I have grown Stevia in the past as a natural sweetener. I have recently heard high recommendations for Aztec sweet herb. Does anyone have any experience or preferences?
Herbs in Texas?
Hello Y'all!
I do have the Texas Sage, and I do use it to cook pork and venison as I stated further up this thread. I usually refer to it as Purple sage, forgive me. This plant is one of my favorites because it's foliage is unique, it's an evergreen, it's blooms are beautiful and they attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, it's seeds are a favorite of cardinals, and it adds great flavor to pork and venison.
There was already one at my house when we moved in 2 yrs ago, and last year we planted another. Well, the other day I found 4 seedlings. I potted them up and it looks like they're gonna make it. I'm so excited.
Hey Bronc do you use it fresh or do you dry it before use?
I have about 4 behind the house and 4 out in front by the drive they are flowering and have been since we moved in
so any info on using them would be super if you care to elaborate on what you do when using it.
Oh and If ya wanna share where ya get the venison that would be nice too *giggles* I have no idea where to start in finding a place to hunt down here.
Mibus, I use it right off the plant. I find that the newer greener leaves have the best flavor. Next time you get a chance, go out and pick a few leaves off and rub them between your fingers, then smell your fingers. Then tell me if you wouldn't want to cook with it. It smells delicious to me!
As for the venison, I am fortunate nough to have a rich uncle who owns a ranch in Star, Texas. I hunt for free, which is how it should be for everyone. I've asked him in the past if I could bring friends but he says it's just for family and his friends. I can't really complain too much because I get to hunt all I want.
Oh lucky you the only cost there was in Illinois was to get your permits and license. We had a friend that had farm land and we got to hunt there and the conservation district had a hunt every year to control the herd and we wer ein that also.
I'll have to go ut and get some leaves and check it out now for the sage..thanks
Phyllis, check the classified ads in the newspaper....will at least give you a start.....or eat in one of the local cafes.....places where the politicians/wannabes gather...usually a DQ.....they will tell how to get on a lease.
I found one place listed in the Tyler paper online but they were asking for a thous to lease the land a year ..more then I can afford
Unfortunately, most leases in Texas are rediculous. Have you seen any deer on your own land? Have you seen any other game animals?
DH says it may be priceir in East Texas because it is really not deer country. He just read an ad in the Dallas Paper.....$2500 per gun.....for the season. Might try going to DallasNews.com and FtWorthStarTelegram.com . He just found something else in Dallas paper www.myoutdoorsite.com
We used to hunt around Hamilton Texas. He also went to Mason, Texas
Patrob lives down in Goldthwaite, Tx. That's close to my uncle's ranch. Maybe she knows somebody. Wouldn't hurt to ask.
well as far as seeing anything there was a lil bit of a guy across the road on the other side of the fence a week or so ago and there were 2 down by the persimmon trees at work, but that has been it.
Boss says there are wild hogs on the land there at work but no signs of them lately and they are considered open season as they are "pests".
I just need venison for jerky and roasts ...hubby is goin back to Illinois he says in November to hunt with the guys back there...but no promises of getting a deer there either lol
Finding a place to hunt around here is hard too. Dh hunts on a friends land, but he only is allowed to shoot culls. That's OK because we only want the meat. It's a good place to hunt though because they also have axis deer and they are really the best meat.
Well personally I prefer my compound bow but hubby does both bow and shotgun..so I guess I'll just keep askin around and daughter has asked the guys she works with too so lord willing if it is meant to be something will turn up. *S*
Bow season starts earlier than gun. Might be less expensive to lease....really don't know.
Are you closer to Tyler or Palestine?
From east Tx, I gotta say ~ hunting is big bucks (not deer) everywhere. As a result there is nowhere to hunt any longer. If you are near any national forest, it is open. Unfortunately everyone without a lease hunts there. There is some public hunting land around the state that is available for an annual permit fee ~ I think about 35-40 bucks. Lots of folks hunt that too.
BTW, Mibus if you or your DH were born after Sept 2, 1971, you will both need hunter education to hunt in the state. I think Tx will recognize other states hunter ed... might check with them.. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/ That is if you are just young things... lol
Mibus ~ your photo of the Texas sage almost makes me want another. It just was not suited to our humidity. I watch some in landscaping around town. Some years are better than others but most years it struggles. I hate to admit that bad boy did me a favor when he shredded mine!
ROFLMAO...Pod no such luck as youngsters...my youngest is 18 and his youngest is 30.
We live closer to Tyler and really close to Chandler but still in Smith county...actually we are on 2661 and if you were to walk across the road and through the trees you would need up on the shore of Lake Palestine ...not even close to the town of Flint, but I am learning this is East Texas so don't ask to make sense on somethings lol
Where would I start looking to find info and such for public land or the national forest?
My dream so to speak is to find a place to hunt so DH could go and get that 30 point buck... but to do a "guided hunt" costs big bucks so it stays as my dream for him.
I'll have Mike take a look tomorrow. For tonight we are....over and out...
Well pod how or can I take cuttings or seeds? I could start now and bring it with me to the swap.
I was reading the swap posts and geez I feel kinda out of place as I know I have stuff but just what all I have not sure to make a list and I do not feel right in asking for anything since I am new.
I just know I want to make this place nice and have flowers,herbs, veggies and such instead of the overgrown out of control place we have now..
And ya know what this should probably be someplace other then in the herb post uh
This is an o.k. place ~ think that is why it is call a thread... it wanders all over. No cuttings or seeds for me... I have to resist at this time of year. And as I work Sat, the RUs are out of the question for me too. If there are plants/seeds that you like, ask around some will share for postage. I have heard there are many extra plants brought to the swaps so not to worry if you have none to share.
But, beware! If you don't have a plan for what you want to plant, it will be "overgrown, out of control~ LOL
On the Natl forest and public hunting land, I will see if I can find some links for you. If so, I will post them later. But the 30 pt buck won't taste very good at all... : )
Mibus I'm not going to the RU, but every RU I've been to has been attended by people who have nothing to share and go home with an armfull of stuff anyway. Just ask Blue eyes and her parents.:) You might just take cuttings and get Josephine to tell you what they are. There will be others there that can also help. I never pass up a chance to meet a DGer.:)
but the RU is on a Sunday the 28th of October right?
If it was on a Saturday I wouldn't' be able to attend as I work 11-9 we are only closed on sundays
I've been looking around at landscaping software the free ones of course just so I can play and get ideas as to what I want to do.
Mibus, I'm bringing extras, and I think most others do too. If a trade works out, that's great. But mostly I just enjoy my plants, and if someone else would like it, I'm glad I could pass it along. I think most gardeners feel that way, don't they?
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Cuttings can always be traded by mail. The fun of the round-up is getting together. I've been on DG 3 years, but this will be my first one. Can't wait to meet everyone in person. Hope you can make it. :)
Mibus, don't worry about asking for a plant that you want. When someone asks me for any of my plants/seeds it makes me feel special because someone actually wants what I've grown. So think of it as making someonelse happy!
That's right Bronc. Mitch is going to come here sometime before and I am sending things with him for his school garden, for him, and hopefully enough to share at the RU since I can't be there. Phyllis that would be for you in my place. Taking samples of things that you need ID even if they can't be rooted would help you. Be sure to take lots of pictures.
Well I still feel kinda funny on it but I do understand what y'all are saying.
I don't know things by the "technical" name just common names and some of the stuff listed I am at a loss as to what it is lol...but am learning.
I think though I should stay small on things until I get a better grip on what I am going to do where other then the terrace at the back of the house and along the driveway.
I want to take those areas and put in flowers I think or maybe use the one behind the house for the veggie garden area since it isn't real big but it is long...I don't know ...lol
I'm the world's worst when it comes to "technical". too old to start that now.
let's see
marigold
zinnia
red rose
yellow rose
purple flower
yellow.....
you get the idea
oh yeah i get it
columbine
sweet peas
four o clocks
balloon plant
lilies
daffodils
paper white narcissus
tulips
peonies
pussy willows
lilacs
hehehehehehehe
I really don't mean to be obstinate. Just too old to put that much effort into something I love for the love of gardening to relax and ease my mind. That would be too much like taking a trigonometry class......not then....not now. Life is too short and I'm on the far end.
eww yuck math not my subject at all lol
Sorry- back to hunting.
I volunteer at the local wildlife refuge and every year there is a lottery to get hunting permission. There is also a special time for young hunters.
It's too late for this year but you might try to get permission to hunt on a refuge near you. Here's a link to the Texas refuges.
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/ByState.cfm?state=TX
Thanks I'll check it out!!
Any herb growers here harvesting and drying leaves?
Or are you letting the plants go to seed for more plants next year?
I guess it is herbs of sorts. I am preparing a new bed for the garlic and one for the multiplier onions. The time to plant both is next month for me.
Are multiplier onions eatable or just decorations?
Edible without a doubt. They are smaller and called multipliers by the way they cluster. Also known as bunching or potato onions.
I have been lurking here for a while. Recently paid my dues so I have access to all of it. So much better than the Other Garden web.
Here are some comments to some of you.
Podster-where in East Texas do you live ? Sounds like we may grow similar things and might be good traders.
Mibuss-I am not too far from you. Down 69 from Tyler in Jacksonville. I will give you starts of many plants that over winter in this area or reseed easily. I have 6 acres of mostly woods so sun or shade plants are available. I grow lots of things from seeds and/or cuttings.
On herbs, I have a bay plant that has grown in the ground here for several years. I have rooted several. Rosemary bush type also in the ground. They do need good drainage though. Lemon grass also grows in ground for me. Not much luck with lavendar- too hot and humid. There is a great place for herbs south of Tyler on 69. They grow all the things talked about here. Large or 4" pots.
Just my comments.
David
Welcome, David. Always glad to count another friend. Dave's is the greatest place in the world.
Good to have you join us, David! Welcome!
Welcome, David! Always good to have another gardener. Especially a generous one!
pod, how do you grow those multiplier onions? Sets, I guess? I'm still learning and the curve is doing strange things...
I had a little luck with lavender this year, but not enough to plant it again. My "sampler" bed taught me a LOT. I never did pinch back the basil, and now it's growing EVERYWHERE!!! I was pulling some up the other day (it's gone to flower so, alas, no pesto) and found out the hard way some wasps had built a nest on one. Just a warning sting, no big deal. My pineapple sage is also blooming, and I'm trying to keep the stevia pinched back (it has done SO well in the ground!) but it keeps putting out flowers. When the moon is right I'll pull up and cut back a lot. I also plan to put my dwarf blueberry bushes in the herb garden. I need some "shrubbery" in there besides the roses.
Got pics, Brig?