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"Why should a man die while sage
grows in his garden?" This 11th century adage attests to the enormous
power attributed to sage long before it became best known as a seasoning
for poultry. Since ancient times, sage has been associated with immortality
and wisdom. In fact, reference to a wise man as a "sage" directly stems
from the reputation of this herb. Sage was also long thought to have
great curative properties. Among the maladies traditionally treated
with sage preparations are warts, wounds, and even epilepsy.
This unusual herb is a hybrid between the culinary opal
basil and the Camphor Basil of Africa. It is rare among basils in that
it is a tender perennial rather than an annual. The blue-green leaves
are nearly always capped by spires of purple flowers which struggle in vain
to produce seed (this is a sterile hybrid). The camphor scent is not
for everyone, but it grows on you. Plus, the plant is very decorative.
The leaves are a bit camphor for kitchen use, but feel free to experiment!
Plants are available by mail
order.
This bush might not attract much attention but for its
striking, profuse display of beguiling pink to purple flowers. Also
known as New Zealand tea tree, Leptosperum is a tender perennial which
blooms exuberantly through spring and summer. The plant can reach heights
of 6-10 feet, but can pruned to more manageable size. It is mainly
grown as an ornamental, but the leaves can be brewed into a fragrant tea.
boring, featureless square blocks of concrete in your yard! A real
garden deserves stepping stones that flatter the natural beauty to which they
provide access. Despite the poor selection at most home and garden
centers, there are probably as many different designs of stepping stones
with real character as there are nurseries! Most can only be obtained
only by nosing around in expensive catalogs or obscure statutory shops, but
many can be made at home with a little elbow grease by buying reusable molds.
The rose design at right is but one example! One source to consider
for unique molds is the Florastone
Collection. For further information on making or purchasing stepping stones
for your garden, email us!
This relative of the carnation grows
2 to 3 feet tall and is best in a sunny location. The flowers are purplish,
white or pink and appear during summer. The silvery gray leaves are hairy.
Rose Campion is a wonderful silver plant for any flower, herb or rock garden.
In many politically correct
American seed catalogs, this annual is generally referred to as "Bread Seed
Poppy." The beautiful, short-lived flowers produce round seed pods
which open at the top when ripe like a salt shaker, making it easy to shake
out the small poppy seeds which are widely used in baking breads and pastries.
But the same plant, or at least special varieties thereof, are cultivated
in the middle and far east for their unripe pods, not the seeds. When
cut, the green pods ooze a milky sap which is processed to produce opium
and similar opiate drugs, both legal and illegal. In the United States,
it is illegal to transport the sap or green plants in interstate commerce
or otherwise produce opium, but there is no restriction on the seed, and
the plants have been grown by millions of gardeners. The tall plants
add a wonderful show of color in any herb or flower garden, followed by a
bountiful supply of delicious poppy seeds. Seeds are available by mail order! 
Also known as Roquette, this cruciferous
leafy vegetable has strong tasting leaves that are a popular addition to
gourmet salads. They are common in mediterranean markets and spreading
to trendy restaurants in the U.S. The vitamin rich leaves can also
be boiled for spinach like dish. An annual, the plants grow to
2-3 feet tall and produce white, cross shaped four petal flowers in summer.
Seeds are available by mail order!
This has to be just about my favorite
herb plant! The light green, serrated leaves have an unmistakable scent
of pineapple, yet can be used just like garden sage. The plant is perennial
and produces spikes of red flowers in fall. Unlike most sages, it is
sensitive to drought, but will usually come back readily if watered and pruned.
The plant is so pretty you might want to plant it in a prominent spot in
the garden even if you don't plan to cook with it. Plants are available for
mail order! 
Catnip is legendary as a feline
aphrodisiac. Not all cats have the genetic trait that causes them to
go into ecstasy at its scent, but those that do can happily roll around on
a plant for hours. Our brains are wired differently, so we can only
experience the pleasure vicariously. 
This cute, shade loving,
spreading perennial appears somewhat delicate, which it is, since it is only
a few inches high and sensitive to heat. The vanilla scented leaves
have long been used to flavor punches, especially traditional May Wine in
Europe. The leaves have also been used in some herbal remedies.
In late spring the plant produces delicate white flowers.
The State flower of California,
the California Golden Poppy is ubiquitous in spring from the California coast
all the way to the Mojave Desert. According to legend, early sixteenth century
sailors who sailed along the California coast in the 1600's were ecstatic
when the saw coastal hills apparently planted with shimmering sheets of gold.
Alas, but on putting to shore, the disappointed mariners found only fields
of California poppies rippling in the breeze. But what a beautiful flower
to behold, even if its gold is but a flowery mirage! The plant is an
annual, which readily re-seeds itself. The petals are found in shades
of orange, and less commonly yellow, red and white. The flowers close
at night and remain closed on cloudy days. Seeds are available for mail order! 
These thin shelled, hard
gourds are excellent for making painted bowls and other crafts. They
are easy to grow in any sunny area with a long growing season. The
vines can be very large and benefit from trellis support. If give enough
space, the vines can even be grown in a large container. The gourds
vary in size from 6" to 15" in diameter. Seeds are available by mail order!
Stevia - "Sweet Leaf Plant"
(Stevia rebaudiana)
Stevia is an annual herb
native to Peru. It has been used as a natural sweetener for centuries and
is a common sugar replacement in many countries. It has virtually
no calories and doesn't promote tooth decay! Unfortunately, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve it for commercial sale as
a sweetener in this country, perhaps because of pressure from the sugar and
artificial sweetener manufacturers. However, it is legal to grow and
use! The active compound, Stevioside, is hundreds of times sweeter
than sugar. The leaves of the plant can be used fresh, dried, or ground
in powdered form to sweeten beverages and food. Stevia makes a great container
plant as it grows about 12" tall. It requires sun with partial shade and
is a tender perennial when grown in zones 9 and 10. The plant produces tiny
white flowers in the summer (which should be removed to keep the plant growing)
and has toothed, alternating leaves like many other members of the mint family,
Labiatae. The plant is best started from seed indoors in a sunny
window or under grow lights. 
Sage, in all it's variety,
adds spice and color to the herb garden. Tricolor sage is one of most
attractive and best-behaved culinary salvias. This beautiful plant
shares the same flavoring properties as its more ungainly cousin, garden
sage (Salvia officinalis), but has a low, compact, gently spreading
quality that works well in the foreground. This variety does not set
true seed, so plants must be propagated by cuttings or divisions.
Is it an herb or a flower?
It's both! The flowers and leaves are both edible and provide a peppery
addition to any salad. This is an attractive, fast growing flowering herb
with unusual round somewhat fleshy leaves. The flowers range from reds
to yellows. It grows best in cool weather but can stand some heat if
it receives frequent watering and some shade. Nasturtiums are annual but
readily re-seed. 
Rosemary is one of the oldest
herbs in western culture. It was highly treasured as a culinary and
healing herb in the Roman empire. There are two primary forms: upright, which
produces a large bush that can eventually be shaped into a small tree, and
creeping, which produces a spreading mound one to two feet high.
Both varieties have pungent leaves and small spikes of blue flowers.
Rosemary is used for its essential oil and is an excellent herb for breads
and poultry. The tender perennial is easy to grow but may not survive
in cold winter areas. 
Attractive, fast growing
flowering vine. The plant has compound leaves like beans and purple flowers
followed by wide purple pods. Best planted in Spring in most climates, but
seed can be stored for several years. The vine is grown as an annual
in most parts of the U.S. but this perennial will live many years in mild
winter areas of Zones 9-10. The vine grows ten feet or more and will
quickly cover a fence or arbor. 
Allium tuberosum has
flat leaves with a hint of garlic. It is a tender perennial with clusters
of white flowers in Spring or Summer. (or in winter during La Nina
in Southern California, as in photo). The plant is decorative and easy
to grow, and easy to propagate from divisions once established. These
seeds are from I plant I bought at a Vietnamese market in Little Saigon several
years ago. 
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Calendula is considered a multi-purpose herb. The flowers are edible and can be used to yield a yellow dye for cloth or hair highlighting. Traditional medicine uses the flowers for various ailments. I just use them to add color in the garden! . |
| World's Smallest Tomato This tomato (Lycopersicon pimpinifollium) is only about the size of a pea; up to ten can fit on a teaspoon! The fruits are sweet and great in salads. Kids love them and they make a great conversation piece as probably the world's smallest tomato. They are a variety descended from the original wild tomato of South America | 
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Mexican Bush Sage
Salvia leucantha is a drought tolerant
mediterranean garden staple. The long lived perennial has a bushy habit
and blooms profusely much of the year. The leaves are sword shaped
with a distinctive odor. The plant is related to garden sage but is
not edible. Plants are usually three to four feet tall, and do well
when pruned severely after blooming cycles. |
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Lamb's Ear:
Great Ground coverStachys byzantium is an unusual perennial herb used mainly as a decorative ground cover. The leaves are soft and fuzzy to the touch, as suggested by its common name. Plants are usually under six inches high, except for occasional spikes of purple flowers. It grows and spreads rapidly with little care. It is drought tolerant once established. |
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