Does anyone know where I might buy the Indian Bay tree--Cinnamomum tamala?
I have searched the heck out of the internet.
New Herbs?
New herb this year----Giant Fennel--to 10 feet-Horizon Herbs
Wow That looks more like a desert tree than an herb
Holy Giant Fennel! That is impressive. I've got seeds for that...but haven't grown it yet. Guess it just moved up to the top of the list!
I'm affraid it would never make it that tall around here, we get such high winds, I can't even grow holly hocks with out staking them. It' s frustrating, I had to stake my Valarian one year too. it didn't come back for me the next year, it smelled wonderful too
kathy----We all have our "crosses to bear"---:)
Ain't that the truth LOL
Betty, Ooooh, what a lovely garden you have. We are planning to install a fence in the next few weeks, a four-board fence (like a horse fence but without the horses), then hopefully portion it off into smaller areas with wire fencing for veg herb garden, and perrenial garden like your beautiful garden...should I be so lucky. Love that giant fennel and mullien (sp?). One (mullien) volunteered in the middle of the yard last summer. It was spectacular. I cut it down at the end of the season because it looked like it was going to have 10,000 seeds. I read it has a very deep tap root, so I hope it comes back. You must have purposely planted yours...it looks very nicely behaved. Pam
Thanks Pam. Mullein is a biennial. The first year, you get a plant with low rosette leaves. Next year, the flower stalk shoots up. Then, when it goes to seed, it does not come back again. But, usually it self sows freely. You know, so many people think mullein is a weed. There are lots of medicinal uses and I think it is stunning in the garden. I don't know how many people have driven by, had to stop, and ask us what that magnificent, stately plant is!
ahhh ummmmmmmmm, anybody want to SHARE some seeds of that Giant Fennel???????? (and don't tell me Bigfoot ate it too....)
I'll send some seeds but I have heard Loch Nessie in Lake George is fond of it.
Not to worry, I'll have one of the gators stand guard........My beagle sure won't, I can't even get him to chase the rabbits out of the yard at night!!
Betty, Here we are...another year. What are you planning for your 2010 herb garden? I so admire your garden. Pam
Hard to believe another year has gone "bye"
Well, I wont be missing most of 2009...before the rain came back, the drought and heat were so bad! But I miss those blooms that are gone...still very little blooming now.
2010 started off as a great year. However, over the weekend, my husband had an accident with a power saw and his fingers are severely damaged. He had plastic surgery and is home now. We will go back in to see the surgeon next Monday and will see if more surgery is required. He is dealing with it all with sweetness and good humor. And that was before the pain meds kicked in!
Thanks Pam! For the garden...as dill is herb of the year, I'll try some new (to me) varieties like Greensleeves, Vierling, Thai and Monia to add to the tetra, Bouquet, Fernleaf, Hercules, Mammoth and Superdukat. We already have over 80 raised beds. This year, we hope to replace the grass between those beds with paths of gravel or mulch or what-have-you. I have a new 36' circle bed to plant out. Our veggie bed is expanding. Hoping our mini lavender field does well in this colder-than-normal winter. We are also planting more fruit trees and bushes to add to our "orchard". We will be planting more Chinese medicinal herbs. And we will be giving more garden tours.
owwwwwww, hope he's feeling better soon ! My S'O' has been in the tree business for years and is always cautioning about safety with chain saws. Especially since I have a habit of not waiting till someone's around to get things done.....
oh my , that's terrible. Ih ope he heals quickly and has full use of all his fingers when he's back to normal.
Best wishes to "hubby"
herbalbetty..............I'm a newby to this forum. Read what you posted about DH. My,my, my what a horiffic thing to happen to his hands. I'm unable to imagine how painful that must be. Hope all is well and healing successfully.
Here's my question. I have a wonderful basil that does not die out in the summer here in CA. Don't know what the name is ( I bought it at Lowe's). It has purple edges on the leaves. It flowers and I pinch off the flowers for it to continue to grow. Would you or others be able to tell me what is the best way and when to collect seeds to share with others? I'm new at collecting seeds and need help.
Thank you so much,
Sylvia
'' And we will be giving more garden tours.'' [/quote]
^_^ that sounds rather inviting? are these open to out of town visitors?
edit , because I have obviously not learned how to use the quote thing yet
This message was edited Feb 10, 2010 9:45 AM
Yes, I don't think I'd be dealing with it with "sweetness and good humor". He must be really a great guy. Good luck with his recovery! I'd probably be depressed myself...I so hate being unable to do things I want to do. I'm going to try to grow Groundnuts this year...from tubers.
heya, Sylvia! I'm glad you found a great basil. Here's an article I wrote on saving basil seeds: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1553/
Critter.......Thank you so much. I had read your wonderful in the past. That's why I started pinching the flowers. I have now printed out your article so I know exactly how to save the precious seeds.
Sylvia
I got on ebay and planted 2 new herbs. One is patchouli the other is galangal. Got them about a month ago. Both are kinda limping along, not dead yet, but no new leaves yet. Have any of you had experience growing these?
Sylvia
Sylvia, Patchouli can be really tempermental. It wants warmth and semi-shade (at least that's been my experience here in zone 5). It also needs good air flow. Both patchouli and galangal are potted plants for me. They live outside in their pots in the summer and move in to become houseplants in the winter. My galangal also likes shade and it tends to slow down in the winter, but perks back up once spring returns.
herbalbetty Thanks for the good info on my 2 new herbs. Hopefully they will perk up as spring comes along. I think it's almost here in Southern CA. It was 75 today. I should have been outside, but alas the computer held me captive most of the day.
Sylvia
dillan--I cannot find my old notes but I will do my best to relay my experience from memory.
I had Galanga (Kaempferia galanga) --
(there are 3 other Genera called Galanga)
Kaemferia likes partial shade, moist soil and a slightly acid pH.
I had it growing in a large pot along with it's two cousins Ginger and Cardomom.
It was the most sensitive tropical, out of dozens, that I have grown---The tops died down at 50F and was very-very slow to re-emerge in the spring. Will keep trying to find my old notes.
Regards
Vortreker I'm not sure of the variety of galangal I have as I'm just getting into serious gardening since I retired a few months ago. I love growing herbs and hope I have success with the galangal as I'm an avid cook ( used to be my profession) and so love to cook Thai foods and anything with fresh herbs. I so much appreciate your help.
Sylvia
I had galangal for a couple of years in a pot maybe 8 inches across... friend of mine said it would appreciate more room, so I put it in a 12 inch pot (maybe 14, would have to measure LOL) and it got huge (like 4 feet tall)! I recently chopped down the really tall stems since they were looking tatty, and it's sending up more new little shoots. I'm in zone 6, so it comes inside to a bright south-facing window as soon as the weather turns chilly.
Jill
Thanks for your input. Still watching the galangal every day. I hope it does what yours did. I'm in zone 9 and have not had much problem growing "regular" herbs. Fun venturing out into new territory!
Sylvia
I wish the rest of my family ( my son and is SO for example ) were so open to trying new herbs. I son's SO called me in a panic cause she couldn't find fennel for a recipe she was trying out. She ended up driving 12 miles out of her way to find fennel. I tried to explaine to her in the "Worst case seniaro" you can alway find dried herbs in the spice aisle of the grocery store. Not the best, but sometimes that's what you can get. Anyway, I hav tons of fennel since I grow it for the Butterflies too.
My second favorite herb to grow, besides the elusive C,B. 9shussh, SOMEONE knows it exists.
Betty, I haven't been in for awhile. I hope your DH is healing and feeling better. It must have been very scary for you both. I had to come in for a herb fix since the weather has been so snowy and so cold for sooo long. The snow cover does bode well for herbs and lavender I'm told. I just went out back to look at the hellebores I planted last year. They look miserable, and the garden is going to need some good topsoil and compost because it's much flattened from last year. I was just looking for the thread on a herb garden someone here on DG planted. It was a grouping of terracotta pipes in a heart shape. I thought it would raise my spirits to see it again. At least it's sunny today and the temperature soared to 50, but there's still patches of snow in shady places, a good indication of where to plant shade lovers though. Well, I'm rambling, so please give my regards to your DH and we'll all be looking forward to your 2010 pictures. Pam
LOVE LOVAGE
Been wanting this herb for several years. But alas not availabe in any local nurseries. Went to WA last Oct. to visit relatives. Found lovage, to my delight. Planted it, died within 2 weeks. Obsessed with lovage, plant cataloges, which should I buy from, will it grow here, should I plant seeds??? Today I went out to plant some seedlings of other stuff. Got a closer look at the herb garden........ Right where the plant marker for LOVAGE is, is LOVAGE COMING OUT OF THE SPRING GROUND!!!!!! Joyous rapture my lovage has resurrected! Pray you all will appreciate my sheer delight! LOVE I NOW HAVE LOVAGE!!!
Sylvia
joining you in your "happy dance" for the resurrected lovage! it's amazing how "lost" plants can resurface like that. :-)
I'm laughing in delight at your delight Sylvia! I act like a kindergartener when I see old friends emerge from their winter's slumber. I clap my hands and have a wide grin on my face...."Look, blood root is poking its little head up." "Here's our friend, sweet violet, nodding her head in the spring breeze." Gardeners understand. ;-)
Thanks Jill and Betty for sharing in my delight. I knew you guys would "get it".
May God bless you also with many suprises in the garden!
Sylvia
ROFL - that's great.
Dear pagancat Sorry I'm not up to speed, whats ROFL? Still reveling in my Lovage ressurection.
Sylvia
ROFL = "Rolling On Floor Laughing"