Bodhi Seeds Silver Mountain (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  From Bodhi Seeds, this variety is a cross of Super Silver Haze and Appalachia.  Appalachia is in turn a cross of Green Crack and Tres Dawg.  My friend grew this plant from seed at 7500' in the Colorado mountains.  This plant was resilient to weather, pests (including squirrel and bear, which did destroy other plants), and other harsh environmental factors.  This is the same grower of the Blueberry, Super Skunk, Cannalope Haze, and AK-47 featured on this blog.  He grows beyond organically and the quality of his flowers are always impressive.

Appearance:  These flowers fooled me, and I thought they were indoor on inspection.  Side-by-side with other flowers grown under identical conditions revealed the ability for Silver Mountain to thrive in outdoor environment.  I could immediately tell all the other flowers my friend showed me were outdoor, but these beautiful lime-green nuggets were so sparkly and bright that they retained a "museum quality" to their appearance.  Seriously impressive.

Aroma: The bouquet of this phenotype of Silver Mountain leans heavily to the Super Silver Haze side of things.  For those unfamiliar with SSH, the Dutch cultivar is unbelievably sweet.  It has spicy as well as floral elements, and an overall velveteen character that reminds me of high-altitude Colorado summer lichens and mosses.  The aroma is seriously compelling, and I love huffing the jar of this one.  It's is sweet, soft, fruity, alien, with grungy notes of garlic and roasted vedalia onion.  The bizarre combination flirts with the line of body odor.  I hate to exhaust my supply, just because the smell will no longer be available!  There is also a hint of tropical fruit and cantaloupe in addition to the lemon-lime-sprite.  A bit metallic as well--guava?  All in all, a strong point.

Flavor:  The velvety, and sweet-fruity aspects of the aroma translate well to flavor.  While very tasty, it is not quite as nuanced as the aroma.  This is somewhat typical, and it is really the exception when a flower tastes as good as it smells.  It is impressive with Silver Mountain how well the metallic fruit flavor and summer-lichen-velvet notes translate to flavor however, and it is certainly an enjoyable smoke.  Some of the fruit makes it through to the palate as well, leaning toward lemon citrus and melon.

Effects:  Silver Mountain is euphoric and super active, ideal for hiking--or perhaps that's a psychological effect from the name.  The smoke is uplifting, enjoyable, happy, and really pretty blissful when coupled with a sunny day and some skin exposure.  However, there is a "warm blanket" effect that sets in later and takes some pep out of my step.  Silver Mountain seems to be very uppity without raciness, paranoia, or a feeling of being overwhelmed--an amazing and rare trait to be cherished.  Mellow smoke, but the intensity is still satisfying.  The ability of this weed to pick you up without letting you down too hard, and without risking social anxiety/paranoia is super impressive

Overall:  Another instant hit from Bodhi, Silver Mountain is a versatile sativa-dominant variety that pleases all around.  Her flowers really are unbelievably beautiful, faring exceptionally well in a harsh mountain environment.  The aroma of Silver Mountain is something to be beheld, and I have made sure to do so often.  The flavor is enjoyable, but it is the bouquet and effect of Silver Mountain that really make her shine.  She is uplifting and inspiring, whether in creative endeavors or pursuits of physical activity.  Maybe most impressively, she manages to do so without being too racy like many descendants of Haze.  Another winner from Bodhi, no surprise.  Silver Mountain nears the acme of the "fruity sativa" category.

DJ Short '90s Blueberry (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  This sample of DJ Short's Blueberry was gifted to me by a friend who grew it outdoors, organically, between 7,000 and 8,000 ft. altitude.  The cut is a local clone that is well passed around, and has been all over Colorado since the 90s by most reports.  DJ Short, the breeder, reports that his Blueberry selection is an inbred line of three landrace heirlooms:  an Afghan, Purple Thai, and Oaxacan sativa.  

Appearance:  These bulbous flowers are a darker green due to their outdoor, sun-beaten environment.  However, they are well-formed with slightly above-average resin content.  Purple and blue hues accent the larger-than-normal calyxes, due in part to genetics and also to the cool fall temperatures.   I would say these buds look almost like good commercial outdoor.

Aroma: The aroma of these flowers is really intriguing..  As the name would suggest, there is a definitive blueberry aroma that wafts out of a jar.  Grown indoors, this same cutting smells like blueberry muffins.  However, it expresses itself differently in the outdoor environment.  This sample has a distinct spiciness to it, like that of an old rug or hashish.  Spicy, musty, blueberry notes, and a distinctly-other fruit note are at the forefront, and call for a 2nd and 3rd inhalation from a bag or jar.  It is somewhat reminiscent of Flo, another of DJ Short's famous clones.  The bouquet wafting off a jar is fruity, jammy, floral, and herbal, and is like some bizarrely-fruity-but-floral herbal tea.

Flavor:  Just as complex and intriguing as the aroma, the flavor of DJ Short's Blueberry is the highlight.  It is indeed like a smokable fruit-flavored floral-herbal tea, with many different notes contributing to an overall complex flavor.  There's a lot going on here, and the specifically blue and blackberry like flavors are really a novel experience to be beheld.  It is a wonder such a flavor profile found its way into a cannabis plant, and is really a testament to the sourcing, selection, and breeding done by DJ Short as well as the quality of care given by the grower.  I have genuinely had many herbal teas that were not as enjoyable to drink as this flower was to smoke.  

Effects:  Blueberry is happy and feel-good, but mellow and laid-back.  While some euphoric sensations occur, Blueberry is more of a relaxing end-of-day variety than a flower to be enjoyed before or during activities.  Blueberry consistently puts me in a drowsy dreamspace that I imagine could be quite a useful effect for certain ailments.  In my own experience, this varietal makes me lazy and unproductive, perfectly content with the way things are.  This is a double-edged sword.

Overall Experience: DJ Short's Blueberry is a classical legend, etched in stone among the unofficial "Strain Hall of Fame."  Her aroma and flavor are unparalleled in their uniqueness and potency, genuinely capturing aromas of blueberry, blackberry, and other berry flavors that are a real delight to experience in cannabis.  The effect is somewhat unremarkable, the potency hovering around average, and the character of the effects leaning toward a euphoric but otherwise generic indica effect.  This is a great variety to smoke at the end of the day to reflect on things, or with casual and comfortable company.  

Rare Dankness Moonshine Haze

Origins and Backstory:  This sample of Rare Dankness's cup-winning Moonshine Haze was gifted to me by a very talented and dedicated grower.  It was grown indoors organically, and then cured for three years in ideal conditions.  It has the same sort of paled-aesthetic as outdoor-grown cannabis, but is every bit as potent and intense as fresh flower.  A prolonged curing process like this one completely removes chlorophyll (and other components) that tend to make the smoke harsh.  The result is an unbelievably smooth and tasty smoke.  Moonshine Haze is a cross of Amnesia Haze and Neville's Wreck.

Appearance:  The bag appeal on this sample would be underwhelming for most.  The grower and I agreed on this--however, we also both agreed that those in the know would be able to examine this flower and immediately realize how high quality it really is.  Resin content is relatively high, and buds are well-developed elongated fingers with long, wispy pistils. The actual flowers themselves are not airy at all, but have a surprising and satisfying density. Obviously, this sample is a much darker green than normal, because all of the green plant matter has ended up evacuating through the long process of curing.  This lack of vibrancy is both what makes it appealing to smokers who have experienced long-cured cannabis before, and makes it unappealing to those who have not, and associate dark-colored flower with poor quality import cannabis.

Aroma: This cannabis reminds me of Amsterdam coffee shops.  The aroma is that of Hazes, but has more than enough depth to stand out from the crowd.  It is effervescent and bubbly, with definitive lemon and lime notes that bring Sprite and 7up to mind.  There is a distinct spiciness in the bouquet as well, sandalwood and other hard-to-describe elements that are almost like juniper berries or gin.  Once all is said and done, the incredibly distinguished aroma comes out smelling like a country club's golf locker room.  It really is not too far off from smelling like your grandfather's classy and overly-spicy cologne, and I mean that in the best of ways.  To capture such a combination of scents in cannabis is a huge part of what makes the plant so special.

Flavor:   The flavor of Moonshine is absolutely a highlight.  As nuanced as the aroma, the flavor possesses sweet, spicy, floral, herbal, and fruity characters.  The sprite-like lemon/lime effervescence comes on strongly, layered with the sweet-spicy sandalwood quality associated with hazes.  The flavor is strong and dangerously good, keeping the hits going without allowing the effects to fully set in.  The elements of aftershave, cologne, shaving cream, and other bizarre notes that conjure up locker room memories are present in the flavor as well.  This combination of factors makes for a uniquely tasty and distinguished flavor, an experience I would venture to guess is entirely unavailable outside of smoking cannabis.

Effects:  Moonshine Haze is well renowned for her effects, a classic-yet-contemporary representation of Dutch Haze cultivars.  She is zippy, heart-pounding, racy, and euphoric.  Moonshine can be lighthearted and uplifting in small doses, perfect for a conversation and walk in the park on a sunny day.  However, she has the potential to be terrifying in larger doses.  With increased toking, odds for symptoms of paranoia and social anxiety go up.  Visual acuity seems more intense as colors become more vibrant.  Thoughts swirl around ones head making social situations difficult to navigate with focus and calm.  The effects can be long lasting, especially for a sativa.  The come down is almost like a terrifying roller coaster ride.  Even if you were miserably paranoid, you will want to get back in line and hit the ride all over again.  Scary fun!

Overall Experience:   Moonshine Haze is a fun remix of old Dutch Haze genetics.  I have sampled several phenotypes with aroma varying from granny smith apples to strawberries to lemon-lime.  There is a common denominator of sweet-spicy signature pine and haze, and the buzz is always potent and uplifting.  It is basically a universal factor with delicious sativas that you will inevitably smoke more than is ideal for your mental well-being; Moonshine Haze is no exception.  There is no shortage of reasons to imbibe in Moonshine Haze when it's on the shelf, and it is almost always one of the quickest of my jars to empty out.  Killer job by the grower on this euphoric and unbelievably complex flower.

Bodhi Seeds Congolese Pine x Mother's Milk

Origins and Backstory: I received a pack of testers from Bodhi, and germinated the whole thing.  I unfortunately only received one female from the package.  Bodhi used a Congolese (pine) landrace as a mother for this strain, and a Mother's Milk (Nepali OG x Appalachia) father.  I've not heard of many other strains using the Mother's Milk pollen, so this one seems like a rarity.

Appearance:  Flowers from this cultivar almost appear whitish-platinum, an almost blueish-white hue.  It reminds me of the Lotus Larry x Sunshine Daydream with respect to the color of the flowers.  Flowers are highly resinous, but are a bit fluffy.  This could be because of the harvest time; many landrace sativas and their progeny often take longer to fully develop, but I chopped this plant at 77 days, possibly early.  Overall, this variety still put out pretty flowers that are highly resinous with an unusual color.  All other aspects of appearance are normal or unremarkable.

Aroma:  Interestingly, the bouquet from this variety has changed drastically over the course of flowering.  The finished product is sweet, candied, and skunky, smelling like Pez, candy valentine hearts, tic-tacs, and brand-new tennis balls.  It is also very skunky, and a jar from across the room smells classically like sweet-skunky cannabis.  It is when one cracks a bud open under the nose that notes of powdered and condensed milk, valentine hearts, and tennis-ball-tube become so prevalent.

Flavor: The flavor strays from the aroma just the slightest bit. It is indeed candied, skunky, and sweet with strong notes of sweet, condensed milk and pez.  However, there is also a very noticeable profile that I cannot put my finger on but reminds me of Christmas-time.  There is a flavor profile of a Christmas potpourri or some Christmas spice mix that was only present in the aroma for a couple weeks in mid-flower.  This profile does come through strongly in the flavor of the smoke though, and instantly brings back memories as a child gathered with the family underneath the Christmas tree.  It is bizarre but extremely nostalgic, unique, memorable, and enjoyable.

Effects:  Like mother's milk, this variety is welcoming, warming, soft, and sweet.  Mildly sedating, the smoke from this variety is euphoric and happy but overindulgence can lead to a dulling of mental function and some tiredness.  This is long-lasting hybrid smoke that is uplifting but relaxing, and very dreamy.  It puts a sort of simple, dumb smile on the user for a few hours before coming back down into a foggy dream-state.  The most value that I personally have found from this variety is its reliable ability to give a satisfying feeling of happiness and euphoria, regardless when or what one has smoked earlier in the day.  The sedative properties are rarely too much, and one rarely finds themselves incapacitated from this variety although it certainly doesn't lack potency.  This can be strong smoke, but it never lasts long and after a quick climax, the effect significantly mellows out only an hour or two after smoking.

Overall Experience:  While a fun smoke, Congolese Mother's Milk was never a particular favorite of mine.  The unique candy heart smell made these flowers fun for a novelty smoke every now and then, but the effect was too short-lived to make it any sort of staple.  The CMM is a warm, happy, sweet effect, which seems to be everything one might expect from a flower that smells like sweet, happy candy!  I'm certainly grateful to have explored these seeds as testers, as they were fairly unique and pushed the horizons of my personal experience with cannabis even further.  That being said, there wasn't much reason for me to keep clones or keep the harvests of CMM going, and I prefer something like Long Valley Royal Kush for a staple smoking variety.

Super Skunk

Origins and Backstory: I received this flower from a friend.  I do not review other people's flowers due to issues with consistency and integrity.  However, this friend of mine grows beyond organically and the quality of his flowers always impress me.  He appreciates older Dutch genetics, sweet and fruity varieties with creative and euphoric effects.  This varietal was grown indoors from seed.

Appearance:  Super Skunk flowers appear like classic high quality bud.  The flowers are bright green and highly resinous, wrapped up in thin purple-tipped leaves.  The flower structure is long and finger-like, like stretched out pine cones.  On first glance, Super Skunk is reminiscent of the old "headies" I used to be able to occasionally score in the midwest.

Aroma:  A jar of Super Skunk smells like most generic cannabis from across the room.  It is vaguely sweet and skunky, smelling like classic high-grade cannabis.  Broken buds tell a more interesting story though.  I was surprised by this flower, as Dutch Skunk varieties are typically more sweet than skunky.  This generally warrants disdain and a snobby attitude from most American skunk lovers--I would argue rightfully so, as I am one of them.  However, the aroma on this particular sample reminded me of a more generic version of Trinity or Synergy.  For those who don't know, Trinity is a classic NorCal clone that is known for its incredibly dank, skunky, and funky aroma.  Synergy is reviewed previously on my blog.  This plant has similar tones.  There are the skunky funky notes when flowers are broken up, and these are complimented well by a sort of sweet, silly-puddy-plastic-90s-action-figure smell.  I really appreciate the weird plastic smell which I have only noticed in Trinity and Synergy out of all the cultivars I have grown/smoked.  There are some background scents that one must search hard for, but miniscule amounts of garlic, onion, and old garbage can be noted as well.

Flavor: The flavor is a surprise on this one.  Chlorinated compounds are immediately obvious, as is a cheesy, mildew-like flavor.  Cue the "you're smoking moldy weed bro" comments.  This flower is not moldy (I checked after tasting), but has a weird, cheesy-mildew flavor.  It seriously is like tasting an old gym bag or an old locker room.  This bizarre flavor eventually leaves the palate, allowing more of the notes from the aroma to translate.  The lingering flavor is sweet, plastic-like, and smoky (go figure). 

Effect:  Super Skunk is more of an upper than a downer, and imparts a clear-headed and functional high.  She begins by imbuing creativity, euphoria, and a greater appreciation for music.  This settles down into a more relaxed and dreamy effect.  The stone is long lasting and satisfying, perfect for an early to mid afternoon toke.  While possessing many traits typically associated with sativas, I would not classify Super Skunk as floaty or cerebral.  I prefer Jack Herer, Super Silver Haze, or something similar to go on a magic flight of euphoria.  Super Skunk is a mellow and versatile ride.

Overall Experience:  This Super Skunk was grown superbly, there is no doubt about that. I felt that the aroma and flavor were the highlights.  I oddly love cultivars with offensive aromas of skunk, garbage, and putrid matter--Super Skunk manages to capture a couple of them.  She is skunky and funky, but I really love the plastic smells that bring back memories of Silly Putty and Power Rangers.  It's even more incredible when this note translates to flavor in the smoke!  Again, this was really a highlight.  The effect isn't lacking in strength, but in my opinion could use a bit more character.  I want to clarify--the effect really isn't lacking in any arena.  However, it does not excel in any particular area either, other than pure versatility.  Personally, I enjoy varieties with emphasis on something, whether it is extreme euphoria, racing heart/mind/thoughts, super-sleepiness, anxiety relief, etc.  Super Skunk is uplifting and happy, but generic among her specific effects with nothing outstanding.  Overall, I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of Super Skunk genetics, pushed to their full potential by the grower.

DNA Genetics Cannalope Haze (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  This was gifted to me by an anonymous friend and grower.  This variety was grown from a single seed in a 7000' canyon during the 2016 season. .  Outdoor cannabis is always difficult to directly compare to indoor, but I always love a good outdoor sample.  The flavor and even cannabinoid profile seems more "complete," for lack of a better description.  While indoor cannabis can smell heavenly and be incredibly potent, it almost seems like something is missing after smoking some quality outdoor.  The cross is supposedly an original Haze plant and a Mexican landrace.  I suspect there is a bit more indica in here than the breeders let on, but who really knows.

Appearance:  Typical of outdoor cannabis (in my experience, but I understand there are exceptions), this flower is not nearly as pretty as most indoor.  However, the buds are fully developed and highly resinous.  The elongated flowers are an olive green or army green color, and tend to be finger-like as opposed to pinecone or grenade-like.  Some of the calyxes have a slight purple tinge to them--I suspect this is not due to the genetics, but is due to the cool fall temperatures at formidable altitude.  Even knowing this is outdoor, the resin content is so high that the quality can be assumed.

Aroma:  I have never smelled cannabis with such a pronounced cantaloupe bouquet.  The flower truly smells of moss, compost, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and summer prairie.  The uniquely cantaloupe smell compels one to break open buds, and sniff the innards repeatedly.  The fruit notes are candied and sweet, very similar to those fake citrus fruit slice gummie candies (I have no idea what they're actually called).  If I were to sum up the bouquet in a brief phrase, it would be "cantaloupe gummy creamsicle."  Yes, it's enticing as it sounds.

Flavor: While not as sweet and cantaloupe-like as the aroma, the flavor is still a highlight for this variety.  Floral notes are well-pronounced, reminding me specifically of lilacs.  The flavor is sweet, but not as sweet as the aroma would let on.  There are citrus fruit tones and the honeydew melon comes through well, but is more velveteen in the flavor than in the aroma.  Cantaloupe is present, but the citrus and velvet melon are more remarkable.  The flavor is just as complex as the aroma and the effects.  The grower did an excellent job in his beyond-organic outdoor garden to be able to manifest such subtleties in the smoke.

Effects:  "Wholesome" is the first word that comes to mind describing the effects of this flower.  The feeling after smoking this outdoor Cannalope Haze is euphoric and happy like many sativas, but there are unique elements of satisfaction and contentedness that really set this sample apart.  A complete feeling of overall well-being is prevailing, making this some seriously medicinal cannabis.  The feeling is potent and strong while managing to maintain worldly functionality and is even calming, as opposed to so many other euphoric sativas.  In the Pines from Aficionado Seeds is one of the only cultivars that might be comparable to this Cannalope Haze in terms of effects.  The prevailing theory of why many users find outdoor-grown cannabis superior to indoor-grown is that the sun, compared to indoor lamps, delivers a much wider spectrum of light which in turn facilitates the production of a wider array of cannabinoids and terpenes in the plant.  After sampling this flower, I am a subscriber of this theory.  The comedown is mellow and relaxed without being debilitating in the slightest or requiring any nap, and manages to maintain the overall sense of satisfaction and well-being.  What an incredibly-desirable set of traits!

Overall Experience: While not-so-pretty for those of us accustomed to indoor-grown museum quality flowers, this Cannalope Haze is the best cannabis I've seen from a Colorado grower in at least a couple years.  The terpene profile is diverse and intriguing; cantaloupe and melon aromas are rarely present in cannabis.  Even when they are present, they are often muted or background notes.  This sample really exhibits excellent candied cantaloupe aromas that smell like a tropical vacation!  The effects are so heart-warming, satisfying, and complete that I find myself wishing I had endless amounts of this stuff--paradoxically, you need very little of this cannabis to get the desired effect.  I find myself smoking much less when I use this Cannalope Haze, due to it being so effective, efficient, and inducing contentedness.  Kudos all around to DNA Genetics for breeding this lovely varietal, and to the responsible, mindful grower for doing such an exceptional job in the high altitude Colorado desert.  

AK-47

Origins and Backstory:  I received this from an anonymous friend, who is the only person to date to have flowers grown with enough integrity that not only will I smoke them, but I will write about them.  He is a lover of fruity, sweet, hazy varieties from the days of yore--a truly nostalgic stoner.  I believe he ordered a single seed from Amsterdam, and this was the phenotype.

Appearance:  The floral clusters from this AK-47 specimen are densely put together, and highly resinous.  The quantity of trichomes alone is enough to get one excited.  I appreciate the density of these bright green flowers, and it matches their grenade and/or golfball shape.  Coloration of calyxes and pistils are about par for the course, and there is no purple tint on any of the flowers--some different cultivars from the same garden exhibit purple coloration, making the pure green on these flowers notable.  This looks like high quality indica or hybrid bud.

Aroma:  The aroma of this sample was the biggest surprise to me.  A whole bud placed under my nose brought immediate and pronounced notes of sweet, pink grapefruit.  When buds are broken, the bouquet deepens with complex scents of cotton candy, sandalwood, haze, spice, and velvet.  It is a smell that reminds me of Amsterdam hazes more than anything else, which was greatly surprising.  Everyone has their own experiences, but the AK-47 of my youth was a much woodier, softer smell, almost like an old cedar or pine box.  In totality, this sample of AK-47 is not what I would expect, but is appetizing nonetheless.  The overall aroma could be stronger, and I suspect that other phenotypes with similar aromas of higher intensity could be found.

Flavor:  The flavor of the smoke is similar to that of aroma, with a lot of direct translation.  There are definite grapefruit and wood (but no pine) flavors, more of a sweet-spicy-woody than the flavor I recall from my younger days. I would assume that Amsterdam has done some genetic rearranging since then, but it's equally possible my  memory is warped.  The  flavor is tasty and enjoyable, but is not about to convert the OG or Cookie heads of today.

Effects: The effects from the AK-47 surprised me as well.  I would have thought that compared to the OGs and Chemdawgs of today, AK-47 would pale in potency.  This is not the case, and a three-hit bowl keeps me lifted for up to four hours.   Effects are felt first and foremost in the temples and on the sides of ones head.  Immediately, there is a gliding/floating sensation that comes into perception, building in intensity until a general sense of happiness and euphoria is prominent.  Concerns seem a lot less serious, the world seems a lot friendlier, and I seem a lot happier.  The effect is floaty, wispy, and cloud-like, and reminds me a bit of a less-focused Super Silver Haze.  I think this sample is more toward the indica spectrum of things than SSH, but certainly mirrors the heady effects to some extent.  It is happy and inspiring smoke, and truly is almost entirely felt above the neck, besides some mild tingling in the extremities.  It seems to hold all of the positive aspects of narrow leaf drug cultivars without the drawbacks of raciness, paranoia, dysphoria, etc. This smoke also tends to inspire creativity and curiosity, which makes this the grower's particular favorite.

Overall Experience:   As expected, this sample of AK-47 did not conform to my old memories.  However, judged objectively, it's a surprisingly high-quality flower. The bag appeal is excellent, and I couldn't imagine any smoker not being happy going with the resinous, sparkling, green grenades.  However, I am not alone among smokers to look down my nose at most of the contemporary Dutch gene pool.  Elite clones from the  American underground (and now, the not-so-underground) are in a league entirely superior to most of what can be found in Amsterdam.  There is of course the odd exception.  While I personally preferred other varieties from the same grower, this AK-47 has a plethora of positives.  This flower is strong, euphoric, uplifting, and active.  To be especially appreciated is the uplifting effect which is consistently creative.  How much more valuable can a mind-altering substance be?  For artists, philosophers, and creatives of all kinds, this is a great one to have on the shelf.  The aroma and flavor, while pleasant, do not stand up to other well-known (typically American) seed lines or elite clones in my opinion. While enjoyable and pleasant, it is just not quite complex enough for my adoration.  This is a great variety to be able to draw from for creative endeavors, but is not my daily driver of choice, nor is it a varietal I would pull out to impress OG/Kush/Chem lovers.

Big Bubba Diesel

Origins and Backstory: Big Bubba Diesel is a cross of the pre98 Bubba Kush and Sour Diesel.  I'm unaware of which Sour Diesel clone this is or where it came from.  This plant is grown in medical warehouses in Colorado due to its extreme potency, high bag appeal, and nose.

Appearance: The flowers from this plant are very aesthetically-pleasing.  Greens, purples, blacks, and reds can be seen.  The flowers are incredibly-dense, but they still have a pine-cone structure to them.  They are like elongated or oblong golf balls, like stretching out Bubba Kush flowers without losing density.  The leaves can reach dark hues of purple and black, but the flowers almost always remain a dark green.  The flowers are also highly resinous.  It's obvious this one was bred for the indoors.

Aroma:  Very metallic and chem-like, Big Bubba Diesel is a darker, more rank version of its Sour Diesel father.  It smells like classic dark cave and chemdog, but the fuel tones are a bit sweeter and more fruity.  Strong notes of copper, tin, and iron are present, as are hints of perfectly-ripe papaya and mango.  There are mustier, old style hashish aromas present as well, obviously coming by way of the Bubba Kush side of the lineage.  Sweet, metallic, chem-like, and mild notes of diesel fuel. 

Flavor:  The flavor of Big Bubba Diesel is appropriate for its namesake--it is big and bold, immediately reminiscent of Diesel and middle-eastern Kush.  There are sour, metallic, coppery flavors up front that completely coat the palate like any good Diesel plant.  Big Bubba Diesel is less fuely than diesel but has a pleasantly potent sour flavor.  Also very noticeable are coffee and subtle notes of spicy, marshmallow "Kush" flavors.  It makes me think more of Pure Kush than Bubba, and is really an incredible spin on both the Kush and diesel genetic lines of cannabis.

Effects:  Very indica-oriented, BBD is potent, sleepy, hungry, and happy.  It is long-lasting and very powerful herb.  I was told it has significant CBD content.  While that has never been verified, I could believe it.  This is very deep-cutting and medicinal flower.  She will put you to sleep at the end of the night, and can cut through the stone of nearly any other plant.  If you smoke her earlier in the day, prepare to be productive in nothing but feeding yourself.  This strain inspires munchies of the greatest order.  However, it can be incredibly lethargic and eye-reddening, making mobility a challenge.  This is definitely a headier version of Bubba Kush, and seems to be more potent.  This will hit hard on all fronts--your mind will be stunned, curious, scared, relaxed, and pleased--the body will be deeply relaxed and aches just melt away.  This is powerful, medicinal canna-magic that has tremendous medical value as well as recreational value on the nights in.  This plant will hit just as hard as any OG or Chemdog variety.

Overall Experience:  A favorite nightcap of mine, Big Bubba Diesel is pretty much sure to put you to sleep.  It is so warm and relaxing, and seems to accentuate the luxuries of having blankets and pillows.  In bed with closed eyes, I feel as if floating on clouds and cuddling with puppies.  This flower is very narcotic in its effect, and is not meant for day use.  The aroma and structure make for amazing bag appeal, and the flavor is sure to be enjoyed.  Unfortunately, the only real use I can find for this herb is right before bed.  It might be OK for an evening movie, but I would probably still fall asleep.

TopDawg Seeds Stardawg

Origins and Backstory: Originally bred by JJNYC of Topdawg seeds, Stardawg is now passed around in clone-only form and has been bred with by others.  I acquired a clone from a friend of a proven Stardawg female.  She is originally a cross of Chem 4 and Tres Dawg.

Appearance: Eye-popping, the lime-green, trichome-encrusted flowers from this plant have incredible bag appeal.  They tend to come in smaller, golf-ball shaped nuggets.  The buds are very dense, very bright and resinous, and have bright orange pistils to further catch the eye.  Clearly, appearance was taken strongly into account for whoever selected this phenotype.

Aroma:  Stardawg absolutely reeks classically of skunky, dank cannabis.  Listed in order of prevalence, Stardawg smells of gasoline, diesel/jet fuel, skunk, burnt rubber, body odor, coffee, dirty feet, bad breath, garlic, onion, old rug, and guava juice.  It is incredibly powerful, and can offend non-smokers easily in my experience.  A jar will make you crinkle your nose in a strange sort of satisfied disgust.  It smells like a classic Chemdog strain, disgustingly-awesome.  I absolutely love the near-revolting odor from this flower, and it brings back fond memories of "headies" from the early 2000s.

Flavor:  The flavor of Stardawg is sour and chemdawg-like, but is more metallic and guava/grapefruit than its aroma would imply.  There is a strong aspect of coffee toward the front end of inhalations, but most of the body odor, notes of dirty feet and other offensive bodily functions are (thankfully?) lost in the smoke.  The onion and notes of hashish and spice are subtle but present.  The diverse and complex array of flavors puts a spin on the Chemdawg line.  Chemdawg lovers will find Stardawg familiar but refreshing.

Effects:  Stardawg is a potent, knock-you-out Chemdog variety that is potent and warm as could be. It is a head-numbing/warming indica-dominant smoke that takes one into an hours-long experience.  The creeping effects are long-lasting, and will ultimately end in a clouded, foggy stone.  It is difficult, if not impossible, to feel the more subtle effects of day-brightening sativas after delving into some Stardawg.  Stardawg is very much like a classic Chemdawg; she is very potent, dreamy, euphoric and happy, but there's a more narcotic aspect to Stardawg than I typically associate with the clone-only Chemdawg varietals.  The effect is also felt strongly in the head, but does not imbue any strong motivational senses or much creative thoughts.  Stardawg is ideal for curling up on a winter night with a loved one to watch a movie.

Overall Experience:  Stardawg is an excellent represenation of Chemdawg in a seed line.  It has many of the best traits of Chem 4 and Chemdawg D, and both can be detected in the aroma and flavor.  Stardawg has some Afghan bred into it, giving some vigor and density to the Chemdawg line.  This cultivar is equally adaptable to both the discerning connoisseur, or the casual toker--the smoke is world-class like any Chemdawg, the yields are good, bag appeal is great, and the aroma is incredibly powerful.  Stardawg won't please any fruity-sativa lovers, and while a crowd-pleaser, offends the odd smoker who prefers their cannabis NOT to smell like a hint of death.  Overall a lovely variety, but as a matter of personal preference, I still find both the Chem 4 and Chem D to be ultimately superior smoke.

Aficionado Seeds Long Valley Royal Kush

Origins and Backstory: I received this package of seeds alongside my order of In the Pines.  Long Valley Royal Kush is a bottle-necked variation of Emerald Mountain Legacy and Mandelbrot's Royal Kush.  It is a three way cross of the clone-only Sour Diesel, a highland Afghani cultivar (a pre-soviet variety also known as Salmon Creek Rock Bud), and Garberville Purple Kush.  I can only assume the Purple Kush used is the famed SR-71 cut.  Mandelbrot, who originally bred the variety, meticulously selected his breeding stock from hundreds of plants over seven filial generations.  Aficionado Seeds acquired seeds at this point, and bred for specific traits to the F9 generation.  According to his writing, Mandelbrot tended to keep his populations open; so seeds of the Royal Kush from Emerald Mountain Legacy should tend to yield different phenotypes than the bottle-necked version from Aficionado Seeds.  I germinated all 10 seeds at once and had 100% germination rate.

Appearance:  Most phenotypes are very similar with slight of variation.  The flower culsters are consistently dense and well-formed like pinecones, and the resin production is uniformly copious. Many of the phenotypes exhibit at least some mild purple coloration on the tips of the forest-green calyxes, further contributing to the already-stellar jar or bag appeal.  Most plants are somewhat stocky with average vigor, but I had a standout phenotype that was especially short, small, and slow-growing. 

Aroma:  While the bag appeal is great, the aroma is even better and is probably the most consistent aspect of Long Valley Royal Kush.  Cured flowers are intensely aromatic with many smells classically associated with cannabis.  The bouquet is a powerfully skunky and fuely, porbably being heavily lent from the Sour Diesel and Afghan lineage.  Fuel in cannabis can come in many forms; I have experienced gasoline, jet fuel, motor oil, and virtually all other petroleum products.  LVRK is less jet-fuel like (which I usually associate with OG plants) but is grungier, darker, and seems more like raw oil and tar.  LVRK also has strong tones of sweet grape, especially when buds are broken open.  When I closed my eyes with one phenotype in particular, I was brought back to childhood memories of spreading Welch's grape jam and strawberry cream cheese on a bagel.  An earthy, loamy, soil-like smell is also present in the background.  One phenotype had almost no aroma, smelling like a tomato plant until about day 50 of flower.  Within the last couple weeks of finishing, the same phenotype had produced a stinking, skunky smell that rivaled all her sisters.  The intensely-strong smell from this variety is certainly a highlight and rivals any variety I have found.  The sweet grape and strawberry aromas lend themselves well to the fuel and skunk, all-in-all producing a pungent and unique varietal.  

Flavor:  The flavor of the Long Valley Royal Kush is just as intense as its aroma, but the emphases are put on different notes. LVRK  tastes profoundly fuel-like, coating one's mouth long after smoking in a sour, kerosene-like flavor.  It's reminiscent of Sour Diesel but more intense, and with more complexity.  After the exhale, sweet and sour flavors of plum and grape manifest in the background.  Occasionally, there is a strawberry-jam sweet flavor that delicately finds its presence.  It has a strong and delightful skunkiness that hangs on the palate as well, the flavor I have always classically associated with high quality cannabis.  I really love the way the skunk and fuel from this one linger all over one's mouth.

Effects:  Long Valley Royal Kush is mellow, relaxed, and laid back in traditional Californian fashion.  The effect is so relaxed one could almost call it reassuring.  The laid-back aspect is one I typically associate with California Kush plants like the Socal Master, Bubba, and Hollywood Pure varieties. It is a reliable reducer of anxiety and gives the user a feeling that all is OK both in the inner and outer world.  There is a warmth to the effect as well, one that feels like being wrapped under psychic blankets.  Well-being is a given after smoking the Royal Kush, and consequently it became my staple smoke for a period.  The effect is satisfyingly strong enough that one can smoke it infrequently, but never seems to be overwhelming or dysfunctional.  If one binges on LVRK, a nap will probably be called for later in the day.

Overall Experience:  Like other offerings I've had from Aficionado, the Long Valley Royal Kush is a distinct winner.  I really appreciated the classic effects of happy, calm, and "Zen," and the intensely skunky aroma pairs perfectly.  It is such a tangy, skunky, gasoline-like smell that I have an incredibly easy time smoking Royal Kush more than anything else right now.  Long Valley Royal Kush is an amalgamation of the best traits of classical west-coast American cannabis.  Anyone who likes OG, Chemdawg, or Kush varieties will have a new favorite with the LVRK.  She is a plant that seems fresh compared to some of the more tired clone-only varities, and has nuances to keep the smoker interested.  Even just mentally recalling the intensity of the aroma makes me salivate, the aroma is so potent.  This is a fantastic "daily driver," and fills every niche that a smoker would want from a specific cultivar.  This indeed is a Kush variety fit for royalty!

Bodhi Seeds Dragon Blood Hashplant

Origins and Backstory: From Bodhi Seeds, this unique cultivar is a F1 hybrid of an heirloom Hawaiian sativa and Bodhi's selected male, 1988 G13 x Hashplant.  Bodhi's 88G13HP male is known for contributing vigor, frost, and potency to his progeny.  The Hawaiian sativa used in this cross is known otherwise as "Blood" due to its unique bleeding trait.  When you top this sativa, cut into branches, etc., she bleeds a maroon-red sap that is allegedly higher in brix content than average varieties.  Bodhi describes the mother as "refreshing."

Appearance: The phenotypes differed dramatically in their appearance.  Abnormal floral clusters were common, putting out strange structures that I've not experienced in nearly a decade of growing.  They almost looked like foxtails sometimes, but the abnormalities are in a league of their own, producing strange trident or pitchfork-like structures.  The trichome production was above average with all females, and created a look of whited-out flower.  This is definitely a hashplant.  Due to the frost and strangely-stacked floral clusters, the appearance is a high point of this variety.

Aroma:  Also highly variant, the aroma of Dragon Blood Hashplant is subtly complex.  As a whole, I would say the best phenotypes smelled very similar to a Japanese cucumber soda. Sweet, mildly vegetal/herbal, with strong notes of an almost-effervescent cucumber. It is a sort of grassy, hoppy, grapefruit, and skunky bouquet with a background alien-swamp-meadow thing that for some reason makes me think of alligators.  It reminds me of walking around swamps in Florida, or jungles of Tonga.  The aroma is also a bit citrusy, and has fairly prevalent notes of menthol, mint, and eucalyptus.  Some phenos are very mild in bouquet while others tend to be louder.  Even the most intense phenotypes were only moderately stinky though, which is a bit disappointing.

Flavor: This variety is hashy and complex with the aroma translating well.  Very skunky, the flavor tastes strongly of hops, hashish, and cucumber soda.  These notes blend and mingle on the palate with mentholated herb/eucalyptus aromas, making for a complex and unique flavor.  It is not overwhelming, but it is certainly interesting.  The only other varieties that taste remotely like the Dragon Blood Hashplant that I have experienced are Hashplants and the infamous airborne G-13 clone.  Even these two varieties do not contain the complexities and subtleties in the flavor of DBH.  The flavor definitely has some funk to it that foreshadows the intense effects to come.

Effects:   Dragon's Blood Hashplant is immediately felt behind the eyes, sometimes blurring vision.  It is a slow creeping effect that piques about 30 minutes after the last toke.  Being a hybrid, her effect is a combination of intense mental stimulation and a sense of relaxation in the body.  DBH is cognitively stunning, putting the user into a far-away, introspective mental space that could be categorized as stupefying. This is not what I would consider functional, but is suited to a night alone or alone with a friend.  Thoughts can become a bit racy and frantic, and can push one's thoughts to paranoia.  The heady effects are complimented by a buzzing throughout the body, relaxing the user and turning the eyes to blood red.  The strong body effect seems to mellow the user out more than a typical sativa-dominant plant would, providing for some euphoria as it pushes the user deeper into the couch.

Overall Experience:  Dragon Blood Hashplant gave me many memorable experiences both in growing and consuming.  Certain phenotypes really do have blood red fluids that come out as soon as plants are cut.  I have never seen such a dark red liquid come out of a cannabis plant before!  The bouqet of both plant and flower is incredibly unique, and is the only variety I've experienced with the aromatic quality of "Japanese cucumber soda."  Friends are always impressed with the aroma from a jar as well as the potency of smoke.  Her effect is somewhat oxymoronic; it is stimulating and exciting with the potential to be a bit frightening and out of control, but is also deeply relaxing and warrants a strong sense of well-being.  Dragon Blood Hashplant is a pleasure to grow, and is a great representation of Bodhi Seeds in a lot of ways. Many seeds from Bodhi have truly unique scent/flavor profiles with a potent effect to match, and DBH is no exception.  DBH's best trait is its unsual individuality--cannabis enthusiasts who appreciate the diverse gene pool of cannabis expressions have every reason to love about Dragon Blood Hashplant.

Gage Green Sophisticated Lady

Origins and Backstory: This is a Gage Green release of high genetic variation.  Sophisticated Lady, as it is now named, is the famous Ghost OG crossed to a Grateful Breath male.  Grateful Breath is Gage's own creation:  OGKB crossed to their famous Joseph OG male.   The full genetics look like: Ghost OG x (OGKB x Joseph OG).

Appearance:  Phenotypes represented the whole spectrum of their parents, with my favorite being in the middle (as you could guess).  The Grateful Breath-structured plants were my favorites, with incredible hybrid vigor.  The best plants pitched huge towers of incredibly chunky, dense, resinous flowers that looked like some hulky variation of Girl Scout Cookies.  Flowers are colorful too, with greens, purples, reds, and some yellows showing up.  A lot of variation in this cross, but there are absolutely stunning phenotypes to be found.

Aroma:  First impressions of the flower are citrus, floral blossom notes, skunk, burning rubber OG, and even light notes of bittersweet chocolate.  Broken nugs smell intensely of citrus and chocolate, reminiscent of Toblerone and clementines. The background is fairly piney, and brings Pacific Northwest forest floors to mind, making for a very intense and diverse aroma. Both parents seem improved upon through this cross.  This is damp, dank, and terpene-filled flower that will stink up the neighborhood. The intense aroma draws users back to the jar to huff a the terpene-rich air within, and is therapeutic in itself.  All-around an impressively enjoyable twist on OG and Cookie genetics.  The chocolate clementine OG phenotypes were my favorites. There were some fuel-heavy gasoline phenotypes as well.

Flavor: Overall, I would describe the flavor like an orange blossom sugar cookie with hints of skunk and gasoline.  Similar to the aroma, the flavor is intensely citrusy, floral, skunky, and herbal.  Cookie flavors become much more prevalent in the smoke compared to the bouquet.  While most cookies express dough-like flavors, this variety has notes of freshly-baked sugar cookies, orange blossom honey, and gas.  I've never actually experienced anything like it in cannabis.  The flavor is unique, and really has won me over.  The tokes with the strongest cookie flavors are really something to experience, completely coating ones throat in sugar cookie flavored smoke.

Effects:  Devastating and potent, the best phenotypes from this variety are day-ruining.  They will immediately, completely, and irreversibly change one's headspace,. This is the kind of flower whose effects will cut through any others, and will render most other flower ineffective after smoking.  Sophisticated Lady is super potent, and can even be too intense for experienced smokers.  She is felt equally in the head as well as the body, providing a complete-being-stone experience.  She is euphoric, giggly, red eyed, happy, numbing, and dumbing.  The feeling simplifies things, and one feels like a child again.  Be warned.  Definitely not for social situations as it will shut you up, I prefer to use this variety for rainy days and mellow indoor activities.

Overall Experience:  The bag appeal of the phenomenally dense and trichome-encruste-flowers sing for attention alongside the citrus-sugar-cookie-gasoline-floral bouquet.  Like all other aspects of this cultivar, these flowers come on boldly.  The stone hits deeply across the brain, body, and soul, much like an OG.  The full effect sets in over time, resulting in a pillow-like dream state.  I love watching enthusiasts react to the experience of Sophisticated Lady.  She really is the whole package of beauty, brawn, and olfactory satisfaction, and is an incredible representation of the current trends in cannabis culture.  This cultivar truly embodies some of the best aspects of OG, Cookies, and something unique from Gage.

Gage Green Sour Diesel x White Shark Mandala

Origins and Backstory: Out of a tester package from Gage, I received several very uniform females.  I'm not aware of which Sour Diesel cut Gage used, or exactly what strains compose White Shark Mandala.  To my knowledge as of the publishing of this article, this strain does not have a name from Gage.  I have been calling her "Strawberry Poptart" after her sweet bouquet. 

Appearance:  The bag appeal is high with this flower due to the vivid colors and decent trichome coverage.  The buds are universally shaped like pine cones on this plant, which is oddly satisfying to see.  Her structure reminds me of commercial and typical california weed.  She has well-frosted bright green calyxes with vividly-fiery orange pistils.  The leaves are a dark green, and compliment the sparkling and stacked-calyx towers.  The flowers really are pretty, and are something that might come up if you googled "marijuana," they are that typical. 

Aroma:  The Sour Diesel ancestry is completely absent when smelling a jar of these flowers.  The raw flowers smell fruity, but not overwhelmingly sweet.  The first thing that comes to mind is Strawberry Poptarts and Strawberry Special K.  It is a bit skunky as well, and is the sort of strawberrynote present in Amnesia Haze and Moonshine Haze.  She has background notes of a warm summer compost pile, dill pickles, moss, and even the hashy spice associated with Bubba, Master, and Pure Kush.  It is also a bit honeyed and sugary.  The aroma is only mild to moderate but is overall surprisingly unique, enjoyable, and interesting.  When flowers are broken up, it becomes a more skunky, offensive aroma with tart raspberry tones. 

Flavor: Like the aroma, the flavor is a bit subtle and understated.  However, the aftertaste has kept me coming back for more, and is actually a unique change from the typical and currently-popular cannabis gene pool.  The flavor reminds me of Door County blood-red cherries, strawberries, and raspberries muddled in water with some forest moss.  It is a bit watered down, and therefore does not have the same draw as a more intensely-fruity strain, or a smoke that is actually sweet.  The aftertaste lingers very strongly, providing sort of a skunky-tangy sensation at the back of the throat.  I really appreciate this aspect of the smoke, but wish the flavor were more intense.

Effects:  She comes on immediately, mostly felt behind the eyes.  The mellowing effects foreshadow an indica stone to come.  Strawberry Poptart (as I've named her) picks up from a mellow, oceanside breeze into a steady wind of cannabinoids.  She is dreamy, soft, slow, and calming.  However, she still seems functional, one's faculties never fully vacating.  It puts the user into a dreamscape, feeling as if floating and drifting effortlessly around the world. The potency can sneak up on someone, but the soft and easy character of this flower tends to prevent the experience from becoming too intense.  This will provide a gentle and smooth experience.  While the effects mostly lean toward the broad leaf drug or indica spectrum, this flower inspires kind smiles as well as a sense of serenity.

Overall Experience:  I've changed my opinions about this plant and flower numerous times between germination and combustion, swaying back and forth from disappointment (mild aroma) to excitement and anticipation.  I regret this flower were not more aromatic, as the aroma she does contain is sublime.  I like the diverse and unsual fruit flavors that come to the front of the smoke, but am unimpressed with the intensity of these flavors.  The effects are enjoyable and calm, and I think this flower might be a good choice of smoke for a novice cannabis smoker.  This is simple, smiley, dreamy weed that sort of does what is expected.  While not super euphoric, this flower is still a happy smoke that is easy to put down and won't wreck a day or make one too paranoid.  I enjoy having this jar in my possession and certainly love the wafting aromas of honeyed-strawberry poptarts and jam, but it won't replace Chem or OG any time soon.

Bodhi Seeds Zamaldelica x Apollo 11 Genius F3

Origins and Backstory: I received these as testers from Bodhi.  Zamaldelica is highly-interesting threeway cross of Malawi and Thai (together making Golden Tiger) and Zamal.  Zamal is a landrace sativa coming from an island near Madagascar and is known for its trip-like psychedelic effects.  For sativa enthusiasts, I think the combination of exotic landraces from Malawi, Thailand, and Madagascar is almost too exhilarating to handle.  Apollo 11 is a personal favorite sativa of mine, originally from Brother's Grimm seeds.  Bodhi has inbred her genetics and selected for the Genius phenotype, known for making the user "become a genius" with accelerated and insightful thinking.  She is electrically-euphoric and inspiring, and has a floral pineapple cheeto aroma.  The lineage still gets me excited just thinking about it.  This can be a bit confusing, so here's the formal geneology:  (Zamal x (Malawi x Thai)) x Apollo 11 F3 'Genius'.

Appearance:  Phenotypes differed greatly.  Those leaning toward Apollo 11 put out giant sativa baseball bats of hairy, easy-to-trim colas.  I also had a phenotype that was incredibly-branchy, and begged to stretch through the ceiling.  She put out smaller, more spindly, landrace-looking flowers.  The other phenotypes finished buds were highly frosty, and really reminded me a lot of Apollo 11, and of Bodhi's Genius Thai which I have seen a friend grow.  The Apollo 11 structured plants definitely have bag appeal with a very high calyx-to-leaf ratio, gigantic and dense, and a good frost content.  The individual flowers look like big, hairy, green grenades or fat alien pine cones. 

Aroma:  The aromas were fairly diverse among phenotypes, exhibiting notes from tropical pineapple/mango/guava, red apples, savannah grasslands, hashy spice, and hops.  My favorite phenotype is a bit fruity, very reminiscient of red apple skins, freshly-sliced mango, dry summer grasslands, citrusy hops, and hints of caramel and vanilla.  While complex, the character of the aroma is only mild to moderate, as is the case with many landrace sativas.  I certainly appreciate all the different notes of this bouquet, but something like Amnesia Haze or Moonshine Haze will produce more of a "wow" factor from discerning noses.  This bouquet is complex and very intriguing on many different levels, but takes a sativa connoisseur to really appreciate.  I do not anticipate the masses having the same enthusiasm in smelling this jar as I personally do.

Flavor: The flavor of this variety is similar to the aroma.  It is complex but understated, mild yet enjoyable.  The flavor of red apple skins is prominent, with hoppy, India-Pale-Ale flavors coming in closely behind.  The flavor of mango and vanilla are unfortunately lost entirely, but the caramel retains a position in the background.  The flavor is a bit grassy, making me think of what ganja from the '60s and '70s must have tasted like.  While nice, I do not think the flavor will be the aspect of this flower that keeps the user coming back.  Overall, the flavor is a pleasurable but not entirely lip-smacking.

Effects:  Easily the highlight of this particular variety, I adore the unique effects of the Zamaldelica x Apollo 11.  Without wasting time, each toke of this flower will take the user noticeably and immediately higher.  There seems to be no cloudiness or dreary dream-state effects with this herb, even if one has over imbibed.  Each bit of smoke is like a hot air current for a balloon--it sweeps the user higher and higher with seemingly no limit, coming in waves.  It is light, floaty, and uplifting.  My favorite phenotypeis mildly psychedlic, creating a mindspace like the come-up of mushrooms.  While social and chatty with friends, this ganja can be a bit racey or inspire social paranoia with strangers.  However, the racy/paranoid aspect of this cannabis is really fun, unlike the sometimes-terrifying effects that I personally have experienced from pure Thai and Cambodian varieties.  This flower sweeps you up with the sort of floaty, light-headed feeling across the head that rosin or good hash can sometimes give, and regularly gives me butterflies in my stomach.  It produces a bubbly, energetic, curious, and even nervous sensation that makes one want to giggle and run around outside.  I would also consider this herb highly creative and personally insightful, and is beautifully positive.  It reminds me of a psychedelic and nervey version of "In the Pines," and I actually prefer this variety to the typical Hazes and other more terpene-rich narrow leaf drug varieties.  I cannot say enough good things about this wonderfully light and memorable, euphoric sensation.

Overall Experience:  The bag appeal, ease-of-growth, yield, and effect are enough for me to continue to grow and smoke this variety.  I have always had a soft spot in my heart (more likely my CB1 and CB2 receptors) for psychedelic, positive sativas or narrow-leaf drug varieties.  This one hits home in that respect, and has found a place among my favorite sativa plants.  It is such a beautiful and rare thing to be able to capture the awe, wonder, and happiness of a psychedelic experience in ganja, and this cultivar does it with short flowering time and high yields.  However, I will have to say that the aroma and flavor are really the low points of this flower.  Perhaps with a larger selection, I could have found more terpene-rich phenotypes. Despite this, she is a plant worth keeping just for the effects and convenience.  I cherish these flowers for my morning and day-time smoke, but I do not imagine the concentrates impressing flavor-hunters any time soon.  If you like zingy head-tripping-bright-day sativas, this is a must in your stable.  Another gem from Bodhi.

Aficionado Seeds In the Pines

Origins and Backstory: After first hearing of the company, I was intrigued by the Aficionado image portrayed by their website and social media.  I had seen pictures of their impressive packaging, and saw what seemed like an excessive price.  It was all certainly enough to get my attention.  I read about their seeds on their website, and decided that I would try out this highly-decorated strain of theirs.  I germinated two packages of seed, and received bountiful yields of consistently-amazing pineapple flowers.  I could have kept many phenotypes but ultimately selected one favorite.  In the Pines is a three way cross of Pineapple Thai, Mean Gene's Pineapple, and Master Kush.  I believe it has been bred to at least the third filial generation.

Appearance:  Long, full flowers with spiked tops comprise the majority of In the Pines phenotypes.  Some were more dense and stout, but most had a very sativa look to them.  Even with a cold finish, there was zero purple color to be found.  These buds are covered in resin and are pretty dense despite the long, thin, sativa-like character.  Many phenotypes have tops that look like mild fox tails, but upon closer examination seem to just be an abnormal bud structure, and are not fox tailing.  Green bud with orange hairs, nothing necessarily stand-out.

Aroma:  The bouquet from this strain is absolutely unbelievable, and is undoubtedly some of the most compelling cannabis I've smelled to date.  Most phenotypes were very floral with unmistakable notes of canned pineapple and syrup abounding.  Other phenotypes exhibited the whole spectrum of citrus fruits, with only lime absent.  Some were lemon, tangerine, orange, grapefruit, clementine, red apple, and even rotting mango.  Vanilla was noted in some plants, and almost all expressed blossomy, floral notes. Some phenotypes were like candied pineapple lifesavers, some like canned pineapple syrup, and others still like pineapple upside down cake. There are forest-like scents in the background, not as prominent as the fruit but still very much present.  It reminds me of Pacific Northwest forests in particular.  The aroma of this strain is so incredible and enticing.  It is truly incredible how much pineapple there is on the nose.

Flavor: As incredible as the aroma, the flavor is deep and complex.  It indeed mimics pineapple, and all of the aforementioned fruits. There is so much citrus and pineapple to the flavor.  Apt to the name, there are less bold flavors of pine trees and forest floor.  The smoke is also very floral, providing a delicate and unique experience that is almost tea-like.  It reminds me of connoisseur-quality white tea and pineapples, with so many subtle flavors coming through.  One is even compelled to eat the flowers.  Briefly stated, In the Pines tastes like a pineapple-cupcake-forest-flower. 

Effects:  I was mistaken when I thought the aroma and flavor were the highlights of this masterpiece.  The effects truly exhibitthe finest character and highest quality that I have had the pleasure of experiencing in cannabis.  It is so euphoric, feel-good, happy, uplifting, engaging, intriguing, and functional all the same.  I feel very euphoric from In the Pines, as well as more positive, uplifted, and curious in all-things-happening in the world.  Inspiring, it makes me want to call old friends, read new books, take a walk outside, express myself to loved ones, and engage with all the other beautiful activities in life.  What I love the most is that overindulging in this flower seems to be difficult.  Paranoia, social awkwardness, anxieties, and all of the other negatives that so-often accompany sativas is not remotely present.  I am consistently calmed and uplifted from this cannabis, with never a negative effect it seems.  This has become a favorite of mine across such a diverse array of activities and experiences due to its consistent nature.  The character of effect from In the Pines is something truly special.

Overall Experience:  Bravo.  Encore.  Aficionado takes the cake on this one.  Excelling in all categories, In the Pines captures the essences of pineapple, flowers, vanilla, and truly enjoyable cannabis.  It is pretty and somewhat classic in appearance, but shines to the olfactory senses and mind.  The pineapple and dessert-like flavors are so prevalent and enjoyable, it is truly amazing to experience them in the form of smoke.  The effect is even more enjoyable, which is hard for me to even say, as the aroma is so enticing on its own.  This variety seems to embody all of the positive mental aspects that cannabis advocates rejoice over.  It is happy, euphoric, positive, and gratitude-inspiring.  In the Pines also seems to lack the paranoia, over-sedation, dysfunction, etc. that users typically do not appreciate about cannabis.  This strain is truly something special, and I can't wait to see what else I can uncover from Aficionado's offerings.

Loompa's Headband aka Underdawg OG

Origins and Backstory: This is the famous clone-only from Loompa of Loompa Farms.  It is also known as Underdawg OG, and has been bred into seed into the popular Yeti OG.  To my knowledge, it is rumored that she is a cross of OG Kush and Sour Diesel.  I am not sure how true that is, but some diesel and OG ancestry is credible.  She is well-known for being very exclusive, but I have seen her more in recent years than ever before.  I grew her twice, and I can testify first-hand to this being a very sensitive plant.  It takes a keen eye to be able to grow this one well. 

Appearance:  Dense, fist-sized pine cone nuggets of glory come off of a well-grown Loompa's Headband plant, with very little larf or hash material.  She pitches beautifully green buds that look like Christmas trees, covered in tinsel of trichomes and bright red pistil ornaments.  She has the classic OG structure to her, very appetizing to the eye.

Aroma:  This is classic OG, the signature smell that regular tokers can consistently recognize with blindfolds on.  She smells of jet tarmac, fuel and burning rubber, sour lemon pinesol cleaner, pine forest, sourdough and rye bread, and green plaintains.  It is so complex, interesting, and high-octane smelling that it inspires one to repeatedly huff the jar.  It is really something incredible, and wildly bizarre that a plant exists that smells like this one.  She has the classic cannabis smell of the skunk-in-a-wet-field sort, and genuinely smelled like roadkill skunk when drying.  The cure brings out even more complex flavors and depth of OG that is nothing short of exquisite.  This is undeniably luxurious cannabis.

Flavor: Like her aroma, the flavor of Loompa's Headband is just incredible.  Flavors of jet and drag racing fuel lead the way with heavy notes of rubber, pinesol, and pine needles.  It is like experiencing a very sour race track or jet tarmac in your mouth.  There is also a sort of rye bread and sourdough flavor that comes through strongly.  She is sour and musty, but a different kind of musty.  It is not a must and spice ala the Kush varieties, but something that almost smells like moldy bread, or older yogurt.  Perhaps it is the way she was grown, but there is also a strong aftertaste of earth, loam, and wet soil.  Headband and OG Kush are akin to the cannabis varietals of fine Scotch.  The intense, interesting, unique flavor keeps you coming back for more, delving deeper into the stone.

Effects:  Loompa's cut is hard-hitting, immediate, and behind the eyes.  She is definitely indica dominant but has a strong sativa component as well.  This one actually is more reminiscient of Headband than OG, and is somewhat calm and relaxed while retaining heavy potency.  She is euphoric, mellow, feel-good, and very long lasting.  The lingering effect of Loompa's Headband smoke has stayed with me for 3-6 hours depending on circumstances.  Her full potency takes a while to creep up, but the full effect is something to behold. She is dreamy, but surprisingly not too debilitating.  The satisfaction factor of this ganja is very high--this plant is so strong, happy, relaxing, sweet, and mellowing.  All of the effects combine into a very satisfying smoke, making one content with minimal amounts. She is medicinal in every sense of the word, a deep soul healer and physical pain killer.  This is versatile herb as far as effects go, and is great for smoking pretty much every time except early morning.  Even then, it is not the worst thing in the world.

Overall Experience:  This is a clone with a much-deserved reputation.  One of, if not THE original Headband clone, this plant is sure to satisfy any OG, Headband, or Chem lover, and will surely leave nobody wanting in regards to potency.  The appearance is the classic look of strong OG Kush cannabis, but the aroma is the classic Headband.  It is so sour, musty, and fuel-piney which translates well into flavor.  It is thoroughly enjoyable and begs to be enjoyed over and over, which can lead to a dreamy, but surprisingly not-too-foggy afternoon.  This cannabis is a classic and will always be a favorite of mine, showing unique characteristics of the original diesel family as well as OG Kush.  She makes for a unique smoke, even if one is well-versed in diesels, chem, and ogs.  Even for the veteran with every elite clone in the garden, smoking Headband is satisfying and she never seems to cultivate a tolerance.  It seems I can always reach for my jar of Loompa's for a satisfying smoke, regardless of how often I've been smoking her or other potency powerhouses.  All around an epic and elite clone-only that deserves space in any garden.  Lovely bouquet, but an exquisite effect.

Gage Green Daybreaker x Chemdog/Sour Diesel

Origins and Backstory: A package of seeds was given to a friend of mine as a tester directly from Gage. I haven't seen these seeds anywhere from Gage and they must've been scrapped.  He then gave these seeds to me as part of a Sour Chem project.  I only had 50% germination rates, and a single female.  This is that female.

Appearance:  The flowers from this strain are gorgeous. However she is grown, the plant exhibits extreme trichome development, and bright green flowers.  The coldest of temperatures will not get her to darken, or purple.  However, she seems to get even frostier at cold temperatures, as if a dew of cannabinoids settles on the bud in the cold.  Beautiful, frosty, classic finger-like flowers.

Aroma:  This plant has one of the most bizarre aromas I've come across in cannabis. It is super sweetbut uniquely refreshing with unmistakable and prominent notes of baby wipes, aloe vera, and rubbing alcohol.  Others have described it as smelling very hoppy like an IPA, and "the cleaning product aisle at Whole Foods."  It's very strange, and I've never smelled anything like it in cannabis.  It is entirely different from the lemon-pinesol-fuel from chemdog, but is very chemical in nature.  I think baby wipes sums it up perfectly.  There are also strong notes of citrus, honey, and graham cracker.  It really smells like a graham cracker covered in orange blossom honey all wrapped up in a baby wipe and aloe vera leaves! The odd combination of bouquet certainly conjures up intrigue.

Flavor: The flavor is largely different from the aroma, and not nearly as refreshing.  It leans heavily toward aloe vera, hoppy IPA beer, and honey grahams.  There is almost no chemical flavor present, and this plant does not resemble the Chemdog or Sour Diesel lineage as I have ever known it.  It is pleasant and nostalgic for me personally to experience the flavor of honey grahams or graham crackers in cannabis, and the aloe vera is certainly an interesting note.  The flavor is enjoyable but nearly not as remarkable as the actual Chemdog genetic line. 

Effects:  Felt immediately, this cross is somewhat sativa-dominant in its effect.  It is happy and euphoric but remains potent and effective.  It will cut through previous smokes of the day, and the intensity gradually builds in waves in the frontal lobe.  This flower is felt behind the eyes but also strongly in the mind and brain itself.  It is fun, entertaining, motivating, but still has the comforting warm blanket effect that I typically associate with indicas.  This is very pleasant and day-dreamy herb without being too heavy.  It is very strong though, and in excess produces more stoney, confusing effects.  In moderation, this is really fun and a bit silly, and very comfortable.

Overall Experience:  This is really enjoyable ganja.  The smell is one of the strangest and most unique in cannabis I've come across, and the nuggets are an absolute gorgeous lime-green covered in a layer of resin.  The flavor is not quite as impressive or remarkable as the nose, but is nice nonetheless.  I appreciate this smoke mid-to-early afternoons.  It keeps you going in a productive manner but with a more relaxed state of mind.  This is all-around fun weed, but it will not take the place of any of my personal favorites.  It is enjoyable for a unique change every now and then, but that is really the niche of this flower.  It is meant to change things up in an unusual way, but I don't think anybody will replace the classic elite clone-only plants in their garden with this one.  Gage Green produced something beautiful, unique, and enjoyable here that is most certainly worth running. 

Greenpoint Seeds Chem 34

Origins and Backstory: I bought these as testers from Greenpoint Seeds during their first release.  Chem 34 is Famine x Stardawg.  Famine is originally from Illuminati Seeds, and its full lineage looks like this: Chem 3 x (Abusive OG/West Coast Dog).  I have seen Chem 3 hybrids excel before, and have no experience with the West Coast Dog.  The genetics intrigued me and I thought they would exhibit heavy Chem traits, so I germinated them as part of the Sour Chem project.

Appearance:  Phenotypes varied, but all were extraordinary resin producers.  One phenotype was more stout in structure, and put out fist-sized chunky floral clusters.  Other phenotypes grew taller with finger-like buds that practically oozed cannabinoids.  These nuggets always impress friends as they are so dense, chunky, and absolutely caked in resin.  These flowers consistently make eyes into dinner plates. 

Aroma:  The aroma of the Chem 34 phenotypes was similar across the board.  Very Chemdog-apparent, these flowers smelled of sour lemon, bitter lemon peel, chlorine bleach, lysol, bromine, watered-down lemon warhead candies, and other strange cleaning agents.  The aroma reminded me of walking past one of the hotel cleaner's carts in the hallway, or what the janitor smelled like in elementary school.  There is also a strong lemon character that is very sour and slightly bitter, very reminiscent of warhead candies.  This is like a lemon-cleaner side of Chemdog without much fuel or gasoline.  A spectacular lemon cleaner-centric take on Chemdog.

Flavor: Chem 34 gets all the best of the Chemdog genetic line wrapped up in her flavor.  Chem 3 contributes bleach, chlorine, and mild lemon flavors, while the Chem 4 lends nail polish, solvent, and some fuel smells.  The great-grandmother of this cross, Abusive OG, is even noticed.  It could be the Chem 4 as well, but there are tones of fuel and the signature lemon pinesol of OG Kush.  Chem D from the Stardawg line is also prevalent, giving this herb an overhwelmingly sour, dank, skunky, almost-nasty odor.  To sum up the flavor, this is a sweet and skunky lemon bleach cleaner smoke.  It is incredibly satisfying and invites smoking a lot of this herb.

Effects:  This is a deadly-potent OG-Chemdog hybrid that leans heavily to the Chem side of things.  A face-smasher of the highest order, this is sure to impress any and every head.  She is satisfying and incredibly strong.  While her full effects take some time to fully manifest, this is the kind of herb that will put beads of sweat on your forehead, and you have to take a seat for a minute while your blood pressure changes.  This is a warm, complete and total mind-body stone that would knock an elephant out.  She is sedative but also perspective-changing and interesting.  Very introspective, this ganja is not recommended for social situations.  This mind-warper is perfect for snowy nights in or epic movies.  It is fairly imaginative, creative, and fun.  You just need to make sure to write down any ideas that pop up, as they will be nearly-immediately forgotten. Your mind slowly drifts from interesting thought to interesting thought, like cloudson a mellow day.  I personally enjoyed this ganja during our most recent Super Bowl.  I was not as interested in the actual game as I was in the whole production of the thing, and the context that the Super Bowl and all its parts take in our society.  It was mind-blowing to say the least, and I couldn't believe what humanity had turned into as I watched fireballs spewing out of the ground behind gorgeous women dressed in sequins with plastic smiles and choreographed dance.  This story should illustrate how this flower effects the mind.  This period of intense curiosity and couch-lock is followed up with overpowering drowsiness, red eyes, and laughs from friends as they think you are ridiculous.  This is giggly herb, so you will probably chuckle at yourself as you fall asleep. 

Overall Experience:  Simply an amazing indica.  This is an incredible Chemdog leaning cross that exhibits traits from Chem 3, Chem 4, Chem D, and even a trait or two of the OG line.  Her appearance is incredible, and seems to improve upon most other Chemdog hybrids.  Her perfectly dense and chunky buds glisten with copious resin, and the sour lemon Chemdog cleaner aroma is even more compelling.  This plant is deadly potent, and can cut through any effect from previous smoke during the day.  The bleachy lemon cleaner flavor is enticing and invites overindulgence.  Overindulging should be done carefully however, as this puckering flower will knock your body down so your mind can travel.  This is mind-blowing, stupefying, sedating, and fun flower that has all of the best flavors from the Chemdog lines, and is guaranteed to hit hard enough to satisfy anyone.  This is a must-try for those who appreciate potency and hard-hitting effects, or just enthusiasts of the Sour and Chemdog clones.  An amazing representation of the overall Chemdog genetic line, this is an all-time favorite smoke of mine.

Hollywood Pure Kush

Origins and Backstory: One of the classic Kush varieties coming from California, this plant is very similar to the Bubba Kush, SoCal Master Kush, and Suge Pure Kush.  She has been passed around for over 20 years and is still known to be an elite clone-only.  Her original birthplace is most likely from mountainous areas of hashish-producing regions in the middle-east, or she is some sort of hybrid of varieties from these same areas.

Appearance: Pure Kush puts out golf-ball shaped buds that are dense and covered in resin.  Once one has seen and handled the buds, they can be recognized anywhere.  Very stout and dense, the tops never protrude into the spearhead or pine cone shape.  This plant will develop a very slight purple tint if exposed to low temperatures consistently at the end of harvest, but almost always ends up light green, nearly identical to the nugget pictured above.

Aroma:  This is one of the first plans to really define the aroma and flavor of "Kush."  It is a spicy and very hashy aroma, with strong skunk notes from the strains so lovingly-selected in the '80s and 90's. This plant is a sweeter skunky smell than a Chemdog, but is much skunkier than many other varieties boasting the "skunk" nomenclature.  She smells of exotic spices and old musty places like basements and dank carpets, notes that can be found in nearly any typical Kush variety.  This particular Kush plant has nuances of marshmallow and vanilla.  Hints of spearmint are in the background as well.  I think the easiest thing to identify Hollywood Pure Kush from the other Kushes is the marshmallow, vanilla, and spearmint that is so prevalent and unique.  This musty, kushy plant has a trademark aroma that brings back relaxed beach-vibe memories when I inhale from a jar.

Flavor: Very similar to her aroma, the Pure Kush is a musty, skunky and dank variety with strong flavors of old-world traditional hashish and marshmallow spice.  It is sweet and vanilla can be noted more subtly.  The spice and hash flavors come first and most upfront, with marshmallow somewhere as a midtone. Exhales can have very light mint accents, and are followed up by a skunky flavor lingering on the palate.  Very enjoyable, this flavor is consistent with this variety.  It is hard to tell if I enjoy the flavor in its own rite, or because I associate it with the relaxed, happy effects.

Effects:  Very mellow and relaxing, this is a classic California Kush variety.  It is not overwhelmingly potent, but certainly strong enough to satisfy.  The effect is mildly sedating, but overall very pleasant, enjoyable, and laid back.  Despite the strength and indica-like character, these flowers will still have a functional effect.  Because the smoke is so relaxing, issues like paranoia, racing heart, etc. never become problems, even after overindulging.  This herb is very easy-going, relaxing, and pleasant.  It is not psychedelic in the slightest, and has a mellowing effect in the head, and nothing more.  Great for hanging out with friends at outdoor activities like camping or barbecuing because of its chill, mellow, happy nature.  This plant just puts out chill, happy, relaxed, no-problem-here vibes.

Overall Experience:  I love this plant and I'm certainly not alone in this sentiment; it is still being passed around and bred with after over 20 years of cultivation.  This particular Kush variety is spicy, hashy, and has uniquely beautiful flavors and aromas that bring marshmallow, vanilla, and hashish to mind.  The signature shape and aroma of the flowers always get me excited to just chill out and relax.  The smoke from Hollywood Pure Kush is such a classic and is a fun, enjoyable indica on sunny social days.  It is also good for pain management, insomnia, and other illnesses that are typically addressed by indicas, but seems to avoid the dulling or out-of-this-world feelings that can come from overwhelmingly-potent varieties.  Hollywood Pure Kush and her sisters will hopefully remain in the cannabis gene pool for years to come. 

Gorilla Glue #4

Origins and Backstory: Bred by a grower known as Joesy Wales, Gorilla Glue #4 is a clone-only cultivar named after its extreme stickiness.  It is unclear to me whether the strain is a cross of Chem Sis x Sour Dubb, or if it is a three-way cross of Chem Sis, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel.  However, it is basically the accidental product of home-growing from a group in the northwest.  It has become famous with extreme quickness.

Appearance: Extremely resinous, GG4 is known for its near-white appearance that makes it so appealing.  It occasionally shoots out stacking towers of calyxes on top of the buds in a trademark sort of way.  GG4 is as frosty as could be, and is very visually pleasing.

Aroma:  Gorilla Glue 4 in my garden came out to be sour, chemmy, with notes of chocolate, diesel fuel, and lemons. A jar reminds me of a well-done Mexican mole sauce, and chocolate biscotti.  It is hashy, spicy, sweet, sour like milk gone bad, a bit acrid, with heavy notes of chocolate.  It is a bit musty, reminding me of old basement and carpeting.

Flavor: It tastes almost exactly as it smells.  It is sweet, sour, chem-like, with some background notes of chocolate.  When smoked, the flavor seems to lose a bit of its complexity, with the Mexican mole spice not really noticeable.  It still retains multiple dimensions of flavor though, and is an enjoyable sweet and sour smoke. The chocolate isn't overwhelming, and it would be interesting to see Gorilla Glue selected for chocolate scent.  I really love the chocolate in the aroma of the Glue, and would love to see some breeding done to highlight that trait.

Effects:  Coming on immediately, Gorilla Glue is good day smoke for veterans.  It is mostly in the head, and is somewhat inspiring actually.  It can be a bit nervous but is mostly relaxed, fun, easygoing, pleasant, and fairly functional.  It is potent enough to be satisfying smoke and is not overwhelming.  It feels great on a summer day, and is good herb for relaxing outside in a hammock or on the beach.  You could even get active and hike around, surf, etc. but I would prefer a haze or more sativa-dominant plant for more active endeavors.  Very enjoyable, mildly creative, and motivating.  This flower makes me want to move a bit and get things done, and then makes relaxing easy when it's all over.  Those who associate extreme frost with potency will be disappointed though, as a Chemdog or OG variety will hit harder than this plant every day of the year. 

Overall Experience:  Gorilla Glue #4 has a lot of hype behind it, and it is clearly a commercial strain.  It appears to be absolutely covered and dominated by resin, and has an attractively offensive and unique scent that catches attention.  Coupled with high yields, it is no wonder why this variety has made its way around growing circles so quickly.  However, I do not find it to be exceptional connoisseur smoke. I like the flavor, and the effects are enjoyable.  However, there is nothing spectacular or unique about the effects in any way.  If you're growing this strain, it is probably for the excellent bag appeal and decent character of effect.  Great commercial strain and is sure to wow your friends with resin, but Gorilla Glue is not a game-changing mind-dazzler.