect for the land, plants, animals, elders, and the sacredness of water.
"San Xavier Farm Manager Duran Andrews and his team plant #CoverCrops, rotate fields, and collect #rainwater.
" '[Regenerative agriculture] is nothing new to us,' Andrews said. 'We have been doing this for decades. Harmony between nature and people has been our approach all the time.' Rotating fields and cultivating multiple mutually beneficial species in the same fields improves water and soil quality and biodiversity in this harsh landscape.
" 'You’ve seen what the land looks like in five years; imagine it in 10. If we can do it here, we can do it anywhere.'
"The co-op grows a variety of native crops that were developed in the region and cultivated for centuries or, in some cases, millennia, such as grains and beans, which they sell online. 'We irrigate them till they sprout, then cut them off till the monsoon shows up,' Andrews said. 'We try to keep crops in that hardy state through all the years and decades they have been here. We try not to get away from how things were done in the past.'
"They also grow White Sonora wheat, introduced to Arizona by Spanish Jesuit missionaries in the 1600s. 'It was a gift from Father Kino that we have taken as our own,' Andrews said. 'The [San Xavier] community was one of the first to grow this wheat.'
"Following the Mexican-American War in the mid-1800s, the United States claimed parts of modern-day Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, and Utah. The Anglo ranchers who moved into the area dug canals to irrigate agricultural fields, transforming the landscape. An 1852 watercolor by surveyor Jon Russell Bartlett depicts a verdant valley with cottonwoods and mesquite trees lining a flowing Gila River as it passes through Oatman Flats Ranch.
"That landscape is unrecognizable today. The lower Gila has gone bone dry after years of upstream diversions, dams, water overuse, and climate change. In 2019, the Gila River earned the title of Most Endangered River by the nonprofit advocacy group American Rivers.
"Standing on the sandy Gila riverbed, which divides the north and south farms of Oatman Flats Ranch, Wang pointed to the nearby invasive salt cedars. Healing the land involves rebuilding the water, nutrient, and carbon cycles from the ground up, 'at the micro level,' he said. 'On the macro level, it’s broken.'
"The ranch team has poured resources into rebuilding soil health by planting #hedgerows and 30-plus species of cover crops, at a cost of approximately $100,000. The hedgerows, mostly native trees, were planted along the edges of the fields to reduce erosion and provide habitat for beneficial species, including #pollinators such as #bees and #hummingbirds.
"The cover crops — #millet, #chickpeas, #sunflowers, #sorghum, sudan grass, broadleaves, and #NativeGrasses among them—are planted immediately after harvesting wheat, to provide 'soil armor,' help conserve water, fix nitrogen in the soil, suppress weeds, attract beneficial insects, and sequester carbon. The once-barren land now supports life for more than 120 species of flora and fauna."
Read more:
https://civileats.com/2025/05/12/could-this-arizona-ranch-be-a-model-for-southwest-farmers/#SolarPunkSunday #RegenerativeAgriculture #RegenerativeFarming #RestorativeAgriculture #ClimateChangeFarming
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Could This #Arizona Ranch Be a Model for #Southwest Farmers?
Oatman Flats has undergone a dramatic transformation, becoming the Southwest’s first #Regenerative #Organic Certified farm and a potential source of ideas for weathering #ClimateChange.
" 'We embraced the abundance of #heirloom and native crops in the #SonoranDesert,' Hansen said. 'We are looking at the land and asking it what we should grow, rather than asking the land to grow what we want.' " - Dax Hansen, owner of Oatman Flats Ranch.
By Samuel Gilbert
May 12, 2025Excerpt: "Regeneration Rooted in #Indigenous Practices
"Southern Arizona’s rich agricultural history stretches back more than 5,000 years. By 600 CE, the Hohokam people were constructing North America’s largest and most elaborate irrigation systems along the Salt and Gila Rivers. The descendants of the Hohokam—the Pima and Tohono O’odham—continued to farm the land up to and after the arrival of the Spanish, who began to colonize southern Arizona in the 1600s. They continue to farm in Arizona today.
"At the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation, about two hours southeast of Oatman Flats, the San Xavier Co-op Farm uses historic land management practices and grows traditional crops that reflect their respect for the land, plants, animals, elders, and the sacredness of water.
"San Xavier Farm Manager Duran Andrews and his team plant #CoverCrops, rotate fields, and collect #rainwater.
" '[Regenerative agriculture] is nothing new to us,' Andrews said. 'We have been doing this for decades. Harmony between nature and people has been our approach all the time.' Rotating fields and cultivating multiple mutually beneficial species in the same fields improves water and soil quality and biodiversity in this harsh landscape.
" 'You’ve seen what the land looks like in five years; imagine it in 10. If we can do it here, we can do it anywhere.'
"The co-op grows a variety of native crops that were developed in the region and cultivated for centuries or, in some cases, millennia, such as grains and beans, which they sell online. 'We irrigate them till they sprout, then cut them off till the monsoon shows up,' Andrews said. 'We try to keep crops in that hardy state through all the years and decades they have been here. We try not to get away from how things were done in the past.'
"They also grow White Sonora wheat, introduced to Arizona by Spanish Jesuit missionaries in the 1600s. 'It was a gift from Father Kino that we have taken as our own,' Andrews said. 'The [San Xavier] community was one of the first to grow this wheat.'
"Following the Mexican-American War in the mid-1800s, the United States claimed parts of modern-day Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, and Utah. The Anglo ranchers who moved into the area dug canals to irrigate agricultural fields, transforming the landscape. An 1852 watercolor by surveyor Jon Russell Bartlett depicts a verdant valley with cottonwoods and mesquite trees lining a flowing Gila River as it passes through Oatman Flats Ranch.
"That landscape is unrecognizable today. The lower Gila has gone bone dry after years of upstream diversions, dams, water overuse, and climate change. In 2019, the Gila River earned the title of Most Endangered River by the nonprofit advocacy group American Rivers.
"Standing on the sandy Gila riverbed, which divides the north and south farms of Oatman Flats Ranch, Wang pointed to the nearby invasive salt cedars. Healing the land involves rebuilding the water, nutrient, and carbon cycles from the ground up, 'at the micro level,' he said. 'On the macro level, it’s broken.'
"The ranch team has poured resources into rebuilding soil health by planting #hedgerows and 30-plus species of cover crops, at a cost of approximately $100,000. The hedgerows, mostly native trees, were planted along the edges of the fields to reduce erosion and provide habitat for beneficial species, including #pollinators such as #bees and #hummingbirds.
"The cover crops — #millet, #chickpeas, #sunflowers, #sorghum, sudan grass, broadleaves, and #NativeGrasses among them—are planted immediately after harvesting wheat, to provide 'soil armor,' help conserve water, fix nitrogen in the soil, suppress weeds, attract beneficial insects, and sequester carbon. The once-barren land now supports life for more than 120 species of flora and fauna."
Read more:
https://civileats.com/2025/05/12/could-this-arizona-ranch-be-a-model-for-southwest-farmers/#SolarPunkSunday #RegenerativeAgriculture #RegenerativeFarming #RestorativeAgriculture #ClimateChangeFarming
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#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.# 121
Some mites ‘synchronise’ their lives with #bumblebees.
They attach to a new queen in autumn (as the other #bees don’t survive the winter) hibernate with her, and then colonise the new nest she starts the following spring.
🤯🐝
#nature
#sunflowers
#pollinators
#insects
#biodiversity
#wildlife
#beesanctuary -
#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.# 121
Some mites ‘synchronise’ their lives with #bumblebees.
They attach to a new queen in autumn (as the other #bees don’t survive the winter) hibernate with her, and then colonise the new nest she starts the following spring.
🤯🐝
#nature
#sunflowers
#pollinators
#insects
#biodiversity
#wildlife
#beesanctuary -
Sunflowers will be ‘healthy and tall’ this summer using gardeners method https://www.allforgardening.com/1299124/sunflowers-will-be-healthy-and-tall-this-summer-using-gardeners-method/ #BeeFriendlyPlants #ExpertGardener #flowers #garden #GardenAdvice #gardening #GrowingTips #MayGardening #plants #SummerGarden #SunflowerGardening #SunflowerVarieties #sunflowers
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Sunflowers will be ‘healthy and tall’ this summer using gardeners method https://www.allforgardening.com/1299124/sunflowers-will-be-healthy-and-tall-this-summer-using-gardeners-method/ #BeeFriendlyPlants #ExpertGardener #flowers #garden #GardenAdvice #gardening #GrowingTips #MayGardening #plants #SummerGarden #SunflowerGardening #SunflowerVarieties #sunflowers
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Summer Soulmates inspired by the hot weather that has engulfed Florida and all of the beautiful flowers popping up!
ART
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/summer-soulmates-sunflower-art-sharon-cummings.html#sunflower #sunflowers #flower #flowers #floral #floralart #yellow #soulmates #love #romance #romantic #romanticgift #fedigiftshop #spring #springtime #summer #summertime #handmade #handmadeart #painting #paintings #garden #gardens #gardening #gardener #buyintoart by #SharonCummingsArt #joy #happiness #creative #creativity
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Summer Soulmates inspired by the hot weather that has engulfed Florida and all of the beautiful flowers popping up!
ART
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/summer-soulmates-sunflower-art-sharon-cummings.html#sunflower #sunflowers #flower #flowers #floral #floralart #yellow #soulmates #love #romance #romantic #romanticgift #fedigiftshop #spring #springtime #summer #summertime #handmade #handmadeart #painting #paintings #garden #gardens #gardening #gardener #buyintoart by #SharonCummingsArt #joy #happiness #creative #creativity
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Girasoles al atardecer | Sunflowers at sunset.
#sunflowers #sunflower #landscape #landscapephotography #sunset #sunsetsky #sunsetskies #nature #naturephotography #naturephoto #landscapephoto #landscapelovers #summer #hdrphotography #clouds #SunsetClouds #photography #photographer #photo #photographylovers #fediphotography #mastodonphotography #photographyonmastodon #picoftheday #photooftheday #sunsetcolors #summersky #HDRphoto @photography
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#Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff
Cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
by Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez and Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, The Conversation
2/17/2024, 7:08 AM
"Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways, over 12 weeks extracting 52 percent more #phosphorus and 36 percent more #nitrogen than the natural nitrogen cycle removes from untreated water, according to our new research. In addition to filtering water, the cut flowers can generate income via the multibillion-dollar floral market.
"In our trials of various flowers, giant #marigolds stood out as the most successful, producing long, marketable stems and large blooms. Their yield matched typical flower farm production.
Why it matters
"Water pollution is caused in large part by runoff from #farms, urban #lawns, and even #septic tanks. When it rains, excess phosphorus, nitrogen, and other chemicals wash into #lakes and #rivers.
"These nutrients feed #algae, leading to widespread and harmful #AlgaeBlooms, which can severely lower oxygen in water, creating 'dead zones' where aquatic life cannot survive. Nutrient runoff is a critical issue as urban areas expand, affecting the health of water #ecosystems.
"Water pollution is an escalating crisis in our area of Miami-Dade and Broward counties in #Florida. The 2020 #BiscayneBay fish kill, the largest mass death of aquatic life on record for the region, serves as a stark reminder of this growing environmental issue.
How we do our work
"We study sustainable agriculture and water pollution in South Florida.
"Inspired by traditional floating farm practices, including the #Aztecs’ #chinampas in Mexico and the #Miccosukees’ tree island settlements in Florida, we tested the idea of growing cut flowers on floating rafts as a way to remove excess nutrients from waterways. Our hope was not only that the flowers would pay for themselves, but that they could provide jobs here in Miami, the center of the US cut-flower trade.
"We floated 4-by-6-foot (1.2-by-1.8-meter) mats of inexpensive polyethylene foam called Beemats in 620-gallon (2,300-liter) outdoor test tanks that mirrored water conditions of nearby polluted waterways. Into the mats, we transplanted flower seedlings, including #zinnias, #sunflowers, and giant marigolds. The polluted tank water was rich in nutrients, eliminating the need for any fertilizer. As the seedlings matured into plants over 12 weeks, we tracked the tanks’ improving water quality.
"Encouraged by the success of the marigolds in our tanks, we moved our trials to the nearby canals of Coral Gables and Little River. We anchored the floating platforms with 50-pound (22.7-kilogram) weights and also tied them to shore for extra stability. No alterations to the landscape were needed, making the process simple and doable.
What still isn’t known
"The success of the giant marigolds might be linked to the extra roots that grow from their stems known as adventitious roots. These roots likely help keep the plants stable on the floating platforms. Identifying additional plants with roots like these could help broaden plant choices.
"Future raft designs may also need modifications to ensure better stability and growth for other cut-flower and crop species.
What’s next
"Our promising findings show floating cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
"One of us (Locke-Rodriguez) is expanding this research and working to scale up floating farms in South Florida as a demonstration of what could take place in the many locations facing similar issues worldwide.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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#Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff
Cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
by Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez and Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, The Conversation
2/17/2024, 7:08 AM
"Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways, over 12 weeks extracting 52 percent more #phosphorus and 36 percent more #nitrogen than the natural nitrogen cycle removes from untreated water, according to our new research. In addition to filtering water, the cut flowers can generate income via the multibillion-dollar floral market.
"In our trials of various flowers, giant #marigolds stood out as the most successful, producing long, marketable stems and large blooms. Their yield matched typical flower farm production.
Why it matters
"Water pollution is caused in large part by runoff from #farms, urban #lawns, and even #septic tanks. When it rains, excess phosphorus, nitrogen, and other chemicals wash into #lakes and #rivers.
"These nutrients feed #algae, leading to widespread and harmful #AlgaeBlooms, which can severely lower oxygen in water, creating 'dead zones' where aquatic life cannot survive. Nutrient runoff is a critical issue as urban areas expand, affecting the health of water #ecosystems.
"Water pollution is an escalating crisis in our area of Miami-Dade and Broward counties in #Florida. The 2020 #BiscayneBay fish kill, the largest mass death of aquatic life on record for the region, serves as a stark reminder of this growing environmental issue.
How we do our work
"We study sustainable agriculture and water pollution in South Florida.
"Inspired by traditional floating farm practices, including the #Aztecs’ #chinampas in Mexico and the #Miccosukees’ tree island settlements in Florida, we tested the idea of growing cut flowers on floating rafts as a way to remove excess nutrients from waterways. Our hope was not only that the flowers would pay for themselves, but that they could provide jobs here in Miami, the center of the US cut-flower trade.
"We floated 4-by-6-foot (1.2-by-1.8-meter) mats of inexpensive polyethylene foam called Beemats in 620-gallon (2,300-liter) outdoor test tanks that mirrored water conditions of nearby polluted waterways. Into the mats, we transplanted flower seedlings, including #zinnias, #sunflowers, and giant marigolds. The polluted tank water was rich in nutrients, eliminating the need for any fertilizer. As the seedlings matured into plants over 12 weeks, we tracked the tanks’ improving water quality.
"Encouraged by the success of the marigolds in our tanks, we moved our trials to the nearby canals of Coral Gables and Little River. We anchored the floating platforms with 50-pound (22.7-kilogram) weights and also tied them to shore for extra stability. No alterations to the landscape were needed, making the process simple and doable.
What still isn’t known
"The success of the giant marigolds might be linked to the extra roots that grow from their stems known as adventitious roots. These roots likely help keep the plants stable on the floating platforms. Identifying additional plants with roots like these could help broaden plant choices.
"Future raft designs may also need modifications to ensure better stability and growth for other cut-flower and crop species.
What’s next
"Our promising findings show floating cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
"One of us (Locke-Rodriguez) is expanding this research and working to scale up floating farms in South Florida as a demonstration of what could take place in the many locations facing similar issues worldwide.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
-
#Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff
Cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
by Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez and Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, The Conversation
2/17/2024, 7:08 AM
"Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways, over 12 weeks extracting 52 percent more #phosphorus and 36 percent more #nitrogen than the natural nitrogen cycle removes from untreated water, according to our new research. In addition to filtering water, the cut flowers can generate income via the multibillion-dollar floral market.
"In our trials of various flowers, giant #marigolds stood out as the most successful, producing long, marketable stems and large blooms. Their yield matched typical flower farm production.
Why it matters
"Water pollution is caused in large part by runoff from #farms, urban #lawns, and even #septic tanks. When it rains, excess phosphorus, nitrogen, and other chemicals wash into #lakes and #rivers.
"These nutrients feed #algae, leading to widespread and harmful #AlgaeBlooms, which can severely lower oxygen in water, creating 'dead zones' where aquatic life cannot survive. Nutrient runoff is a critical issue as urban areas expand, affecting the health of water #ecosystems.
"Water pollution is an escalating crisis in our area of Miami-Dade and Broward counties in #Florida. The 2020 #BiscayneBay fish kill, the largest mass death of aquatic life on record for the region, serves as a stark reminder of this growing environmental issue.
How we do our work
"We study sustainable agriculture and water pollution in South Florida.
"Inspired by traditional floating farm practices, including the #Aztecs’ #chinampas in Mexico and the #Miccosukees’ tree island settlements in Florida, we tested the idea of growing cut flowers on floating rafts as a way to remove excess nutrients from waterways. Our hope was not only that the flowers would pay for themselves, but that they could provide jobs here in Miami, the center of the US cut-flower trade.
"We floated 4-by-6-foot (1.2-by-1.8-meter) mats of inexpensive polyethylene foam called Beemats in 620-gallon (2,300-liter) outdoor test tanks that mirrored water conditions of nearby polluted waterways. Into the mats, we transplanted flower seedlings, including #zinnias, #sunflowers, and giant marigolds. The polluted tank water was rich in nutrients, eliminating the need for any fertilizer. As the seedlings matured into plants over 12 weeks, we tracked the tanks’ improving water quality.
"Encouraged by the success of the marigolds in our tanks, we moved our trials to the nearby canals of Coral Gables and Little River. We anchored the floating platforms with 50-pound (22.7-kilogram) weights and also tied them to shore for extra stability. No alterations to the landscape were needed, making the process simple and doable.
What still isn’t known
"The success of the giant marigolds might be linked to the extra roots that grow from their stems known as adventitious roots. These roots likely help keep the plants stable on the floating platforms. Identifying additional plants with roots like these could help broaden plant choices.
"Future raft designs may also need modifications to ensure better stability and growth for other cut-flower and crop species.
What’s next
"Our promising findings show floating cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
"One of us (Locke-Rodriguez) is expanding this research and working to scale up floating farms in South Florida as a demonstration of what could take place in the many locations facing similar issues worldwide.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
-
#Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff
Cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
by Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez and Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, The Conversation
2/17/2024, 7:08 AM
"Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways, over 12 weeks extracting 52 percent more #phosphorus and 36 percent more #nitrogen than the natural nitrogen cycle removes from untreated water, according to our new research. In addition to filtering water, the cut flowers can generate income via the multibillion-dollar floral market.
"In our trials of various flowers, giant #marigolds stood out as the most successful, producing long, marketable stems and large blooms. Their yield matched typical flower farm production.
Why it matters
"Water pollution is caused in large part by runoff from #farms, urban #lawns, and even #septic tanks. When it rains, excess phosphorus, nitrogen, and other chemicals wash into #lakes and #rivers.
"These nutrients feed #algae, leading to widespread and harmful #AlgaeBlooms, which can severely lower oxygen in water, creating 'dead zones' where aquatic life cannot survive. Nutrient runoff is a critical issue as urban areas expand, affecting the health of water #ecosystems.
"Water pollution is an escalating crisis in our area of Miami-Dade and Broward counties in #Florida. The 2020 #BiscayneBay fish kill, the largest mass death of aquatic life on record for the region, serves as a stark reminder of this growing environmental issue.
How we do our work
"We study sustainable agriculture and water pollution in South Florida.
"Inspired by traditional floating farm practices, including the #Aztecs’ #chinampas in Mexico and the #Miccosukees’ tree island settlements in Florida, we tested the idea of growing cut flowers on floating rafts as a way to remove excess nutrients from waterways. Our hope was not only that the flowers would pay for themselves, but that they could provide jobs here in Miami, the center of the US cut-flower trade.
"We floated 4-by-6-foot (1.2-by-1.8-meter) mats of inexpensive polyethylene foam called Beemats in 620-gallon (2,300-liter) outdoor test tanks that mirrored water conditions of nearby polluted waterways. Into the mats, we transplanted flower seedlings, including #zinnias, #sunflowers, and giant marigolds. The polluted tank water was rich in nutrients, eliminating the need for any fertilizer. As the seedlings matured into plants over 12 weeks, we tracked the tanks’ improving water quality.
"Encouraged by the success of the marigolds in our tanks, we moved our trials to the nearby canals of Coral Gables and Little River. We anchored the floating platforms with 50-pound (22.7-kilogram) weights and also tied them to shore for extra stability. No alterations to the landscape were needed, making the process simple and doable.
What still isn’t known
"The success of the giant marigolds might be linked to the extra roots that grow from their stems known as adventitious roots. These roots likely help keep the plants stable on the floating platforms. Identifying additional plants with roots like these could help broaden plant choices.
"Future raft designs may also need modifications to ensure better stability and growth for other cut-flower and crop species.
What’s next
"Our promising findings show floating cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
"One of us (Locke-Rodriguez) is expanding this research and working to scale up floating farms in South Florida as a demonstration of what could take place in the many locations facing similar issues worldwide.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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#Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff
Cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
by Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez and Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, The Conversation
2/17/2024, 7:08 AM
"Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways, over 12 weeks extracting 52 percent more #phosphorus and 36 percent more #nitrogen than the natural nitrogen cycle removes from untreated water, according to our new research. In addition to filtering water, the cut flowers can generate income via the multibillion-dollar floral market.
"In our trials of various flowers, giant #marigolds stood out as the most successful, producing long, marketable stems and large blooms. Their yield matched typical flower farm production.
Why it matters
"Water pollution is caused in large part by runoff from #farms, urban #lawns, and even #septic tanks. When it rains, excess phosphorus, nitrogen, and other chemicals wash into #lakes and #rivers.
"These nutrients feed #algae, leading to widespread and harmful #AlgaeBlooms, which can severely lower oxygen in water, creating 'dead zones' where aquatic life cannot survive. Nutrient runoff is a critical issue as urban areas expand, affecting the health of water #ecosystems.
"Water pollution is an escalating crisis in our area of Miami-Dade and Broward counties in #Florida. The 2020 #BiscayneBay fish kill, the largest mass death of aquatic life on record for the region, serves as a stark reminder of this growing environmental issue.
How we do our work
"We study sustainable agriculture and water pollution in South Florida.
"Inspired by traditional floating farm practices, including the #Aztecs’ #chinampas in Mexico and the #Miccosukees’ tree island settlements in Florida, we tested the idea of growing cut flowers on floating rafts as a way to remove excess nutrients from waterways. Our hope was not only that the flowers would pay for themselves, but that they could provide jobs here in Miami, the center of the US cut-flower trade.
"We floated 4-by-6-foot (1.2-by-1.8-meter) mats of inexpensive polyethylene foam called Beemats in 620-gallon (2,300-liter) outdoor test tanks that mirrored water conditions of nearby polluted waterways. Into the mats, we transplanted flower seedlings, including #zinnias, #sunflowers, and giant marigolds. The polluted tank water was rich in nutrients, eliminating the need for any fertilizer. As the seedlings matured into plants over 12 weeks, we tracked the tanks’ improving water quality.
"Encouraged by the success of the marigolds in our tanks, we moved our trials to the nearby canals of Coral Gables and Little River. We anchored the floating platforms with 50-pound (22.7-kilogram) weights and also tied them to shore for extra stability. No alterations to the landscape were needed, making the process simple and doable.
What still isn’t known
"The success of the giant marigolds might be linked to the extra roots that grow from their stems known as adventitious roots. These roots likely help keep the plants stable on the floating platforms. Identifying additional plants with roots like these could help broaden plant choices.
"Future raft designs may also need modifications to ensure better stability and growth for other cut-flower and crop species.
What’s next
"Our promising findings show floating cut-flower farms could be a sustainable option for mitigating water pollution.
"One of us (Locke-Rodriguez) is expanding this research and working to scale up floating farms in South Florida as a demonstration of what could take place in the many locations facing similar issues worldwide.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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Floral Friday Therapy - Watch our colourful flower videos and chill. These are just some quick snapshots from my walks and flower shopping. (Not works of art) Hope you can get out there this weekend and enjoy some flowers! Have a great weekend everyone!
#floraltherapy #flowertherapy #flowerpower #naturetherapy
#orangeflowers #yellowflowers #daisies #sunflowers #sunflowerseason #sunflowerlove #sunflowerphotography #lilies #beautifulflowers #exploremoretoday #appreciatenature #falliscomingsoon -
Floral Friday Therapy - Watch our colourful flower videos and chill. These are just some quick snapshots from my walks and flower shopping. (Not works of art) Hope you can get out there this weekend and enjoy some flowers! Have a great weekend everyone!
#floraltherapy #flowertherapy #flowerpower #naturetherapy
#orangeflowers #yellowflowers #daisies #sunflowers #sunflowerseason #sunflowerlove #sunflowerphotography #lilies #beautifulflowers #exploremoretoday #appreciatenature #falliscomingsoon -
Sunset Among The Sunflowers
Old fashion things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.
All my prints and canvases in my Etsy Store are 10% off. Free Shipping!! No code needed 🙂
👇
https://www.etsy.com/shop/JordanHillPhoto#etsy #jordanhillphoto #etsyfinds #etsygifts #etsysale #etsycoupon #shopsmall #SunflowerLand #sunflowers #flowers
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Sunset Among The Sunflowers
Old fashion things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.
All my prints and canvases in my Etsy Store are 10% off. Free Shipping!! No code needed 🙂
👇
https://www.etsy.com/shop/JordanHillPhoto#etsy #jordanhillphoto #etsyfinds #etsygifts #etsysale #etsycoupon #shopsmall #SunflowerLand #sunflowers #flowers