There are some great things growing right now!
Concord Park:
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| Teasel, a medicinal plant that is said to help cure Lime disease. |
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| Horsemint, the flowers and young leaves of this plant add a wonderful herbal/citrus flavor to tea. |
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| Auricularia auricula (brown wood ear). They will be gelatinous and maintain their texture in soups! |
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| Physalis sp., Ground Cherry, berries
are yummy - especially dried as raisins! It makes a tasty syrup or
jam, too. Otherwise known as cape gooseberry or Chinese lantern fruit
(due to the little papery cases that the berries grow inside). Do not eat the berries when they are green. Cherries will ripen to yellow, orange or even red. Some say ground cherries are particularly good for diabetics. |
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Pasture Rose, Rosa carolina. Rose petals and hips can be used to make jelly.
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| Growing Paw Paw fruit! |
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| Elderberry Blooms, can be used for jelly, liqueur, or battered and fried. However, if you want the berries, don't touch the blooms! |
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| Lamb’s Quarters, the leaves make an excellent potherb that is considered by many people to be superior to spinach. | |
Harlinsdale Park:
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| Poke plants are still shooting up. |
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| Common Plantain, makes a nice cooking green or medicinal plant. |
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| Perilla, in the mint family, makes a nice seasoning. |
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| Mulberries are beginning to ripen! |
Winstead Park:
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| This is going to be a banner year for grapes! You can also use the grape leaves to make dolmas. |
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| Staghorn Sumac beginning to ripen. It makes a great drink which tastes like lemonade or you can make Za'atar seasoning with it! |
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| Blackberries will be prolific this year! Leaves can also be used to make a tea. |
Have you found anything interesting so far this month?
I am curious about the variety/botanical name of the horsemint you show, (it is different from what I am familiar with)...also, do you have any experience with woodland strawberries, bumper crop in MO this year and I am thinking about combining with rhubarb. I have about 3 qts in the freezer now. THX :)
ReplyDeleteBlephilia ciliata, I think.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I just checked and it does not grow naturally in my area, it is a bit different than the one "we" call horsemint, but the leaves look similar.
DeleteI am not familiar with woodland strawberries but I love rhubarb and strawberries!
ReplyDeleteIt is also called mock strawberry or Indian Strawberry (considered invasive) no flavor, but interesting nutritional value. (Freezes great and real pretty in muffins). I found where some use it with strawberries to increase their yield.
DeleteThank you have a great week...Love your blog!