Viewing comments posted by gardengus

American licorice is a native of North America, in the pea/bean family .
The flowers are white with a green/yellow tint. They ripen into burrs, the pods of which contain a bean-like seed.
The root of the plant is the most sought after part of this herb. It can be eaten raw or roasted.
This plant was used by most Native peoples for a variety of ailments.
Wild licorice is used as an additive to cough syrup and has other medicinal uses today

The entire plant is covered in soft sticky hairs.
Found growing in very poor rocky soil.

Came on early, producing well, and beautiful to look at. Uniform size and shape. Keeps well after picking. A firm tomato.

But no taste!! If you like the type of tomato the stores have off season, this may be for you. It will NOT be taking up garden space in my garden next year.

I have been successful in growing this fig in a large pot (14'' clay) as a houseplant and siting it outside for the summer.This is my third year and it has produced figs all three years. This year over a dozen so far and still immature fruit on the tree.

For those growing figs in a pot inside, don't be alarmed when the tree drops all of its leaves. This is a normal cycle. It is not dying. I cut back on water when the leaves start to drop and increase water when the new shoots appear. Takes about 4-6 weeks.

I have grown this cucumber several times . It is never bitter and produces well . The vines seem to be a bit smaller than some other green varieties, so I just plant a few more a bit closer together.

I have this in a mini garden container. It's a very low-growing yarrow , the leaves are soft and woolly and have a silver look to them.
Flowers are small and I personally cut them off because I prefer the foliage.

I have very successfully winter sown these plants and about half the time they will bloom the first year.
I have not been as successful in keeping them in my garden. I think the summers are just too hot here.
A very nice addition to the spring flowerbeds. Adds bright color at the base of early bulbs.

This plant has been in my garden for several years. Always a pleasure to see in the spring. One of the first shade plants to show, and the leaves have a good color.
No need for extra care here.

This is a medicinal herb, extremely bitter. Normally used dried.
Should be gathered and dried after flowering.
The blooms seem to be Very attractive to many insects.

Sweet woodruff is called sweet because of the foliage and not the flower.
For best fragrance, cut plant just after flowering and hang in bunches to dry. It has a fresh mown hay scent, sometimes with a hint of vanilla. In the past it was used to freshen bed linens. Today it is more often used in potpourri.

A native of England, North Africa, and western Asia

Will crowd out weeds in moist shade and grow in very dense shade. If it gets too aggressive for your garden, try moving it to a sunnier place and don't water it.

This herb has its best flavor fresh, but it has a tendency to bolt (set seed) quickly .
You can tell when it is going to bolt. The new leaves are very fine.

Cut the plant and refrigerate, putting the stems in water and loosely covering the top (greens) with a plastic bag.
I have been able to keep it fresh about 4 weeks this way.

It can also be cleaned and frozen whole. Chop before thawing and add to your recipe.

This is an introduced perennial, native to Europe and Asia. Considered a noxious weed in several states.
I have this plant in my garden and find this classic daisy a good bloomer that provides almost endless cut flowers for a small arrangement.
It blooms earlier than all the other garden daisies.
The almost lacy leaves leave air and visibility for the other perennials nearby. (Not a space hog.)

This plant's bloom has a very strong sweet fragrance.
It is used in herbal medicine. The root is often made into a tea that serves as a sleep aid.
Spreads by underground runners, but is easy to keep in check.
Worth growing in the garden if only for the wonderful scent.

purchased this small thrift this year for a miniature garden. The pink flowers are best if dead headed and you will get blooms on and off all year.
This plant is also an excellent choice for alpine gardens.

sorry to report this plant did not make it through this years extreme winter , it was in a pot so may have survived if I had it in ground.

While this plant is listed as a medicinal herb It is considered by most farmers as a very pesky weed. Burdock in a pasture cause much trouble. The plant is large and takes up valuable grazing space, the burr ingested by animals causes choking, and sticks to any fur or hair.

Native to Europe and Northern Asia.
It is the large tap root that is mostly used in herbal medicine.

Cutting the plant out with a sharp spade and then sprinkling the remaining tap root with a bit of salt will keep it from growing back

An inexpensive little bulb that gives a good early spring show and multiplies with time.
Benefits from soaking the tubers over night before planting
They make a nice spring border and are equally good under taller bulbs.
I have them planted under my dogwood tree.

A great flower for a small place. It grows well in rocky dry places and will self seed. Would do well in a rock garden .
The plant is greyish silver with small white daises that close at night and show the pink/red color under the petals.
I have found it a bit hard to transplant because it likes dry soil and I tend to water my new transplants too much. Adding a bit of pea gravel or rock to the soil helps.

A bush that everyone should consider. The berries are tasty just off the bush and birds love them too. I dry the berries and use them instead of currents in scones and also add them to granola.
I was introduced to this bush as a child and knew it as Indian-berry because it was highly prized and collected by the native Americans.
The bush has a very nice white flower early in the spring and often flowers with the red bud tree (look great planted together).

Always a joy to see in the garden. Shorter than many alliums, but with a nice large head of silver-purple stars. The flower heads can be dried. While the color fades the shape remains.
They have multiplied so well that I have given several away .
Makes a nice cut flower and stays a long time in vase however the color fades .

A rather tall allium with unique bell flowers, pinkish on the inside and almost maroon on the outside. Looks great in clusters of 5 or more . The bulbs multiply, but they take a long time (3+ years) in my garden to reach blooming size.
The leaves are easy to recognize. They are flat and twisted like a spiral.