Ants Growing Plants

Hi, we're the Ant System! This is our plantblr. Main blog: TheThingyThing

[antsgrowingplants]

we've been meaning to make an intro post for a while so here we got.

we're the Ant System, a DID system from the UK, and back in 2021 we were gifted a bunch of plants which led to us growing even more plants, so we made a blog for it.

some plants belong to the system as a whole and others belong to specific alters, with the general rule being that whoever planted/propagated a plant now owns it unless they choose to give it to someone else.

here's a list of all the plants so far and who they belong to:

whole system - planter 1, planter 2, crassula ovata, watch chain plant, coriander attempt 1*, cucamelon attempt 1*, lemon tree*, pansies*, pitcher plant, haworthiopsis limifolia, the garden, polka dot plant 3

🦋 - haworthia cooperi, haworthia cooperi prop 1, haworthia cooperi prop 2

M - haworthia prop 1, haworthia prop 2

🍬 - cobweb houseleek, solanum uporo, ranunculus attempt 1*, roses, potentilla indica, × Fatshedera lizei

Mellea - physalis*, the mushroom orb, lavender attempt 1*

Daniel - jellybean props, crassula prop 1

D - polka dot seedlings attempt 1*

(*plants with an asterisk are ones we no longer have)

[theplanthropologist]

I have decided to start a new series for this blog: Arboretum Tuesdays! In these posts I’ll show you some of the work we do with California native plants and seeds at the arb. (More under the cut)

Today we got to plant some seeds that had been collected recently. We planted 3 flats of Elegant Clarkia (C.unguiculata) and 1 flat of Withered Snapdragon (A.thompsonii) We also got to process the seeds for a honeysuckle plant. Honeysuckle seeds are encased in small fruits, so the fruits must be dried and then carefully picked apart to extract the seeds. All of the prepared seeds got a nice layer of small lava rocks over them to ensure that the soil retained moisture. The cold weather is causing the seeds to sprout quickly, with some of the clarkias that were planted five days ago already sprouting.

[theplanthropologist]

One of my students has designed and started a super cool community-based botanical restoration project. We are growing a bunch of different local native plants for distribution to the community and many of them are sprouting now after the rain.

Top Left: Coyote Mint (M.villosa)

Top Right: Telegraph Weed (H.grandiflora)

Bottom Left: Wooly Breeches (A.spectabilis)

Bottom Right: Hummingbird Sage (S.spathacea)

[oh-he-grows]

harvesting one single lemongrass plant before it freezes

[petula-xx]

The first propagation station of the season is ready to begin!

Some more damp paper towel on top, close the lid and let the growing begin.

I like to pre-sprout my seeds. That way I know that I'm only planting 100% fertile seeds.

Everything except the cucumber is my own saved seed stocks.

[oh-he-grows]

I don't know where I'm going to put a cactus but I swear to protect this little guy

[oh-he-grows]

No matter what, I can always count on my peppers ❤️

[hellenhighwater]

I've got tomatoes and nasturtium to pick!

[kerovousphoto]

The beautiful garden of my friend

[forest-and-fauna]

I really neglected the garden this year (thanks chronic fatigue) but we were at least able to get some beautiful cherry tomatoes, cayenne peppeers, and fresh herbs. Today I'm using the herbs in my mushroom stroganoff.

[antsgrowingplants]

there's another flower stalk growing on the Haworthiopsis? this thing is absolutely determined to reproduce I guess. but like the last stem hasn't even finished flowering, and that one started growing before the previous one had finished. this is the fourth one in 6 months

[argylegrows-deactivated20260419]

July 5 at the garden! Blissfully back after two weeks away, my neighbor gardener(s) did a great job keeping things watered. It was late afternoon and very hot when I arrived, so didn't do more than check things out and pick some veg 😋

As hoped, peas are in in in baby

Some tomatoes ripe for picking + my first yellow onion

Lettuce growing into 4' tall trees has stunted the pumpkin seedlings in between a bit, but will do a big donation/harvest this week to prune the former

Tiny eggplants on the tiny eggplant plants :) and beside them, the artichokes and beets thriving

Plenty of blueberries still to be picked... but the asparagus bed gone to seed! And hidden among it: a rogue tomato

[allthingssoulful-garden]

The sunflowers are starting to open ☀️

One of the varieties is looking really sad, barely grew half the size of the others, but I'm hoping they'll still flower by the end of the season. I don't know if it's the Teddy Bear variety or if it's another I planted, I can't remember. We shall see.

[cryptonature]

Our night blooming cereus is blooming tonight.

Rare occurrence.

[knightofbreath]

The blackberries are beginning to turn

[lunar-goodness]

The garden is coming along so well!

[greenbellala]

Today I worked in my brother's garden and rewarded myself with some berry picking.