How does your garden grow?

[Qurratul Ayn]

Windsor Castle, the flowers outside

The beautiful tree in my workplace; it's called the twisted maple. It's absolutely gorgeous

 

[Muhaba]

^ what a beautiful sight!
ما أجمل الرؤية

I love hanging plants and plan to get some for my balcony soon. Any ideas for hot middle east climate?

 

[sister herb]

This I got today

sage ( Salvia x sylvestris)

and this

mint of Morocco

Now I have 30 herbs in my garden.

:statisfie

 

[glo]

Our harvest has started. There is much to do every day, usually followed by more work (cooking or food processing) at home. Peas need shelling and freezing, berries are made into jams and cordials, etc.)

 

[sister herb]

I am harvest too. Spinach today, soon potatoes.

 

[Woodrow]

My poor attempt at a garden fizzled this year. The weather never got warm enough and most of my seeds did not sprout. Fortunatly I saved most of the seeds and will start them indoors in about March,

The few plants that did sprout are still very small and cold weather is already setting in. Nights are getting to be very cold and I believe we will have our first frost in just a matter of days. This has been a cold summer even by North Dakota standards.

The night time temperatures have been getting down into the low 40's F and a few nights even in the 30s. Most days have not even reached 70F although just 2 weeks ago a few days hit 90F I do not think the big commercial farms have done much better. I have not seen any fields that are producing anything. This will mean higher food prices next year as the Dakotas produce about 1/4 of the grain produced in the US

Current temp is 50F at the moment we are having a warm spell last night at this time it was 40F

 

[glo]

I can't imagine living in a place like that, Woodrow. What did the indigenous people live on? I guess they followed the herds and hunted rather than growing food?
What wild plants can be eaten in your area?

 

[Woodrow]

I can't imagine living in a place like that, Woodrow. What did the indigenous people live on? I guess they followed the herds and hunted rather than growing food?
What wild plants can be eaten in your area?

The North Dakota Natives were hunters and not gardeners. Here on the plains Bison, Elk, Moose, Pronghorn Antelope and Deer were very common. Bison were the staple and the life of the Plains tribes revolved around Tanaka (Bison) every part of it was used. The meat for food the hides for clothing and the making of Teepees (tents) The bones, horns and hooves also had many uses.

The plains tribes "Lakotah, Nakotah, Makotah, Dakotah, Cheyenne " (Generally grouped together as Sioux) were nomadic and followed the Bison herds. The plains were originally Grass lands very few trees are native to here. Surprisingly there were quite a few native edible plants until the prairie lands were plowed up to plant grass cows could eat. The bison thrived on the native Buffalo grass, but it was too tough for domestic cattle to eat.

Some of the Wild native plants the Enay (NA=Native American) ate were plentiful in the short growing season. Some examples I know of and have eaten just to try.

Jerusalem Artichokes (Root of wild sun flowers) Quite good.

Milk Weed (most people are unaware this is edible) The young plants taste very similar to asparagus, the immature seed pods can be boiled or fried and are very good

Dandelions (My favorite wild plant) Every part of it is edible and when you know how to prepare it is is delicious. The roots can be roasted very dark and ground as a substitute for coffee

Wild plums, they are on small shrubs and a little tart but good very similar to the Sloe Berries you have in the UK

Burdock , another plant most people are unaware has edible parts. The roots can be prepared like potatoes

Wild Hazel nuts a small shrub very similar to their close relative Filberts

In a few parts of the state there are native Birch and sugar maple trees. While most people are aware of maple trees and maple syrup and maple sugar, few are aware the same cane be done with Birch Sap. I actually prefer Birch Syrup over maple syrup but it is expensive to buy it takes about 10 times more sap to produce syrup than it takes from maple trees.

Young thistle plants are abundant and the young plants are edible

In a few parts of the state wild onions and wild asparagus can be found

Cattails in nearly all of the numerous lakes, most people are unaware every part of it is edible

Wild rice is found in nearly every water way, It is not a true rice, but a close relative and can be prepared the same as the oriental rices. It was a staple of the Enay.

There was a variety of grass called "Nut Grass" it produced small crisp tubers very similar to water chestnuts and was eaten raw and cooked. it was plentiful and a staple food, but now seems to be extinct in North Dakota. I've only read about it and never ate it

There were numerous berries in the past Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries etc but they now seem to be extinct in the wild. Although I have found wild Strawberries in Nearby Minnesota.

 

[glo]

Some more pictures from our allotment garden. Now is the busiest time with harvesting and processing food.


Lady Godiva squash (grown for its seeds)

Tomatoes are late this year. This is our first red outdoor tomato

Too early for apples, but God willing we will have a good harvest!

Red and white currants

Not for eating, but pretty - a Peacock butterfly

Once again I am reminded of God's abundant blessings for us. I am indeed very blessed! :statisfie

 

[sister herb]

Glo...

By your pictures...

You make me hungry!

:embarrass

 

[sister herb]

Not for eating, but pretty - a Peacock butterfly

Some years ago I saw kind of butterflies 5000 at the same time on the road and I walked through the herd of them.



I was I walk in the middle of butterfly cloud.

 

[Muhaba]

Wow! that was so informative.

The North Dakota Natives were hunters and not gardeners. Here on the plains Bison, Elk, Moose, Pronghorn Antelope and Deer were very common. Bison were the staple and the life of the Plains tribes revolved around Tanaka (Bison) every part of it was used. The meat for food the hides for clothing and the making of Teepees (tents) The bones, horns and hooves also had many uses.

The plains tribes "Lakotah, Nakotah, Makotah, Dakotah, Cheyenne " (Generally grouped together as Sioux) were nomadic and followed the Bison herds. The plains were originally Grass lands very few trees are native to here. Surprisingly there were quite a few native edible plants until the prairie lands were plowed up to plant grass cows could eat. The bison thrived on the native Buffalo grass, but it was too tough for domestic cattle to eat.

Some of the Wild native plants the Enay (NA=Native American) ate were plentiful in the short growing season. Some examples I know of and have eaten just to try.

Jerusalem Artichokes (Root of wild sun flowers) Quite good.

Milk Weed (most people are unaware this is edible) The young plants taste very similar to asparagus, the immature seed pods can be boiled or fried and are very good

Dandelions (My favorite wild plant) Every part of it is edible and when you know how to prepare it is is delicious. The roots can be roasted very dark and ground as a substitute for coffee

Wild plums, they are on small shrubs and a little tart but good very similar to the Sloe Berries you have in the UK

Burdock , another plant most people are unaware has edible parts. The roots can be prepared like potatoes

Wild Hazel nuts a small shrub very similar to their close relative Filberts

In a few parts of the state there are native Birch and sugar maple trees. While most people are aware of maple trees and maple syrup and maple sugar, few are aware the same cane be done with Birch Sap. I actually prefer Birch Syrup over maple syrup but it is expensive to buy it takes about 10 times more sap to produce syrup than it takes from maple trees.

Young thistle plants are abundant and the young plants are edible

In a few parts of the state wild onions and wild asparagus can be found

Cattails in nearly all of the numerous lakes, most people are unaware every part of it is edible

Wild rice is found in nearly every water way, It is not a true rice, but a close relative and can be prepared the same as the oriental rices. It was a staple of the Enay.

There was a variety of grass called "Nut Grass" it produced small crisp tubers very similar to water chestnuts and was eaten raw and cooked. it was plentiful and a staple food, but now seems to be extinct in North Dakota. I've only read about it and never ate it

There were numerous berries in the past Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries etc but they now seem to be extinct in the wild. Although I have found wild Strawberries in Nearby Minnesota.

 

[Muhaba]

Some years ago I saw kind of butterflies 5000 at the same time on the road and I walked through the herd of them.



I was I walk in the middle of butterfly cloud.

Subhan-Allah! Back in Pakistan there were lots of butterflies. I was able to catch one. It was so cute but it played dead as soon as I caught it, lyng in my hand with its wings folded. It flew away as soon as I went back out into the yard.

 

[glo]

Some years ago I saw kind of butterflies 5000 at the same time on the road and I walked through the herd of them.
I was I walk in the middle of butterfly cloud.

I bet that was amazing!

Not so long ago I was cycling to work when a butterfly was flying alongside me. We were heading in the same direction and at a similar speed and it was just flying at my shoulder height ... so for several seconds I got to watch that beautiful creature beating its wings and flying along.
It felt as if I was flying too.

 

[glo]

Talking about pretty butterflies, today I picked over 50 caterpillars off just one cabbage plant. I fed them to the chickens ... so those are 50 caterpillars who won;t turn into butterflies ... SORRY!

 

[glo]

What do you make of our purple potatoes? They even keep that colour when they are cooked.
A bit strange, but they taste lovely!

 

[sister herb]

You can now keep purple garden party: purple potatoes, purple tomatoes, purple beans (I have them but unfortable they change to green when cook), purple lettuce and purple whatever.

:giggling:

 

[sister herb]

When I harvested beans and spinach today by bear feet, ground felt cold.

:hmm: The autumn is coming here. During nights temperature might goes under +10 C.

I want summer back!

 

[Muhaba]

We have summer all year round. I prefer rain and colder climates. Soon is-sha-Allah I'll be getting potted plants for my new place. I need plants at home. Cant' live without them.

 

[sister herb]

We have summer all year round. I prefer rain and colder climates. Soon is-sha-Allah I'll be getting potted plants for my new place. I need plants at home. Cant' live without them.

Nice. I will come to throw you by snow ball soon.