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  Everything About Horsetail September 29, 2023 Share Everything you always wanted to know about this obnoxious weed (but were afraid to ask). Horsetail ( Equisetum  sp.), also commonly known as mare’s tail, is a prehistoric, herbaceous, perennial plant that has become a source of frustration for modern farmers due to its tenacious and stubborn characteristics as a weed. The coastal region of British Columbia is home to several species, the most common of which are listed here: Equisetum arvense  - Common Horsetail or Field Horsetail: This is one of the most widespread horsetail species and can be found in various habitats, including moist soils, meadows, and along water bodies. It has a stem with distinct tightly spaced jointed segments and many thin branches. The plant is bright green and typically grows up to 30cm tall. (Image source: © Wikimedia Commons User: MPF / CC-BY-SA-3.0) Equisetum telmateia  - Giant Horsetail or Great Horsetail (image 1): This species is larger than the com

  If I’m not careful, I could have an entire garden bursting with dill plants. That’s because I let them go to seed. And, well, dill is one of my favorite herbs. However, if I time it right and collect my dill seeds, I don’t get as much of a dense thicket that requires thinning  to make room for other crops. Believe me, if you don’t snip off those dried umbels, you will be doing a LOT of thinning! In this article, I’m going to share some tips on saving your dill seeds for future planting and how you can also add them to your spice rack for cooking. Waiting for dill seeds to form Once your dill plants start to flower, they will attract a TON of beneficial insects to the garden. My plants are always abuzz with bees and other beneficial insects. Ladybugs,  tachinid flies , green lacewings, and hoverflies, which help to control aphid populations, all love dill flowers. The flowers stick around for a while and take some time to mature, so you need to be patient while the seeds form. You mus