Mulberry Creek Herb Farm: Herbs, Recipes, Stories, Ideas and other things A-Z

Herbs, Recipes, Stories, Ideas and other things A-Z

NASTURTIUM

All parts are edible. Tear up leaves and flowers to add to your next salad. Plus, seed pods are fine caper substitutes. If you are ever in the mood for garden "grazing," head to Nasturiums first!

Nasturtium, Empress Of India

Tropaelum majus`Empress of India'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Shade to P. Shade
Height: Vine
Water: Wet
Soil: Organic
Flowers: Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Baskets, Container, Culinary, Edible Flowers, Ornamental

Exotic, deep red flowers on dark green foliage form a semi trailing habit. This best selling annual compliments yellow gem marigolds, lantana, pineapple mint, or hot colored flowering plants. Tasty!

Nasturtium, Strawberries & Cream

Tropaeolum majus

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Shade to P. Shade
Height: Vine
Water: Wet
Soil: Organic
Common Uses:Culinary, , Ornamental

Nasturtium, Variegated Alaska

Tropaelum majus`Alaska Variegata'

This flamboyant specimen is not for the weak of heart. Mixed colors of red, yellow or orange compliment round, green leaves, swirled in random yellow streaks. Everybody's favorite for mixed containers. Highly ornamental, even when it isn't in bloom. Flowers are prized for their sweet peppery flavor. Green seed pods are ""radish"" hot!

Neea / Saltwood

Neea buxifolia

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun - P. Sun
Height: 12 x 12 inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Tree, Bonsai

From Puerto Rico comes this stiff, twiggy, bonsai starter. Having no particular natural form, your options are unlimited. Four season display means red shoots, small spring to summer flowers, and red fruits by September, all with a backdrop of smooth, gray bark and glossy, privet-like foliage. Found it for $30. on another website.

Nothoscordum /Tiny Golden Garlic

Nothoscordum montevidense

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: P. Sun - P. Shade
Height: 4h x 2w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub, Potted Plant

Expect a flurry of golden, slightly citrus scented flowers no taller than 4 inches in spring THROUGH the fall. Companion blades of grass bide their time in between. Not entirely winter hardy in northern Ohio, but if you bring your container into a protected area, this plant will resurrect next spring. In the onion family, the tiny bulbs are easy to divide and share with other pots or friends.

WHITE PINE NEEDLE TEA

From Manataka American Indian Council's GREAT WEBSITE:
www.manataka.org/page1474.html
Submitted by: Bonnie Delcourt

½ cup of pine needles, green young needles are best 1.5 pints of water

Notes:
   You can also put them in unbleached tea bags.

    The tea should be red in color with a little oil floating on top.

   You can add honey or cinnamon if you like, (Since the author has type 2 diabetes, she adds cinnamon).
   It really doesn’t taste like pine; it has a very mild flavor.

   White pine needles have 5 needles on each sprig… but you can use any pine or fir tree, though the
   recipe may differ.

Remember:
   Some pine and fir trees are poisonous.

   Pour boiled water in a cup. Do not boil needles in a sealed jar as this may release harmful turpentine.

   View this video at about 5 minute mark --
   forward the video www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrSqva1Y9Bg Submitted by Alex P

   Do not drink pine needle tea when pregnant or if you are allergic to pine.