The Discussion
Looking for a new abode gets one thinking about landscaping and gardens fairly quickly. Naturally, I drew up plans for a jam-packed landscaping scheme, complete with every plant I wish I currently had room to grow, starting with the most expensive items regularly appearing on our grocery lists.
After toiling away for a time on the schematics and shoving in a crop for every letter in the alphabet, I presented the crowded scribbles to my beloved, only to be greeted with an expression of confusion. Where will the flowers go?
Ever the compromise-seeking individual, I launched myself into some research to find plants that marry the ideas of decor and digestibility. I found a few surprising results, which I will now share. It should be stated before we begin, that quite a few of the plants are seeds and spices, since these are fairly expensive and vital to making tasty breads and spicing up home-cooked meals.
After toiling away for a time on the schematics and shoving in a crop for every letter in the alphabet, I presented the crowded scribbles to my beloved, only to be greeted with an expression of confusion. Where will the flowers go?
Ever the compromise-seeking individual, I launched myself into some research to find plants that marry the ideas of decor and digestibility. I found a few surprising results, which I will now share. It should be stated before we begin, that quite a few of the plants are seeds and spices, since these are fairly expensive and vital to making tasty breads and spicing up home-cooked meals.
Sesame
The sesame seed plant actually has some beautiful-looking blooms that come in blue, purple, pink, or white.
Also, the seed color varies from buff, tan, gold, brown, reddish, gray, black, and the very familiar off-white.
Below is a picture of their seed pods.
Also, the seed color varies from buff, tan, gold, brown, reddish, gray, black, and the very familiar off-white.
Below is a picture of their seed pods.
As for its needs, it requires full-sun and plenty of water to start, but then becomes drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. I've started germinating some near the window in some shallow water, although my flax seeds and mustard seeds germinated after one day in water!
Ginger
Mostly geared for the tropics, this beautiful plant can be started indoors and moved outside during the summer (not any more cumbersome than re-buying/planting annuals, such as mums). It also makes for a great houseplant and can supply you with fresh ginger all-year round.
Just buy some fresh ginger from a local grocery store, plant it and water thoroughly and soon, your ginger plant will be on its way to growing in size and height (fairly tall plant). When you want ginger, just lift the root a bit, cut some and viola! No worries, the plant will recover quickly.
Just buy some fresh ginger from a local grocery store, plant it and water thoroughly and soon, your ginger plant will be on its way to growing in size and height (fairly tall plant). When you want ginger, just lift the root a bit, cut some and viola! No worries, the plant will recover quickly.
Flax
Flax: good for you and indispensable to quality bread. It also happens to be easy-on-the-eyes.
Directions: Full-sun and the rest doesn't matter much. It can be grown all over the U.S., but prefers cooler temps.
The seed pods, like the mustard plant pods must be dried, threshed, and crushed... but we needed the exercise anyway.
Apparently in case of doomsday, the fibers left over from the flax can be woven into a workable thread (for more, click the hyperlink under "directions" above.
Directions: Full-sun and the rest doesn't matter much. It can be grown all over the U.S., but prefers cooler temps.
The seed pods, like the mustard plant pods must be dried, threshed, and crushed... but we needed the exercise anyway.
Apparently in case of doomsday, the fibers left over from the flax can be woven into a workable thread (for more, click the hyperlink under "directions" above.
The seeds are contained within pods (left), after the flower has been pollinated.
(Black) Cumin
The secret spice behind all texmex flavors (next to oregano, but you know what that looks like already), cumin also has some interesting blossoms for the garden! Their flowers can also be pink, or white. Growing instructions here.
After drying this funky seed pod from cumin, do the same as for the flax above.
Stay tuned to find out what familiar foods the following blooms yield: