Spiderworts are this girl's best friend (somewhat lame post for the weekend)

More substantial posting Monday (cross fingers) but spiderworts,  are the best. If you want a fun perennial that is easy and self seeds like mad... but we enjoy invasions around here.

Their flowers are substantial but close up when it gets too hot by the afternoon. 

As they self seed, I have a million little seedlings which I give away and ones of various ages so that I have a varying amount of heights for my spiderworts.

The oldest ones are ginormous!  About 4 feet tall, I swear.  They are in my front yard bed though that gets a good amount of fertilizer for the irises and bulbs, so that might be a factor in their height.

I still have to give them a taste, as I learned some time ago that they are edible, and okra-like in taste as well as excellent indicators for a nuclear apocalypse.  This plant is also a common find at master gardener trades/flings, due to that easy self seeding thing.  Like all my lemon balm and feverfew and lambs ears, this self sows into my lawn too. 

I promise to give an update when I give this stuff, also known as "cow slobber" a taste (next month, I swear!)

Just wanted to bring up reliable plant-i-tude for those who care!

Garden ornamental eating epiphany!

I recently got a coupon from Home Depot, as I'm part of their "Garden Club" or "Home Improver club" (or maybe that's the Lowe's version?) or whatever they want to call or lump it in with now.

(Oh, and also not affiliated or whatnot with them, I'm just stating a fact and am not special in any way and it's easy to be a part of this "club")

Back to the point, the coupon is for a buy one, get one free houseplant.  I have plenty of house plants I think and in the winter that explodes because some of the edibles become houseplants, so obviously I was trying to think of houseplants of potential (especially ones that hang to save space because horizontal space is precious here).

I had a duh moment and remembered that I've always wanted to try fuchsia, because the flowers can be spectacular, it's commonly hung and finally YOU CAN EAT THE BERRIES.  And make JAM!

The only tricky part that I've heard is that some of the berries are significantly better than others and finding the variety that is tasty can be hard as big box stores tend to carry houseplants for show, rather than for actual use.

Double petal/flower fuchsia are what's often seen in the stores I know and I hear that the large showy flowers can cut down on fruit production, so that's a minus.  Also I find that many of the big box places don't always list the Latin name of the plants, so I don't know if I'll find any of the suggested fuchsia varieties below if I can't figure out their true identity:

-Fuchsia corymbiflora
-Fuchsia excorticata aka Kotukutuku
-Fuchsia splendens  and cultivar 'Karl Hartweg'
-Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba'
-Fuchsia regia
-Fuchsia venusta
-Fuchsia procumbens
-Fuchsia magellanica and cultivars 'Globosa' and 'Tresco'

While researching, I've also found that the F. magellanica is potentially hardy in this area! Some places say zones 7+ and others 6+.  Either way, here in zone 7a, if I

The coupon expires mid-March and I am also uncertain if they'll have plants like that even out yet.  Crud.  Maybe it would be better to just order online for certain?

Another silly epiphany I have was bamboo!

Down here it can grow pretty rampant and I know that some people have difficulty controlling it.  Someone I know controls her's by kicking the bamboo shoots multiple times each time they pop up and that controls them well enough.  I luckily reminded her that you can totally eat bamboo shoots and we did end up cooking them up with some soy sauce and sesame oil, which was excellent.

So, why the heck did I not think about growing bamboo before?!  (well, I was worried it would get out of control...I can eat it, and it would be an accessible resource for gardening!  I am such an idiot, why didn't I start this earlier?!  Adding to my list... "see if I can trade for bamboo this year..."

If anyone in the area has some of the either above, tasty fuchsia and bamboo (all young shoots are edible, is what I've read), please tell me if I'd be able to trade for it.  Grand plans this year, grand plans! :)

More surprising edibles: Spiderworts

This is another pass-along plant I received quite a few years ago that I went a bit unimpressed "eh" to initially but couldn't say no to (I can't say no to free plants!)
(Pardon crappy pic of lone not in flower spiderwort, to see in flower look here)

I've grown to appreciate their pop of color during the spring/summer and was pleasantly surprised to find out that they are edible too!

Spiderworts, also strangely known as Cow's Slobber (due to their sticky muciliginous nature like okra) have edible stems, leaves and flowers that can be eaten fresh or cooked. This "slobber" is used as a thickening agent in food (like okra again) and like aloe, can help heal wounds or relieve insect bites purportedly.

Mine stick around happily in unsheltered southern exposure and self seed readily. They also can be propagated by cuttings, and upon close inspection of my plants, when Spiderworts become somewhat rangy appearing, it looks like little new plant shoots are developing on the main stem, so if that main is buried, the new plants will most likely root up.

It may take a year or two before they get quite large and showy in their flowers, but once they are established they are really attract the bumblebees, with the bees' weight bending the flower stems here and there as they land.

Spiderworts are considered somewhat invasive, and though each of their triangular flowers tend to last only a day, the flower buds form in clusters of as many as 20 at a time, so the chances for more Spiderworts is pretty great.

Another interesting aspect of Spiderworts (other than their deliciousness) is their other name Radiation plant! Usually the stamens are purple or bluish but when they turn pink, their biological sensitivity is better than human instruments in
the detection of ionizing radiation.

So, if you believe in a radioactive/nuclear apocalyptic meltdown, or live near a nuclear power plant, Spiderworts are for you!

Links of Interest:
http://www.wildfoodforagers.org/spidrwt.htm
http://science.jrank.org/pages/6382/Spiderwort-Family.html
http://www.gdr.org/spiderwortdefon.htm
http://gulahiyi.blogspot.com/2009/06/amazing-spiderwort.html

Ferns: Finally a tasty that doesn't need much sun

SUPPOSEDLY, all ferns all are edible, but the only confirmed one that is recommended is the Ostrich fern, as some ferns are believed to potentially contain carcinogens (though what doesn't just about nowadays? Even water does I swear...)

(Cinnamon fern)

Don't start noshing on your dentist's office fern just yet (plus they might use some nasty stuff on it), but you might be surprised to hear that the fiddleheads of Ostrich ferns are quite delicious and similar to that of asparagus in flavor with a little steam and butter.

Ostrich ferns are quite common, I've seen them sold in pots at my local grocery store and can tolerate considerable temperatures, naturalized in the New England areas, tolerating zones 3-7. I grow its relative the Royal/Osmanthus/Interrupted fern which is purportedly edible too, though I have yet to try it due to its smallness in size.

(Osmanthus fern, too small and w/no fiddleheads!)

Though I do not grow Ostrich ferns myself due to lack of room some inability to provide good shady/moist conditions with room for a potentially 3-5ft plant, I hope some day to be able to do so and if others can provide a place for them in their yards to naturalize I would suggest it in the name of tasty and an easy conservation kind harvest rather than creating a potential over harvesting issue in its natural wild environment as harvesting and eating fiddleheads is starting to become somewhat trendy.

You need good conditions and plenty of shade of course if you want them to do well, and also it takes a good while before the fiddleheads are of a good size before they make good eating in volume. Think of them as really pretty asparagus (which take at least 3 years before good establishment).

It's also good to note too that you can't just take every fiddlehead from a plant because, like asparagus (and I suppose nearly every perennial vegetable you want to come back), it's called photosynthesis, they need it to grow and continue on with that beautiful thing called life to nourish you next year (ok, they probably don't care about your needs, but I assume you care about theirs).

Links of Interest:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4198.htm
http://www.gorgetopgardens.com/perennials/ferns-ostrich.html
http://my.gardenguides.com/members/divaqs/blog/2007/04/15/The_Edible_Ostrich_Fern
http://noseeds.blogspot.com/2008/04/edible-ostrich-ferns.html
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/08/travel/edible-ferns-of-new-england.html

Drinks on me! Mimosas!

My rules/exceptions to growing non-edible plants are that they must be:

1) interesting/unusual flowers to attract pollinators/beneficial insects
2) landscaping plants that survive my lack of watering and care
3) low groundcovers that can act like living mulch
4) FUN plants for my amusement

The last category applying to this plant, Mimosa Pudica:


Though I like the drink (orange juice+champagne/prosecco) and find it super groovy, I enjoy mimosa plants more so (unless it's a really bad day). Mimosas are great amusement and called the sensitive plant because of this:



The first time I saw this I think I was very very young and was very very impressed by a plant that seemed to move/play dead.

It was literally probably a decade later before I encountered it again in college in a greenhouse that was left open on the Ag campus and then some 5 years later before I was very lucky to have actually acquired it from a semi-local nursery a few hours north of Memphis where they were giving them away to the children for free.

So... I'm not a child, but my "SQUEE"-ing probably convinced them that I was one at heart and they let me take 3 little mimosa plants home with me because I knew a couple other little children at heart :)

Why would they give away such a cool plant for free you might ask?

Because it freakin' self-seeds like mad! (Um, so note potential invasiveness...)

(seed pod casings... the actual seeds are planted/sprouted--->)

Some months ago I noticed my now not so tiny plant had bloomed tiny pink puffballs and formed flat bean-like seed pods, making sense as they are in the legume (nitrogen fixing bean-like) family Fabaceae. When they became brown and dry enough that the pod fell off the stem easily I opened the pods out of curiosity and decided to plant the seeds with the pessimism that it probably wouldn't work... BUT THE SEEDS SPROUTED!

Oh. My. Joy.

Mimosas are cathartic. When you are annoyed or are in need of amusement, just poke at it and it's droopy sadness (really just water loss, the plant has no feelings! That I know of at least...) makes an annoyed person feel a whole lot better!

I like to touch the leaflets little at a time, getting the closing up/plant drooping to occur slowly, or see if I am delicate enough to get only one leaf to droop at a time. My husband thinks its fun to just go "RAAH!" on it and smack the entire thing all at once, making the main stem as well as all the leaves and tiny branches go sad. (I kind of glare at him when he does that because then I have to wait a good while before the plant recovers enough to be poked again).

What do I plan to do with little mimosa seedlings? I sort of imagine a lot of little pots of the mimosas , maybe 7 of them, that I can label them singly with the days of the week Mon-Tues-Wed-Fri-Sat-Sun, and pick one each day to torment (and then recover for a week) thus not OVERLY stressing one plant out too much.

Ok, that's a little disturbing... I really won't do that, scout's honor!

Instead I'll probably just give extra away so that I can share the joy.

I found out too that mimosa plants are actually edible! Hoohah! This fills my ultimate standard of a perfect plant! Edible and Fun! Unfortunately I probably won't be using mine as food, but the fact I can SAY I can eat it is comforting.

Interesting Mimosa links:
http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/plantoftheweek/articles/Mimosa.htm
http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week147.shtml

Hot-cha!

Hibiscus and Malabar spinach, as well as various herbs being my choice for ornamental gardening (all edible, please note), I find the most satisfaction in ornamental peppers. They are not only are fantastic looking, but edible and can be brought indoors to continuously flower and fruit throughout the winter!

Current varieties I have are:

Tricolore Garda (I grew by seed)
http://gurneys.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_73606

This beauty will grow upward pointing peppers that turn purple, cream, orange and finally red (so much for tri-colors...) Obviously they are still in their early stages, but I am so excited to see all the colors (....Duke! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwlMHJE82Mk),

and

Calico (bought from a nursery)
http://www.ballhort.com/Landscapers/plant_info.aspx?phid=045600001000942

This is a green-white-lavender variegated leaf dark purple-black tiny pepper packs a punch. It's so unusual I had to have it!

I really want to grow Black Pearl (http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/3953/)
(Thanks OSU for pic)

Black leaves and red/black pearl round peppers! I had ordered seed from Park seed, but after going out of town at one point, the peppers seedlings kicked it from the heat.

Ornamental peppers are edible, though considered to be extremely hot and somewhat pungent; vinegary is the best way to describe it.

My tricolore is just starting to fruit and I am excited by how the fruits seem to stand straight up. More on their heat when they get big enough. I will probably take a stab at trying them at their various color stages to see if it makes a difference in heat level.

When my husband and I tried the calico pepper fruits, when they were a deep purple black, it was a simple *chewchewchew,* "Man, these aren't that hot..." to "HOOO, okay, they've got some heat!" to "OHWHERE'STHEBATHROOM?"

Needless to say, you can't have a sensitive stomach for these lovelies.

For the longest time I was under the impression that you shouldn't grow peppers by seed and that the plants were the only way to go. I had heard that their heat got killed when you grew them by seed or they needed to be grafted or something odd like that, so I didn't bother. When I saw that the seed was advertised though, I figured they must retain that heat... the ad says so! So I am happy to find that it's working out just fine.

I (un)fortunately found that Park seed has a plethora of ornamental pepper seed and while I don't need so many... maybe I'll give the extras away to friends/family or sell some, who knows?

Park seed ornamental pepper links:

Tepin:
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5608/

Shu:
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/4000/

Explosive Ember:
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/3987/

Sangria Hybrid: (MILD though)
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/51524/

Marbles:
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5290/

Thai Hot:
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5643/

Purple Flash:
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/51523/

Malabar Spinach, should be renamed Spinach Steak

I have NEVER been able to get real spinach to grow here and discovered this little beauty:
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basella_alba)
MALABAR SPINACH. More like, Spinach Steak, more like Great Wall of Spinach here:

I was seduced into getting 2 packets of these seeds from Park Seed (http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5660/), and was saddened when I saw the 50 seeds to look very little, needing about 3-5 seeds per hill it stated on the packet and that germination was "lower" when seeded outside. Hmmm... I needn't have worried.

I am impressed by the reddish color of the stems (it is often grown as an ornamental), and it's vigor... looks wilty in the heat, but perks right back up at night and in the morning. It seems a little upset by the space I've given it and is invading the area I devoted to scarlet runner which I thought was vigorous. Oh woe Scarlet Runner, you may have met thy match!

It's oddly pest resistant, possibly due to its muciliginous nature (good for thickening soups like okra), but the leaves, OMG, the leaves are so juicy and have gotten as big as the size of my head(!) and hold so much water that when you bite into the leaves, or bend the main leaf stem you can SEE water MOVING through the veins/cells!

EVEN MORE EXCITEMENT abounds on my part to find out that this lovely vine can be propagated by cuttings, and I can overwinter it/let-it-overtake-my-home-over-the-winter-instead-and-become-eaten-by-its-sheer-enormousness!

I understand that if mulched well it might return, so... maybe I won't take cuttings...?

For $1.75/packet, I think I've made it back pretty easily. I may need to call in the neighbors though to keep it in check!

(Also, as my husband says, why the hell does anyone eat real spinach if we have this??? It grows vertically thus takes up less space, is relatively carefree, healthy for you, handles heat well, has few pest problems... duh?)

On another note, it is time to once again due battle with the cucumber monster plant:
The base has strawberry plants and between the cucumber and strawberries are okra plants... I hope they are not eaten by cucumber, vegetable cannibalism can be so cruel.

Delicious!

Just wanted to plug this site that I have discovered:

http://www.pfaf.org/index.php

ALL ABOUT EDIBLE PLANTS (columbines, who'd have thought?)

The database is like candy for me!

Hallu!

Pardon the lag in posts, it's been crazy as hell around here and I have been behind in all things in life as of late. Crazy in a good way of course, involving the visiting of friends and family, but it all throws a bit of wrench in my daily routine and it takes me a while to get back on track.


Here is a little thing I've had for a while, enjoy!


I went to the library some time long ago to attempt to be productive in my writing and could not help but stop by the used bookstore within. It’s always interesting to see what’s in the gardening section and I came across this gem:

Even better, it was a gift of the town’s library commission, and EVEN MORE BETTER it’s filed as a YA book. A book about psychoactive flowering plants for YOUNG ADULTS to read. (and it’s called Magic in Bloom!) Good job library commission! This was just too funny. (A friend of mine later asked, "Was it coincidence that the author's name is 'Mello?'")


The cover it shows morning glory flowers, which I have heard are hallucinogens (if you get a packet of morning glory seeds it usually will say something about not for consumption, which is what prompted me to look up and thus find out about morning glory properties). Paging through the book I also noticed they spoke of nutmeg, which I was also aware to have psychoactive properties.


Will be an interesting read.


I felt a little weird just getting this book on psychoactive plants, so I looked desperately around for something else suitable to purchase and luckily found Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” which I have heard is fantastic and after having read Oryx and Crake I have determined that I enjoy Atwood’s style.


LATER FURTHER READING.....


It is actually a quite interesting and objective book (I suppose it has to be, being a part of the Encyclopedia of Psychoactive drugs), with lots of explanations about ancient cultures and religious use of drugs that elders would use to initiate children into adulthood (unfortunately including beatings until nausea... or unconciousness I imagine) so that it forced the children to learn the consequences of these drugs and their potential circumstances from use (nowadays, adult initiaiting children into drugs means jail time).

I also noted that the psychoactive plants they have listed thus far come from the potato/nightshade family (morning glories, tobacco, potatoes of course and etc), nutmeg and cannabis/hemp family. Green potatoes are green due to a chemical called solanacae, which I have always been told is poisonous, aka hallucinogenic is seems.

Anyways, interesting stuff, noting cultural differences and plants being controversial and all.

Canna I eat it? YeS!

So, the recent storm/hurricane like conditions that passed through here recently surprisingly did not screw up my vegetable garden.

The tomatoes are doing fine, malabar spinach is loving the water, the bean trellis broke a little, but I just propped it up a bit. Dittany of Crete (herb, member of Oregano family) got waterlogged and isn't looking great (aka all the leaves fell off) but I have a cutting when it broke earlier, so hopefully that will survive.

The real damage happened in the flower garden areas, with the tallest of my Bells of Ireland (interestingly spicy smelling I found out) flopped over a broke, Calla lilies sagged sadly and my cannas, those got majorly icked over and were so heavy and sort tall they decided to fall over in the soft waterlogged hill patch I have them in, so I decided to take all my sad flowers and make the very rare bouquet in my house:
No huge loss as I have a ridiculous number of cannas and I was thinking of giving half of them away anyways, but I have been thinking about their edibility and my research shows, DELICIOUS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_(plant)
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/V3-507.html

Glass/cellophane noodles are Asian noodles that can be made with various types of starches, primarily mung beans, but cannas are rising in popularity as their starch has been found to be apparantly quite excellent in noodle making. You can find glass noodles in Asian stores, in restaurants usually in spring rolls, or basic noodle dishes...mmmm....


(Thanks to http://maona.net for pic)
Though the idea of making glass noodles may be somewhat time consuming, I understand that you can eat the tubers like potatoes anyways... we'll see, if people don't want cannas, what better way to use them than to FEED!??