Marsh Mallows & Peeing in a Jar

In the past couple years, I’ve really gotten into gardening and there’s a nursery that I frequent. Recently I went there and over heard a woman asking for ‘marshmallows’. She needed them in some recipe she was creating. The clerk acted like the woman was crazy and abruptly told her that she was in a nursery not a grocery store. Then she laughed and directed the woman to the aisle that held them.

This is the flower the woman was looking for and they indeed are called ‘Marsh Mallows.’ Scientific name- Althaea Officianalis. The flower was imported from the Europe to the U.S. for their ‘sovereign remedy and scent.’ Translation: their roots are used for their flavor in foods (especially Chinese foods) and medicinal purposes. They’re apparently great for digestion and for your skin.

The second thing I wanted to mention is an old time ‘gardening remedy’ I discovered. Martha Marshall thought it was funny and told me she planned to put ‘Vikki‘s’ recipe on her blog- so I thought I’d fess up first.

One of the biggest issues I have with my garden is ‘dog walkers.’ It’s mandatory in most California counties that dog walkers use bags and pooper scoopers, but that does nothing to keep pooches from peeing on plants. There are all kinds of (expensive) spray deterrents you can buy, but they’re full of chemicals I don’t want in my garden.

So I found an old time country recipe that actually works. All the ingredients are in your kitchen and handy. It should be called ‘fight fire with fire’ but instead it’s called:

Magic Critter Repellant Recipe
4 tbsp of castor oil (or olive oil)
4 tbsp of dishwashing liquid
4 tbsp of lemon juice (optional)
2 cloves of garlic or a quarter onion chopped fine.
2 quarts of warm water
1/2 cup of human pee. (Yes- pee in a jar!)
Cover it and let it sit overnight. Stir it up and sprinkler around the borders (one foot distance) of plants (not on plants).

We can’t smell it BUT you wouldn’t believe the look on the dog’s faces when they get a whiff! They want nothing to do with you or your property! Just don’t tell your neighbors about the recipe.

This also works for deer, squirrel, gophers (just pour it down the gopher hole) and other 4 legged critters.

I’d love to hear your ‘old time remedies’. Do you have any real ‘secret ones’ that you’re brave enough to tell me?

Vikki

The painting is called Marsh Mallow and my weekend project. The flowers are white with reflected tones. (Photographing white is always problematic. I promise it will be 'color correct' in my gallery.)

Marsh Mallow is 12”x16”, acrylic on unstretched canvas. And if you haven’t,-please visit The Red Chair Gallery.