December’s DWV

pol·li·na·tor  noun \ˈpä-lə-ˌnā-tər\:  one that pollinates: as an agent (such as an insect, think bees) that pollinates flowers.

January’s DWV

This Month’s Word is: pe·ren·ni·al vegetable. \pə-ˈre-nē-əl\ \ˈvej-tə-bəl, ˈve-jə-\ (adj./n.)  of a plant: having a life cycle that is more than two years long: persisting for several years, usually with new herbaceous growth from… Continue reading →

Love It, Then Leave It: Parting Words on Rhubarb

Once you have your rhubarb planted and established, there isn’t much for you to do really.  This is a vegetable you check on from time-to-time, and then move on.  However, here are the… Continue reading →

Fennel’s Seedy Past

Fennel is one the ingredients in Absinthe, the drink of choice, in the early 19th and 20th century, of the Parisian Bourgeoisie, and its famous writers and artists until it was banned.  Surprisingly,… Continue reading →

The Artichoke: Such a Drama Queen

Artichoke’s silvery arching leaves, up to 4 feet tall and wide, are very dramatic. If you don’t want to harvest them, or you leave some buds on the plant, the unharvested buds open… Continue reading →

Just The Deets, Please: Growing Artichokes and Varieties

Artichokes need mild winters and summers.  They thrive in coastal gardens, particularly in central California ― the epicenter of Western artichoke culture ― where they grow into leafy mounds 5 feet tall.  (In… Continue reading →