Seed Catalog Dreaming Part 1

In the past couple of weeks, I got a number of seed catalogs in the mail. While it still seems early to think about planting, between planning what you’d like to do this year, selecting plants, shipping, and starting your seeds in flats, it’s actually time to start! Amazing, I know, especially since it’s only the second week of January.

I’d like to start with the catalog I got from Seed Savers Exchange.
I love how this is not a company, but actually a non-profit dedicated to continuing the legacy of heirloom seeds. Since lettuce, beets, and herbs grow so well in Seattle’s climate, here is a list of some varieties I’ll keep on my list of what I’d like to get:

Detroit Dark Red Beet

Yugoslavian Red Lettuce

Chives

Pacific Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Leila in front of a lovely little garden

I attended the first day of the Pacific Northwest Flower and Garden show this year. Since I took the bus to avoid parking issues in downtown Seattle, my daughter-in-tow was more than ready to set her little feet down and run around the exhibits. The photo above is from my favorite (and gold medal winner!) garden design, “Paradise (to be) Regained” as a tribute to the author Thoreau. More impressive than any use of native plants and a cool, casual design is fact that the designer Courtney Goetz from The Creative Gardener is only 17 years old!

A lovely selection of succulents

I think the thing that scares off some people I know about garden shows is the cheese factor that exists in some of the vendor stalls as well as the designs. I can’t help but think of the art-collector Mom from Beetlejuice sometimes when I see certain garden ornaments for sale. I hope that doesn’t sound too catty but it’s my gut reaction when I see some things. Most of the time when that happens I just move on.

Jury's out on this one.. although my little girl liked the stone rabbits.

Hawaiian Heritage Plants

This is the time of year when times seems to stand still. Winter feels like it will never end. Dreams of tropical flowers and soft breezes start to become more prominent in my mind. So a book on Hawaiian heritage plants looked like just the thing to get my imagination going.

This isn’t an entirely soft and dreamy post. The lush beauty of Hawaii has a number of somewhat dark historical facts related to its plants. Other plants were and still are vital to the local economy and food chain. Here’s a list of some plants that are important to the history and culture of Hawaii.

Plumeria:
Similarly to hibiscus, plumeria is a lovely addition to many leis, but is actually native to Mexico, Venuzuela, and Central America.

Plumeria image available from Calyxia Design.

Sandalwood: (‘iliahi)
The background on sandalwood on the Hawaiian islands was the most surprising out of all the plants I read about. For thousands of years, sandalwood has been of great importance because of the strong, seductive scent that originates from its heartwood. One of my favorite descriptions of use by the Hawaiian Islanders was that some young women would take sandalwood powder and mix it with coconut butter to create a wonderful body balm.
What I didn’t realize was that many of the native islanders were exploited by their own leaders to sell the vast sandalwood forests to outsiders looking to make a profit.

Hibiscus: (koki’o ‘ula or koki’o ke’oke’o)
I find it interesting that even though there is such an emphasis on encouraging use of native plants, in reality the plants that have really shaped many cultures are often transplants from other areas of the world. Take the hibiscus. The hibiscus is a native to Southeast Asia, yet it is now Hawaii’s most famous emblem as well as the state flower. In spite of its recognition, many varieties of this plant are endangered.

Taro: (kalo)
The taro needs growing conditions similar to rice, in that it likes to have a shallow amount of water all around it to flourish. Taro has been a staple of the Hawaiian diet for centuries, and is commonly called “poi” when the taro root is pounded and fermented.

Wild Ginger: (‘awapuhi)
A plant with gorgeous blooms, its thick sap can be easily used as a hair shampoo and conditioner.

Noni: (Indian mulberry)
Noni is frequently hailed as a modern day cure-all, especially by noni juice companies. Its effectiveness isn’t conclusive, and in the days when the Hawaiian island of Moloka’i was used a leper colony, noni was sometimes used without any positive result. It is supposedly good at treating lice!

For lots more on this subject, pick up Angela Kay Kepler’s “Hawaiian Heritage Plants”.

Creating a Forest Garden

This book is fantastic.

For example, in the shrub species section of the book, I discovered some information that still amazes me: fuchsias actually bear fruit! The only reason we don’t know this is because most fuchsias outside of South America have been bred for their flowers rather than their fruit. The fruit is described as “reminiscent of plum with a peppery aftertaste”. Imagine a jam made with this fruit!

So if that isn’t enough to make you at least pick up the book, let me list these bonuses. There are plant photos along with the names and descriptions. The introductory chapters clearly define what exactly a forest garden is, and how maintaining it is a delicate balance. Too many trees and shade, your edible “crops” will suffer. But without the canopy growth, you won’t have the proper variables for growing certain plants.

Clearly written by someone that has a comfortable working knowledge of gardening, forestry, ecology, and farming, I also found out via Greenbooks Online that the author Martin Crawford

“has spent over 20 years in organic agriculture and horticulture and is director of The Agroforestry Research Trust, a non-profit-making charity that researches into temperate agroforestry and all aspects of plant cropping and uses, with a focus on tree, shrub and perennial crops.”

Buy Creating a Forest Garden: Working with Nature to Grow Edible Crops

Hibiscus for the Living Room

Think you need a boost of color for your living room? Throw pillows not cutting it? How about a hibiscus? The colors of the blossoms are so lively and intense, and when they’re not there the dark green foliage is perfect. I just got this beauty from Swanson’s Nursery and love how it makes a formerly bland corner feel more decorative.

Remember, this is a tropical plant so it’ll need bright light (think southern or western-facing windows) and warmth. I doubt your house ever gets below about 55 degrees, but that’s about the lowest this plant can handle. Mist the foliage daily to prevent mites. Keep the soil moist, but provide good drainage. Best of all, with care this plant should last a long time – possibly getting up to 5 feet tall!