I take the grandkids to reading programs at the local library. Last week we noticed Dandelions in bloom. I had been looking for a source to use for their edible portions, so I got the kids locating the plants for me by having them pick the flowers! Once a Dandelion starts to bloom the leaves become bitter and no longer good to eat. I have been picking leaves from Dandelion and Chicory for a few weeks now. I use them in salads, soups and stews.
As I had learned that the flower buds are tasty I picked buds with the kids last week. We put them in boiling water for 60 seconds then i did a stir fry in EVOO with some leaves I picked from non blooming plants. We all loved them! I also located some Wintercress in the same area and picked the leaves which were also added to the stirfry.
This week when we went there were a ton of Dandelions available. What a great help to the library to have the kids picks all the flowers to keep them form multiplying too much. This keeps the plants there for foraging yet controls the spread so that they don't have to treat them with chemicals!!
I will speak to the library Director so that she will know I am willing to do this weekly, so that she is not compelled to use the chemicals!!!
I got enough buds to serve at dinner last night. The kids and my hubby ate them. JD, my son in law thought they were interesting. They are full of nutrients, and the leftovers will go in our salad today.
I also found 3 Wintercress starting to produce their flower stalks. I cut the stalks, leaving the plant in place ans added these to the buds at dinner. The end of the stalk with the flower buds was very similar to Broccoli Raab, and even Mia liked it!! So we need to get out and get more Wintercress stalks today!!
Try them. You may find them as enjoyable as I have!
Showing posts with label edibles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label edibles. Show all posts
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
It's been a while
It has been a while since i created a post. Been so very busy. And so happy to relate that I was out gardening over the weekend. I had picked up a bunch of seeds and wanted to get my early plants started. When I started to come up with a plan I had no idea where to start. I wanted to plant lettuce, spinach, arugula and radish seeds, but where to put them. As they prefer cool weather, I realized I had the perfect spot. A good sized area that is in full shade until my Red Dogwood gets its leaves. Only problem was that I would have to remove the pachysandra in the area and prepare the soil.
Okay, so years ago it would be absolutely no problem, and I was thinking as if I was back there in the days when it was no problem to start a new garden.
Saturday was such a beautiful day to get gardening, so I went out, ready to go and started to tear up the garden. Paula had found a spot where she wanted all the plants I would be removing, ans as she is now living here, and an experienced gardener, I was happy to let her have it for an area she was planning to work on.
The work started off slowly, me finding my way through the patch of plants, slowly scraping them off the bed in order to get them moved. Then a little stiffness set in, so I moved positions and worked from another direction. Came to an old Rhododendron stump that we had be unsuccessful in removing previously, so just planted around it. What do you know? It had finally decided to let me get it out of the way! Way to go, Rhodo!! That gave me 6 more feet of garden area!!
So this new bed was going to be about 8 feet by 5 feet, and I was doing pretty well working the plants up in a rolling motion, the way you would roll up a rug. Okay, I can do this, got it going and then got stopped dead in my tracks - I just didn't have the energy to move it along!! So what did I do?? Give up?? Oh no, not me!! Now you have to remember, I have more family living here, and one of them just happens to be a big, strong cowboy, who just happened to be out in the yard. SO, you all guessed it, JD was more than willing and he got to it on my behalf and got the full bed rolled up and heaved out to the back on my behalf. OH, HOW WONDERFUL, to have extra hands, and such strong ones, at that, to help out this year!!
Then I went back to turning over the soil, and very quickly ran out of steam. With only a few feet left to be done, I enrolled my hubby in the task, while I loaded up my cart with compost. Then the cart was too heavy for me to move, so got JD to help again.
NOW, I must say here, that I used to be able to do all this by myself, and here I was having these stumbling blocks all day - I should have paid closer attention, but did not. I got right to the soil mixing and then the planting.
Got seeds all planted plus those for Leeks and Broccoli rabe. I was so happy. A new bed!! And full of edibles. Many will be harvested right there, and others will be spread around the gardens as they get large enough. as it rained all day Sunday, I did not get to plant the Onion sets or the Snap Peas. I also have lots of onion clumps coming up from last year that need to be dug and separated and then replanted.
I did think to get into the hot tub as I had done so much physical work. But I was not prepared for Sunday - I had all I could to to get out of the bed and into the hot tub on Sunday morn. This older body was not happy about all the physical work I had done on Saturday, and it rebelled on Sunday. By Monday I was able to get around better and am planning to get my Onions and Peas in today.
HURRAH for spring!!! Gotta get better at pacing myself.
As for the blog - I have got to pace myself with this also. I will be providing daycare for the kids and trying to keep up with all the changes this all has brought into my daily life, so have not much extra time right now. Spending lots of time researching for new edible gardens and vegetables we will be growing. I will get to it as I am able.
Okay, so years ago it would be absolutely no problem, and I was thinking as if I was back there in the days when it was no problem to start a new garden.
Saturday was such a beautiful day to get gardening, so I went out, ready to go and started to tear up the garden. Paula had found a spot where she wanted all the plants I would be removing, ans as she is now living here, and an experienced gardener, I was happy to let her have it for an area she was planning to work on.
The work started off slowly, me finding my way through the patch of plants, slowly scraping them off the bed in order to get them moved. Then a little stiffness set in, so I moved positions and worked from another direction. Came to an old Rhododendron stump that we had be unsuccessful in removing previously, so just planted around it. What do you know? It had finally decided to let me get it out of the way! Way to go, Rhodo!! That gave me 6 more feet of garden area!!
So this new bed was going to be about 8 feet by 5 feet, and I was doing pretty well working the plants up in a rolling motion, the way you would roll up a rug. Okay, I can do this, got it going and then got stopped dead in my tracks - I just didn't have the energy to move it along!! So what did I do?? Give up?? Oh no, not me!! Now you have to remember, I have more family living here, and one of them just happens to be a big, strong cowboy, who just happened to be out in the yard. SO, you all guessed it, JD was more than willing and he got to it on my behalf and got the full bed rolled up and heaved out to the back on my behalf. OH, HOW WONDERFUL, to have extra hands, and such strong ones, at that, to help out this year!!
Then I went back to turning over the soil, and very quickly ran out of steam. With only a few feet left to be done, I enrolled my hubby in the task, while I loaded up my cart with compost. Then the cart was too heavy for me to move, so got JD to help again.
NOW, I must say here, that I used to be able to do all this by myself, and here I was having these stumbling blocks all day - I should have paid closer attention, but did not. I got right to the soil mixing and then the planting.
Got seeds all planted plus those for Leeks and Broccoli rabe. I was so happy. A new bed!! And full of edibles. Many will be harvested right there, and others will be spread around the gardens as they get large enough. as it rained all day Sunday, I did not get to plant the Onion sets or the Snap Peas. I also have lots of onion clumps coming up from last year that need to be dug and separated and then replanted.
I did think to get into the hot tub as I had done so much physical work. But I was not prepared for Sunday - I had all I could to to get out of the bed and into the hot tub on Sunday morn. This older body was not happy about all the physical work I had done on Saturday, and it rebelled on Sunday. By Monday I was able to get around better and am planning to get my Onions and Peas in today.
HURRAH for spring!!! Gotta get better at pacing myself.
As for the blog - I have got to pace myself with this also. I will be providing daycare for the kids and trying to keep up with all the changes this all has brought into my daily life, so have not much extra time right now. Spending lots of time researching for new edible gardens and vegetables we will be growing. I will get to it as I am able.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
A tasty soup from the gardens
Sometimes what I do makes sense, and other times I do wonder what is going on in my mind. Take yesterday, for instance. It was the coldest day so far, only in the 20's, and it is not even winter yet. I am coping with my indoor temperature of 62 degrees, dressed in extra layers to keep me warm. I look at how cold it is outside, and knowing Mia has a cold, think how nice it would be to make some homemade soup to have for her today. So I raid the freezer for broth and then think how great it would be to have fresh greens to pump up her immune system.
Fresh greens, you think, and where to get them?? In the gardens, of course! So I check out the window at the newly planted herb garden right outside the living room window. What a great idea that was!! I can just look out the window and gauge whether I can harvest anything on any given day. I did not come up with the idea on my own. I learned about zone gardening in Toby Hemenway's great book, "Gaia's Garden". (He explains how having certain plantings closer to the house, for those plants you would use more frequently, would make it easier for harvesting and maintenance. How right he was!! LOL How much easier it is for me to just look and see what's available, then to have to get all bundled up and hike out to the different plants. This way they are all together in an area close enough to just run outside quick and get what I need! Also, being closer to the house, the frost will not be as quick to freeze up my herbs.)
Sure enough, the Dandelion greens are still growing, not being frozen stiff yet.
Also, the Parsley,
both varieties,
the Thyme,
and Chives have not been affected.
So I get bundled up, with scissors and basket in hand and head out with the supervision of my granddog, Riley, who is visiting for the weekend, (AGAIN!!!) But I do not complain, he is great and has much better behavior than Abby!! And he knows good enough to stay out of my path so that he does not get bumped into all the time like Abby does! LOL
I find that is is very, very cold outside and I quickly scope out those plants that are still able to be utilized. As it is nice and sunny I opt for those furthest away from the house, as I realize they won't be usable much longer. I find several Dandelions,
Plantain,
and Violets to pick the tender young leaves from.
The Violets are more difficult to harvest. Those areas that usually have Violets and Plantain all over have been heavily affected by all the frost and they are gone. But in the areas where we left the leaves for winter mulch I found lots still growing. As I have to brush away the fallen leaves in the areas where we have left the leaves for winter mulch, I find myself out much longer than anticipated. But it is well worth the effort as there are so many to choose from. The leaf mulch has created a great nestling blanket which is keeping the frost from decimating these tender shoots. Up until now that is, who knows how much longer I can harvest them. But it is November 21, and what a gift to be able to still be doing this. Free Greens!!! Keep 'em coming!!
Have to snip quickly as it is very cold outside.
But then my eye catches the Daylily patch right by the garage. And I immediately think how great some tubers would be in the soup. I have used up all the Jerusalem Artichokes which we enjoyed so much and have no potatoes on hand. It is about noon time and the sun, nice and bright, is providing some warmth, so I go and get my kneeler, trusty Cape Cod Weeder and a pitchfork.
To harvest Daylily tubers I have learned that you just need to lift the plant up with a pitchfork and it exposes the tubers. You can cut the fresh ones off (they are a brighter yellow than the older ones), and then reposition the plant back in the ground.
I found the soil not frozen and very easy to work with. I only had to lift the plant a bit and got right to the tubers, with the help of a friendly earthworm who decided to join me. Initially not many tubers can be easily seen as they are covered in dirt.
With just a little work with my weeder, I am able to easily get to the tubers, and start to cut. This is what they look like before being cut. They have little roots from the end,
and are attached to the plant by a thicker length of root. You can see there are several on this one plant.
After being cut from the plants and their little roots snipped off, this is what they look like.
And this is the batch after they have been scrubbed and readied for cooking. They can be eaten raw, but on this cold day they all went right into a pot of soup. I harvested almost 60 tubers from two plants.
And these are the greens that will be joining them! Not a bad day's work!
I added in some left over rice and beans and spaghetti sauce, some frozen vegetables and came up with a great vegetable soup for supper.
So that is how I spent over two hours outside on such a cold fall day, harvesting free, fresh ingredients for my dinner soup! By the time I got back inside, my 62 degree indoor temperature felt quite toasty!!
And I can see myself doing it a lot over the winter as I planted a large group of Daylilies right around my septic tank, right in front of my front door, where the thyme never freezes due to the heat from the septic tank! Even if it snows, I will be able to get at this great new patch right outside my door!!
Fresh greens, you think, and where to get them?? In the gardens, of course! So I check out the window at the newly planted herb garden right outside the living room window. What a great idea that was!! I can just look out the window and gauge whether I can harvest anything on any given day. I did not come up with the idea on my own. I learned about zone gardening in Toby Hemenway's great book, "Gaia's Garden". (He explains how having certain plantings closer to the house, for those plants you would use more frequently, would make it easier for harvesting and maintenance. How right he was!! LOL How much easier it is for me to just look and see what's available, then to have to get all bundled up and hike out to the different plants. This way they are all together in an area close enough to just run outside quick and get what I need! Also, being closer to the house, the frost will not be as quick to freeze up my herbs.)
Sure enough, the Dandelion greens are still growing, not being frozen stiff yet.
Also, the Parsley,
both varieties,
the Thyme,
and Chives have not been affected.
So I get bundled up, with scissors and basket in hand and head out with the supervision of my granddog, Riley, who is visiting for the weekend, (AGAIN!!!) But I do not complain, he is great and has much better behavior than Abby!! And he knows good enough to stay out of my path so that he does not get bumped into all the time like Abby does! LOL
I find that is is very, very cold outside and I quickly scope out those plants that are still able to be utilized. As it is nice and sunny I opt for those furthest away from the house, as I realize they won't be usable much longer. I find several Dandelions,
Plantain,
and Violets to pick the tender young leaves from.
The Violets are more difficult to harvest. Those areas that usually have Violets and Plantain all over have been heavily affected by all the frost and they are gone. But in the areas where we left the leaves for winter mulch I found lots still growing. As I have to brush away the fallen leaves in the areas where we have left the leaves for winter mulch, I find myself out much longer than anticipated. But it is well worth the effort as there are so many to choose from. The leaf mulch has created a great nestling blanket which is keeping the frost from decimating these tender shoots. Up until now that is, who knows how much longer I can harvest them. But it is November 21, and what a gift to be able to still be doing this. Free Greens!!! Keep 'em coming!!
Have to snip quickly as it is very cold outside.
But then my eye catches the Daylily patch right by the garage. And I immediately think how great some tubers would be in the soup. I have used up all the Jerusalem Artichokes which we enjoyed so much and have no potatoes on hand. It is about noon time and the sun, nice and bright, is providing some warmth, so I go and get my kneeler, trusty Cape Cod Weeder and a pitchfork.
To harvest Daylily tubers I have learned that you just need to lift the plant up with a pitchfork and it exposes the tubers. You can cut the fresh ones off (they are a brighter yellow than the older ones), and then reposition the plant back in the ground.
I found the soil not frozen and very easy to work with. I only had to lift the plant a bit and got right to the tubers, with the help of a friendly earthworm who decided to join me. Initially not many tubers can be easily seen as they are covered in dirt.
With just a little work with my weeder, I am able to easily get to the tubers, and start to cut. This is what they look like before being cut. They have little roots from the end,
and are attached to the plant by a thicker length of root. You can see there are several on this one plant.
After being cut from the plants and their little roots snipped off, this is what they look like.
And this is the batch after they have been scrubbed and readied for cooking. They can be eaten raw, but on this cold day they all went right into a pot of soup. I harvested almost 60 tubers from two plants.
And these are the greens that will be joining them! Not a bad day's work!
I added in some left over rice and beans and spaghetti sauce, some frozen vegetables and came up with a great vegetable soup for supper.
So that is how I spent over two hours outside on such a cold fall day, harvesting free, fresh ingredients for my dinner soup! By the time I got back inside, my 62 degree indoor temperature felt quite toasty!!
And I can see myself doing it a lot over the winter as I planted a large group of Daylilies right around my septic tank, right in front of my front door, where the thyme never freezes due to the heat from the septic tank! Even if it snows, I will be able to get at this great new patch right outside my door!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Follow up to Evening Primrose, tasty edible?
Okay, so I found another Evening Primrose patch and dug up another root to try once more, to really give it the good old college try.
And guess what I found out? Well, I boiled this little (about two inch long root, the width of my index finger) Evening Primrose root for 20 minutes and then changed the water and boiled it again for 30 minutes, just to be sure I gave it a fair trial.
And to me it was nasty - so I tried it out with my husband. We both agreed - we will not be harvesting the Evening Primrose roots in the future!! We will try the early spring greens to see how they are, but no more roots!!!
And guess what I found out? Well, I boiled this little (about two inch long root, the width of my index finger) Evening Primrose root for 20 minutes and then changed the water and boiled it again for 30 minutes, just to be sure I gave it a fair trial.
And to me it was nasty - so I tried it out with my husband. We both agreed - we will not be harvesting the Evening Primrose roots in the future!! We will try the early spring greens to see how they are, but no more roots!!!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Daylilies
One of my favorite plants is the Daylily, Hemerocallis. They grow wild in my woods and I have planted several different varieties in all shapes and colors over the years. What a great surprise to learn how versatile this plant is. This is a double orange specimen.
Five different parts of this plant are edible.
According to Russ Cohen, author of "Wild Plants I Have Known... and Eaten", you should start with a modest amount as a small segment of the population (less than 5%), will experience stomach upset. The first par that is edible is the yellowish-tan starchy tubers underground at the base of the plant. These tubers are edible raw, or cooked like a potato (baked, mashed or boiled).
I can attest to the attributes of these tubers, as when I boil a few they last no time at all when my grandkids are here. They just love the sweet potatoey taste, and can't get enough of them. They enjoy digging up the plants to see how many tubers we can find. For this plant, you just have to lift the tubers up with a pitchfork and remove the yellowish ones you will be eating and then reposition the plant to where it was. It will continue growing and keep producing more tubers. It is a very easy process.
I found a large patch of Daylilies growing in a vacant lot next door and lifted several and moved them to a spot right in front of my house. As that is where my septic tank is, the heat it generates keeps that area with growing plants all year round. I planted several all around the tank and expect to be able to harvest them even in the dead of winter. I will let you know how that goes. I have Thyme growing right over the tank and have been able to snip it all winter to use in cooking, so I expect the tubers to be available as well.
This photo shows a Day Lily heart, the tender inner growth at the center of each developing cluster of leaves. i can be eaten raw or used like scallions.
In order to do this it requires cutting it out of the base of the plant. I have replanted a few of the root masses from ones I cut the hearts out of. I'm not sure it the plant will regrow as such, so I did not take too many of them. I will experiment with it more int eh spring when I can watch how it rebounds.
Day Lily flower buds, flowers and wilted flowers are all edible also. Saute the buds in butter for a few minutes and you get a vegetable that is similar to green beans. The flower petals have an oniony taste. They can be used just as they are, mixed into a salad or fried in batter. (Have you ever done this with squash flowers?? Nothing better)
The wilted flowers are great to add to coups or stews to add body and flavor.
I have used the flowers frequently as additions to salads in season. I find there is a variance in taste with different colors, but thy are all edible regardless of color or whether wild or cultivated. Now I have learned that other parts are also edible. The buds are edible, when half to nearly full size. the flowers can be used either when fully opened or wilted. And the tubers, those short fingerlike tubers, produce rounded ends that are very delectable!
Dried Day Lily flowers are a standard ingredient in such Chinese dishes as Moo Shu and Hot and Sour Soup.
I am looking forward to trying the buds and wilted flowers next season.
Keep in mind that I have plenty of the common orange Day Lilies and would be willing to pass some along to any who want some.
Five different parts of this plant are edible.
According to Russ Cohen, author of "Wild Plants I Have Known... and Eaten", you should start with a modest amount as a small segment of the population (less than 5%), will experience stomach upset. The first par that is edible is the yellowish-tan starchy tubers underground at the base of the plant. These tubers are edible raw, or cooked like a potato (baked, mashed or boiled).
I can attest to the attributes of these tubers, as when I boil a few they last no time at all when my grandkids are here. They just love the sweet potatoey taste, and can't get enough of them. They enjoy digging up the plants to see how many tubers we can find. For this plant, you just have to lift the tubers up with a pitchfork and remove the yellowish ones you will be eating and then reposition the plant to where it was. It will continue growing and keep producing more tubers. It is a very easy process.
I found a large patch of Daylilies growing in a vacant lot next door and lifted several and moved them to a spot right in front of my house. As that is where my septic tank is, the heat it generates keeps that area with growing plants all year round. I planted several all around the tank and expect to be able to harvest them even in the dead of winter. I will let you know how that goes. I have Thyme growing right over the tank and have been able to snip it all winter to use in cooking, so I expect the tubers to be available as well.
This photo shows a Day Lily heart, the tender inner growth at the center of each developing cluster of leaves. i can be eaten raw or used like scallions.
In order to do this it requires cutting it out of the base of the plant. I have replanted a few of the root masses from ones I cut the hearts out of. I'm not sure it the plant will regrow as such, so I did not take too many of them. I will experiment with it more int eh spring when I can watch how it rebounds.
Day Lily flower buds, flowers and wilted flowers are all edible also. Saute the buds in butter for a few minutes and you get a vegetable that is similar to green beans. The flower petals have an oniony taste. They can be used just as they are, mixed into a salad or fried in batter. (Have you ever done this with squash flowers?? Nothing better)
The wilted flowers are great to add to coups or stews to add body and flavor.
I have used the flowers frequently as additions to salads in season. I find there is a variance in taste with different colors, but thy are all edible regardless of color or whether wild or cultivated. Now I have learned that other parts are also edible. The buds are edible, when half to nearly full size. the flowers can be used either when fully opened or wilted. And the tubers, those short fingerlike tubers, produce rounded ends that are very delectable!
Dried Day Lily flowers are a standard ingredient in such Chinese dishes as Moo Shu and Hot and Sour Soup.
I am looking forward to trying the buds and wilted flowers next season.
Keep in mind that I have plenty of the common orange Day Lilies and would be willing to pass some along to any who want some.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Jewelweed and raspberries
Nice box, here - have no clue how to get rid of it, so enjoy this great empty space!!! LOL
Have been learning so much lately, trying to focus on the edibles. This is Jewelweed, or Spotted Touch-me-not, Impatiens capensis, a native plant. I have posted on it previously, and was quite surprised to learn that it is an edible plant. Found this out on my foraging walk.
One edible part is the seeds. Just one problem, they are quite tricky to harvest. I have always enjoyed having them around as the kids just love to pop the seed pods. Now I come to find out that I have this treasure trove of edible seeds!!
Tried taking off a pod to check out the tastiness of the seeds, but had a little trouble. If you are not careful, the seed pod will explode, expelling the seeds all over before you have a chance to save any.
After a few tries I finally managed to keep a seed pod from exploding to get this photo.
It is an amazing fete. This seed pod pops open, curls back on itself and expels its seeds all in under the blink of an eye. The seeds can get thrown quite a distance and unless you grow them on hard top, they are impossible to gather once on the ground.
So here are the newly released seeds from one pod. As you can see they are green, just like the pod. When you open them up they are robin's egg blue inside!!
Who knew that such a beautiful color would be hiding inside such a tiny, seed. And that they would be quite pleasant to the taste buds!!
In checking out my raspberries on a daily basis, they are getting better and bigger with this nice cool weather. They are as big as my thumbnail! Notice the fine dirt underneath the nail!!
Have been so busy in the gardens, I don't bother to try to get them clean until the end of the day!! My preference has always been to work glove free whenever possible, so as to be able to feel that great earth between my fingers!!
Out and about yesterday morning, I had a great snack of Jewelweed seeds,
with my raspberries, both red and yellow!!
Now that is fresh!!
Have been learning so much lately, trying to focus on the edibles. This is Jewelweed, or Spotted Touch-me-not, Impatiens capensis, a native plant. I have posted on it previously, and was quite surprised to learn that it is an edible plant. Found this out on my foraging walk.
One edible part is the seeds. Just one problem, they are quite tricky to harvest. I have always enjoyed having them around as the kids just love to pop the seed pods. Now I come to find out that I have this treasure trove of edible seeds!!
Tried taking off a pod to check out the tastiness of the seeds, but had a little trouble. If you are not careful, the seed pod will explode, expelling the seeds all over before you have a chance to save any.
After a few tries I finally managed to keep a seed pod from exploding to get this photo.
It is an amazing fete. This seed pod pops open, curls back on itself and expels its seeds all in under the blink of an eye. The seeds can get thrown quite a distance and unless you grow them on hard top, they are impossible to gather once on the ground.
So here are the newly released seeds from one pod. As you can see they are green, just like the pod. When you open them up they are robin's egg blue inside!!
Who knew that such a beautiful color would be hiding inside such a tiny, seed. And that they would be quite pleasant to the taste buds!!
In checking out my raspberries on a daily basis, they are getting better and bigger with this nice cool weather. They are as big as my thumbnail! Notice the fine dirt underneath the nail!!
Have been so busy in the gardens, I don't bother to try to get them clean until the end of the day!! My preference has always been to work glove free whenever possible, so as to be able to feel that great earth between my fingers!!
Out and about yesterday morning, I had a great snack of Jewelweed seeds,
with my raspberries, both red and yellow!!
Now that is fresh!!Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Email from Krissy
I am experiencing the empty nest syndrome, and I don't have any of my kids away at college. But I have Krissy, and Logan and Matt, my gardeners who are now away at college. I am missing having them here in the gardens. Krissy has been great in staying in touch, and since I have been delayed in keeping my blog updated with all my recent activities, there are just so many photos, standing in line for showcasing, I decided to post her email and my response here so you can all see what I'm up to.
Hey Marna just wanted to say hi and see how everything is going... So after further investigation into to variegated pachysandra it is indeed that. Do they produce seeds? If so i could grab some when they produce them i am sure lots of people would like them. It is variegated Japanese pachysandra to be exact. Also i looked at your post yesterday and saw that people were interested in butterfly weed! I have pulled a couple seeds pods off of my plant I'm not 100% sure if i pulled them to soon but your more than welcome to them if i can find them i had put them in the cupholder of the lawnmower but with my moms crazy driving who knows if they are still there i will check when i go home on Thursday.
So what else is new? I am sure there is something going on in those gardens. Well i am going to go study but look forward to hearing from you and take care!
Krissy
HI Krissy. It's always so good to hear from you. I really appreciate that you take the time in your busy college schedule to stay in touch. Pachysandra is propagated by division and root cuttings. They are real easy to transplant and multiply by the roots. I couldn't find any info on seeds.
The butterfly weed's seed pods are not ready to be harvested yet. They are in the milkweed family. Those pods will turn brown and then the seeds will be dispelled like the other milkweed plants. I have my eye on the ones over here. I have lots of them and will have plenty of seeds to share.
I have been learning more about wild edibles. Found out that what I thought was Deutzia, as I was never able to see any reference pictures, is actually Autumn Olive, a banned tree in MA!!! Well it has the best berries for making into fruit strips!! It'll be ready for picking in the next few weeks. Got a taste sample from the guide on my recent hike through Birchwold Farms here in Wrentham.
The Crapapple bed is just about ready for layer mulching for edibles for next spring!! Had lots of help with it over the weekend. Thanks Ann Marie and Maureen yesterday for doing so much of the digging to help me move those large hostas so they are no longer crowding each other. The Elephant Ear Hosta immediately stood so proud once unencumbered by the other large specimens. I even got to dig up and split one of my large White Bleeding Hearts, and all who helped this weekend got to take some home. I finished off by moving small mounds of Thyme throughout the bed to get it established for a wonderful living mulch under the Hosta and Bleeding Hearts. Then I proceeded to throw my back out again. But, thankfully, all the work had been completed.
So today I am resting the body and getting ready for tonight's class on soil. We will be testing everyone's soil for pH and Nitrogen levels, and discussing different ways to enrich and to prepare the soil for next spring's gardens.
I figure there will be plenty of time over the winter to get to posting all the wonderful pictures I have been taking.
STOP THE PRESS!!! Krissy, you are going to love this. I was cutting down the Fennel for Ann Marie's arrival yesterday - she uses the seeds for sausage - when I found ---- an Anise Swallowtail caterpillar!!! Then in another patch I was cutting, I found another. Two at this time of year is most unusual, but they will be overwintering. How great I will have 2 Anise or Eastern Black Swallowtails, plus a Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies to look forward to in the spring, before any plants are up enough for new little caterpillars!!
Remember all, if you want Fennel for next years brood, you need to put it in first thing in the spring, and you know where to get it. HERE!!!
HI Krissy. It's always so good to hear from you. I really appreciate that you take the time in your busy college schedule to stay in touch. Pachysandra is propagated by division and root cuttings. They are real easy to transplant and multiply by the roots. I couldn't find any info on seeds.
The butterfly weed's seed pods are not ready to be harvested yet. They are in the milkweed family. Those pods will turn brown and then the seeds will be dispelled like the other milkweed plants. I have my eye on the ones over here. I have lots of them and will have plenty of seeds to share.
I have been learning more about wild edibles. Found out that what I thought was Deutzia, as I was never able to see any reference pictures, is actually Autumn Olive, a banned tree in MA!!! Well it has the best berries for making into fruit strips!! It'll be ready for picking in the next few weeks. Got a taste sample from the guide on my recent hike through Birchwold Farms here in Wrentham.
The Crapapple bed is just about ready for layer mulching for edibles for next spring!! Had lots of help with it over the weekend. Thanks Ann Marie and Maureen yesterday for doing so much of the digging to help me move those large hostas so they are no longer crowding each other. The Elephant Ear Hosta immediately stood so proud once unencumbered by the other large specimens. I even got to dig up and split one of my large White Bleeding Hearts, and all who helped this weekend got to take some home. I finished off by moving small mounds of Thyme throughout the bed to get it established for a wonderful living mulch under the Hosta and Bleeding Hearts. Then I proceeded to throw my back out again. But, thankfully, all the work had been completed.
So today I am resting the body and getting ready for tonight's class on soil. We will be testing everyone's soil for pH and Nitrogen levels, and discussing different ways to enrich and to prepare the soil for next spring's gardens.
I figure there will be plenty of time over the winter to get to posting all the wonderful pictures I have been taking.
STOP THE PRESS!!! Krissy, you are going to love this. I was cutting down the Fennel for Ann Marie's arrival yesterday - she uses the seeds for sausage - when I found ---- an Anise Swallowtail caterpillar!!! Then in another patch I was cutting, I found another. Two at this time of year is most unusual, but they will be overwintering. How great I will have 2 Anise or Eastern Black Swallowtails, plus a Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies to look forward to in the spring, before any plants are up enough for new little caterpillars!!
Remember all, if you want Fennel for next years brood, you need to put it in first thing in the spring, and you know where to get it. HERE!!!
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