Black Heirloom Juicing Corn from Peru - Morado Corn

This is an absolutely beautiful dark dark purple corn. 

Also known as Kculli this ancient type of corn is particularly known in Peru and parts of South America and one of the oldest corn in the world, and a staple food of many societies since prehistoric times. Purple Corn bears well-sized ears with large kernels that ripen to a deep purple-black color. 
 
People of the Andes make a refreshing drink sweetened with fruit, sugar or honey from the purple corn called "chicha morada" which is now recognized as a nutritive powerhouse due to its phenolic and anthocyanins content. The Anthocyanins are a type of complex flavonoid that produce the blue, purple or red colors of the corn. Phenolics are known to have many bioactive and functional properties. Purple Corn has higher C3G antioxidant capacity and antiradical kinetics than blueberries.
 
Also highly desirable for corn meal and corn pudding as well as a natural fabric and hair dye and cosmetics.  Start indoors as this corn requires a long growing season 100-120 days.  

US Source Available Seeds

Monkey Puzzle Tree Pehuén Araucaria araucana

Very unusual and exotic looking prehistoric specimen Tree. The tree is native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina. 

Because of the great age of this species, it is sometimes described as a living fossil. Its conservation status was changed to Endangered by the IUCN in 2013 due to its declining abundance. 

Distinctive, armor-like, scale-like, triangular leaves, persist for 10 to 15 years, sometimes longer on the trunk, ovate-lanceolate in shape, 1 to 2 inches long, shiny green Cones are erect, globular, dark brown, and 4 to 7 inches long by 3 to 6 inches wide, scales have long triangular recurved points; developing in 2-3 years and falling off at maturity; seeds are brown to orange, triangular in shape, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, the edible nut is long and narrow with 2 small even wings that are denticulate at the top. 

It is the national tree of Chile. Hardy to zones 7-11.

Seeds are available here: Araucaria araucana

 

Christmas Bells Sandersonia aurantiaca

Sandersonia aurantiaca, known as christmas bells, is a climbing bulbous plant from South Africa with attractive orange-yellow, bell-shaped flowers. 

These beautiful and long-lasting flowers were once common in their wild habitat of Swaziland, but are now threatened due to the expansion of agricultural activities.
Sandersonia is a half hardy, perennial. Grow in a sheltered, sunny site with well-drained soil. As its name suggest, the flowers have a very unusual urn-like shape, and form at the tips of slender, bow-shaped stems. Highly prized and long lasting cut flower.

Named after John Sanderson, 19th century Scottish journalist and amateur botanist who in 1851 discovered the plant in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Available Seeds.... 

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Unique Chocolate Garden Flowers

The sights and smells of chocolate plantings add elegance and drama to any display bed, and can be easily replicated in home gardens. From flowering annuals to feathery perennials and fudge-inspired vegetables, plant diversity is the key to a successful
chocolate garden: an assortment of texture, height, and color adds depth and variety.
With respect to color, most chocolate plants are not strictly brown, but instead include shades of red such as burgundy, maroon and mahogany, black, mauve, and metallic shades of bronze and copper. These dark plantings become most vibrant when contrasted with bright colors such as yellow, red, orange, and even silver and gold.

There are all sorts of chocolate colored flowers but they are very rare and difficult to find. Seeds usually are the way to go.

Collections found here as well as individual varieties

Some varieties used are:

- Korean Angelica
- Black False Hellebore Veratrum
- Chocolate Royale Salpiglossis
- Black Ball Centaurea
- Gooseneck Loosestrife
- Columbine Chocolate Soldier
- Foxglove Milk Chocolate
- Chocolate Sunflower
- Dianthus Sooty
- Rudbeckia Green Wizzard
- Midnight Beaujolais Lathyrus
 
Vegetables include Chocolate Habaneros, sweet Chocolate Bell Peppers and some Tomato varieties
such as Chocolate Cherry and Black from Tula.

Collections make an unusual visual Gift for the chocolate-loving gardener without a single calorie and will not melt in your hands.

Scientists Discover First ‘Virological Penicillin’ in Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica

Chinese researchers have discovered what they say is the first ‘virological penicillin’ – MIR2911, a molecule found naturally in a Chinese herb called honeysuckle.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a well-known Chinese herb. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has been used to effectively treat influenza infection for centuries.
Several previous studies have confirmed that the herb, usually consumed in the form of a tea, can suppress the replication of influenza virus.
However, the active anti-viral components and the mechanism by which they block viral replication have remained unclear.
Now, a team of researchers headed by Dr Chen-Yu Zhang of Nanjing University in China has identified MIR2911 (honeysuckle-encoded atypical microRNA2911) as the first active component directly targeting various influenza viruses, including the swine flu H1N1, highly pathogenic avian H5N1 and H7N9 infections.
MIR2911 represses influenza viruses by targeting PB2 and NS1, two genes that are known to be required for influenza viral replication.

With its broad-spectrum, anti-viral activity against influenza viruses, MIR2911 and MIR2911-containing honeysuckle tea may represent a new effective therapeutic strategy that can be used to subdue deadly infections.
“It is important to note that since Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin nearly a century ago, antibiotics have been developed to target various bacterial infections and have saved the lives of millions of people,” the scientists wrote in a paper published in the journal Cell Research.
“Unfortunately, no natural product that is effective against viral infection has been identified thus far.”
“We suggest that as the first natural product to directly target influenza A viruses, MIR2911 is the ‘virological penicillin’ that serves as a novel therapeutic and preventive agent against not only influenza A, but potentially also other types of viruses.”

Article Sources:

USA: http://www.sci-news.com/   
USA: medicalxpress.com
UK: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
OZ: http://www.sciencealert.com.au/ 


Tea Source: Honeysuckle Tea
Seed Source: Seeds for Growing

 ...

Black Vegetables and Black Flowers

Well..not completely black, but at least near black. Black Flowers have always had a mystery to them but black vegetable gardens are pretty much something we haven't heard of. They are even heirloom vegetables! 

The darker the fruit or vegetable, the more antioxidants (anthocyanin) it has, plus the near black shades of dark purple to dark maroon make for a stunning display and great conversation. 

Almost Black Vegetables

Almost Black Flowers

Collections Found Here

as well as individual Varieties

 

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Red and White Candy Cane Sorrel Oxalis

Oh how lovely!

This intriguing half hardy alpine produces crimson striped, funnel shaped buds like tiny striped barbers poles! The striking petals open to reveal pretty white flowers with crimson margins. A fascinating talking point for a frost free greenhouse. In exceptionally mild areas it can be grown outside at the front of borders or in sheltered rockeries.
Grows up to 12" tall. Prefers full to partial sun. Blooms from July until October, giving you months of enjoyment of this unique garden sorrel. 
Growing candy cane sorrel is simple. Candy cane oxalis flowers are native to capes of South Africa. This attractive member of the Oxalis family is sometimes forced in greenhouses for ornamental, holiday blooms. 
When growing candy cane sorrel outside in the garden, the plant will exhibit blooms through most of the spring and sometimes into summer, depending on the location where it grows. As with most members of the ornamental Oxalis family, the candy cane oxalis plant goes dormant in summer and begins a period of regrowth in fall. Info about candy cane oxalis plant says it is hardy in USDA Zones 7-9, though it can grow as an annual in lower zones. 
Candy cane sorrel bulbs (rhizomes) can be planted at any time the ground, provided it is not frozen. Once candy cane sorrel bulbs are established, occasional watering and fertilization is all that is required when caring for candy cane oxalis. You may remove dying foliage when the plant dies back for the sake of appearance, but it will wither on its own. Don’t despair that the candy cane oxalis plant is dying; it is just regenerating and will once again reappear in the garden.
This plant is grown from Bulbs! If you see seeds (likely from china) - don't buy them..seeds do NOT exist!!

Dark Flowers Desert Indigo Bush

Dark flowers for Bees! Lovely! 

Desert Indigo Bush, Amorpha fruticosa, is a spectacular loose shrub with fine textured, fragrant foliage, growing 8-10 Ft tall. Brilliant purple to black spikes of flowers bloom from April to June.
Amorpha fruticosa makes a great native substitute for Butterfly Bush and is great in spots that are too wet for other spring bloomers.
Grows in moist or average soils in full sun or part shade. Prefers some shade in hot climates and does not like extended periods of drought. Highly attractive to honey bees. Zone 5-9.
Although Desert  Indigo seeds have no real dormancy to break down the seeds have a very hard, water-impermeable seed coat and require pretreatment for successful germination to occur. Without pretreatment it is likely that 10% or less of the seeds will germinate. A combination of a variety of seed pretreatments may be necessary to make the seed coat permeable so that the seed embryo can take up water and begin to germinate.
The first method is place the seeds in a heat proof container and pour hot (not boiling!) water 160-180F over them and leave them to soak for between 12-24 hours allowing the water to cool to room temperature.
Seeds that have been successfully pretreated will have swollen to around 2 to 3 times their previous size. Remove all swollen seeds as these will be damaged by further pretreatments. These can be sown immediately. This hot water treatment can be repeated up to 3 times, making the water a little hotter each time. Seeds that remain small need to be dried for further treatment.
The remaining method is to physically breakthrough the seed coat by cutting or (k)nicking the edge of the seed with a knife or using a file or even rubbing them between layers of fine sandpaper. All of these methods can be used to break through the seed coat. Once you have done this soak the seeds in cold water for 12-24 hours and successfully treated seeds will have imbibed water and swollen greatly.
Any that have not could be scarified again followed by another water soak. Sow all the seeds, even those that remain small as they may germinate later
Once the seeds have become swollen with water germination is quite rapid and if the seeds are kept at room temperature and germination should take place in 7 to 10 days.

Red Mangrove Rhizophora mangle

What a beauty! 

Rhizophora mangle perfectly can be grown in any kind of aquarium whether seawater aquarium, brackish water aquarium or freshwater aquarium or a pond.
Mangroves absorb nutrients from the water in order to grow, and help lower nitrates and phosphates. The Red Mangrove can be planted in the sand, or in between rocks in an open topped aquarium, illuminated sump or refugium. The roots will quickly grow to take hold in sand substrate or in live rock.

Dwarf Evergreen Plumeria Frangipani pudica "Bridal Bouquet"

Absolutely beautiful and rare Flower, native of Panama, Colombia and Venezuela, blooms in bouquets of white flowers usually in Texas, Florida and the Bahamas. Easy to grow, and blooms heavily for a long time. 
 

The Plumeria Pudica usually has one or two slender trunks that branch close to the ground forming a dense slightly spreading crown. The signature leaves have a short petiole and are fiddle-shaped due to a pair of lobes above the middle. The flowers are strikingly pure white, with a yellow throat.

Advantages of this beautiful plant are its heavy foliage cover, extensive evergreen phase and long blooming period. It is easier to grow indoors than other Plumeria and doesn't have any significant pest or disease problems (resistant to spider mites)

Well suited for full sun.  Deciduous under extended drought conditions or during a particularly cold winter. Properly placed, mature trees usually need no pruning. Zone 9+ or container. This plant does not set seeds. Cuttings are easy to root, much like cactus.



Plants available here:

Wild Wild Vegetables: Sea Asparagus Salicornia europaea

Utterly delicious and very hard to find, this generally unknown culinary plant of salty mudflats and the shoreline produces succulent tender shoots with a flavor reminiscent of asparagus, but a taste all of its own. It is nothing short of an absolute treat, especially served with seafood.

Also known as Mermaids Kiss, Glasswort, the wild marsh Samphire can be found in abundance in salt marshes and tidal mud flats on the British coast. Seeds came from salt marsh on the north Norfolk coast, England.

It can be eaten raw, or cooked - boiled or steamed for a couple of minutes, topped with melting butter and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Absolutely no salt is needed as they taste of the sea so are more than sufficiently salty. They are rich in Vitamins A, C and D, this plant is highly sought after in British upscale gourmet restaurants. 
 

Annual, in warmer climate perennial. Very high moisture needs; suitable for marsh bogs.

Info on the plant - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicornia 
Seeds (US):  Marsh Samphire Salicornia europae
Plants (UK): Samphire Plant

Mini Garden Gnome Jewelry

Too cute not to post...  Gnome Earrings from Lonestarbeadery

Cute cute cute. Miniature Garden Gnomes with a shovel and Swarovski glass crystals on secure steel lever back ear hooks. 1.5" inches (40mm) long, 3D all the way around, available also in red and blue. $16 - Gift wrapped.

Broken Bones Tree Midnight Horror

Oroxylum indicum is a rare tree commonly called Tree of Damocles found in tropical countries, such as India, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia. It is a small or medium sized deciduous tree up to 40 Ft in it’s natural habitat. If grown in pots, it can be expected to be much smaller.

The leaves are very large, 5 ft long.
The large leaf stalks wither and fall off the tree and collect near the base of the trunk, appearing to look like a pile of broken limb bones. The flowers are reddish purple outside and pale, pinkish-yellow within, numerous, in large erect racemes. The flowers bloom at night and emit a strong, stinky odor which attracts bats.

The name Midnight Horror is due to its lengthy seed pods which range from 1.3 - 4ft. Hanging off the tree in clusters, when dry they rattle in the wind like a clattering skeleton...
It has been used traditionally for a wide diversity of ailments such as cancer, diarrhea, fever, ulcer, jaundice and arthritis.

Heirloom Rats Tail Radish - Incredible

It sure sounds and looks weird but it tastes like regular radish. Great in hot climates
The aerial Rat Tail Radish came from Asia in the early 1800's. It was in vogue in the U.S. around the Civil War, but has been virtually unobtainable since.
Delicious, unusual, yet surprisingly versatile, the pods are produced by the dozen in great masses.
 
Unlike the more familiar radish, which is grown for it's roots, the rat's tail radish is harvested for it's crunchy pods. They resemble chillies, but taste like a young rooted crisp radish. Rat's tail radishes are quick to mature you can expect to harvest your crop within six weeks and pick all summer long..

Pick the seedpods when they are mild, crisp and about 6 inches long. Unlike other radishes, rat-tail thrives in summer heat will bear all summer long. Eat raw, stir fried, or pickled.

Rat Tail Radish Seeds

Red Devil's Claw Proboscidea (sp)

Another weird plant. Devils Claw. 

Proboscidea parviflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Martyniaceae known by the common names doubleclaw and red devil's-claw. It is native to the desert southwest of the United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in sandy, dry, and disturbed habitat and blooms during the hot summer. 

This is an annual herb growing from a taproot and producing sprawling, spreading stems.
The flower is white to pink or purple, sometimes with mottling or lines of spots in the throat, and often a purple blotch on the upper lip.
 
The fruit is a large seed pod are a few inches long. As the fruit dries the tail cracks open and splits into two hooked, claw-like halves. The young fruits and seeds were used for food and the dark-colored hardened dry fruits were used in basketry local Native Americans. Pods are much sought after by artists.

Seeds found here

More from this artist:

 Here is an awesome set of sculptures made with Devil Claw Pods by "Art from the Heart". 
http://art-fromthe-heart.deviantart.com/gallery/7318792

Chocolate Cocoa Plant Theobroma cacao

Obtained fresh pulpy seeds to grow some Chocolate Trees. 

These are not like typical seeds. Once they dry out, they are no longer viable. 

Once known only as the drink of Kings and the rich. The Cacao Tree is a shade tolerant, moisture loving, understory rainforest tree. It naturally favors riparian zones so often in the wild is found along rivers. The trees live for up to 100 years, but cultivated trees are considered economically productive for only about 60 years. 
Unlike most fruit that grows on the branches, cacao pods grow directly on the trunk of the tree. The cacao tree yields its first crop at 3-4 years old. They give fruit three to four times a year. The hard, coarse shell changes from green to yellow, and then to a reddish brown. 
The cacao tree can flourish only in the hottest regions of the world, but the young plants in particular need lots of shade. Delicate seedlings are easily sunburned, and so they must have direct cover from larger trees in the rainforest canopy. The cocoa trees develops under the shade of other large tropical forest trees. In farms they may be under or banana or coconut trees. They need 80+ inches of rain, and high humidity. Zone 10 or Greenhouse/Indoors.

The Killarney Strawberry Tree

Isn't this lovely!

The strawberry tree is native to Ireland, southern Europe and the western Mediterranean region (Turkey, Greece, Lebanon) where it grows in rocky, well-drained soils.
The small white or pinkish blueberry-like flowers are assembled in drooping panicles about 2" (5cm) long. The spherical bright red fruits are warty and about 3/4" (2cm) in diameter. They take a year to ripen, and both flowers and fruits can be present at the same time.
Strawberry tree is 8 to 20+ ft (2.5m to 6m+) tall and wide. Full sun or partial shade (essential in desert areas). Makes a striking display as a specimen shrub. Great for Bonsai.
The bark of strawberry tree has been used in tanning leather. The fruit is edible. The fruits are prepared as jams, jellies, syrups, candied fruit, distilled and fermented drinks, such as wines (Medronho) and liqueurs. Produces a rare, highly-esteemed honey in Sardinia.
Strawberry tree is tolerant of acidic to alkaline soils. Zones 8-11. Seeds found here

It's a challenge. Very finicky to grow, but well worth it! 

Goblin Garden - The Mighty Alraun

Rare Mandrake Root Atropa Mandragora officinarum.

It's one of the oldest and most famous plant in witchcraft, rituals and medicinal use. It's also mentioned in several references in the bible. According to the legend, a dog had to pull up the man-like roots as their scream reputedly killed all who heard it! Today the plant is best known from the movie "Harry Potter".
This plant belongs to the nightshades family (Solanaceae) and all parts are poison.

Mandrakes are stemless, perennial herbs with dark green leaves, resembling somewhat the leaves of chard and a have large taproots that can grow up to two feet in length, resembling somewhat a human.
The pale to vibrant bluish purple flowers emerge in a cluster from the center of the plant. The fruit, orange to red berries, resembling tomatoes, ripen by late summer. The fruit is highly fragrant, one ripe fruit placed in the middle of the room will perfume the whole room with a pineapple like scent.

This plant is hardy to at least 20F when fully grown, it can be grown anywhere in the sub-tropics as long as there are cool winters there. It requires good drainage for best growth and is not too picky about soil types.
This plant gets dormant in the summer times. Every autumn the root grows a new rosette of leaves. The leaves grow fast and in only a month they are fully developed. Zone 7. Seeds available here

Scarce Gem - Extremely Rare Sorcerer's Tree

What have we here.

 The Sorcerer's Tree (Solanaceae family) is a showy woody shrub, to 12ft high, native to a small area in southern Chile.
It has slightly glossy, elliptic leaves on spiny stems and pendulous, beautiful bell-shaped, 2in long, magenta flowers followed by round, yellow-ish fruits.
Latua pubiflora is apparently nowhere abundant, and there are even very few specimens of it in the world.
Seeds found here...
 
The Sorcerer's Tree as it is known, is one of the rarest of all shamanic plants.
All parts are strongly poisonous due to hallucinogen alkaloids.

For any rich, moist, well drained soil in a shady spot throughout the year.
Hardy to Zone 9. The plant does not tolerate snow, but can tolerate occasional freezing spells of about 23F (the typical morning frost of central Chile). Prefers to grow in the part-shade to full shade.


Family: Solanaceae. Synonyms: Lycioplesium pubiflorum, Latua venenata, Latua venenosa, Baum der Zauberer, Palo de Bruja, Tree of Wizards.

Mini Fruit Kiwi Berry Yum!!!

The self-pollinating Actinidia arguta is a heirloom perennial vine native to Japan, Korea, Northern China, and Russian Siberia. The fruit are referred to as Hardy kiwifruit, kiwi berry, arctic kiwi, baby kiwi, dessert kiwi, grape kiwi, northern kiwi, or cocktail kiwi and are edible. Berry or grape-sized fruit similar to kiwifruit in taste and appearance, but are green with smooth skin. Often sweeter than the kiwifruit, hardy kiwifruit can be eaten whole and need not be peeled.

The fast-growing, climbing vine is very hardy (hence the name hardy kiwi), and is capable of surviving slow temperature drops to -30°F, although young shoots can be vulnerable to frost in the spring. The vines need a frost-free growing season of about 150 days, but are not damaged by late freezes, provided that temperature changes are sufficiently gradual to allow plants to acclimate. Indeed, a period of winter chill is necessary for successful cultivation. However, rapid freezes will kill off buds and split vines. The vines can also be grown in low-chill areas. Seed available here.

The vines grow extremely quickly and require a strong trellis for support.

Carnivorous Spoon Sundew

Species of the Drosera spatulata group are found from New Zealand, Tasmania, and Australia.
Drosera tokaiensis is beautiful, small rosette-forming carnivorous plant species having spoon-like leaves up to 1 inch long. It is one of the easiest carnivorous plants to grow and care. As a natural hybrid between D. spatulata and D. rotundifolia it has the best genes for adaptation to new environments. It is a free-flowering and fascinating house plant that may bloom after short 8 months after sowing. The plant lives 3 years or more, producing seedlings during the way!
The leaves are densely covered with stalked tentacles that secrete sticky mucilage with enzymes to attract and catch inserts. The tentacles are very sensitive and mobile. Once an insect is trapped on a leaf, its movements contact triggers a curling reaction. The leaf wraps around the insect and produces more digestive glands in contact with its prey, eventually digesting and absorbing the victim's nutrients until only the external skeleton remains.
This is a subtropical species, suitable zone 10+ or as a houseplant. Seeds found....

Beautiful Chilean Potato Vine 'Glasnevin'

Lovely!

Solanum crispum is a species of flowering plant in the Solanaceae family, native to Chile and Peru. Common names include Chilean potato vine, Chilean nightshade, Chilean potato tree and potato vine. Growing to 20 ft tall, it is a semi-evergreen, woody-stemmed climbing plant. The small blue fragrant flowers, 1”  in diameter, with prominent yellow ovaries, appear in clusters in summer. They resemble those of the closely related potato.
S. crispum is fast growing with a long flowering period, typically from midsummer till autumn. It grows well in neutral or slightly alkaline soils that are moist and well drained. Requiring some protection from frost, planting it against a south- or west-facing fence or wall in full sun is recommended. Zone 8+


Seeds available here

What a stinking Lily!! - Voodoo Lily

If you like the smell of death and decay in the garden, this one might be of interest to you. The little sister of the giant corpse flower.

The Voodoo lily is a member of the philodendron family that grows from a tuber. Each tuber produces a single tripartite leaf on a tall, mottled stem. Voodoo lily is a perennial generally grown as a curiosity for its interesting foliage.
But be aware; When in bloom it produces an odor like a dead animal, the smell intended to attract the carrion flies that are its natural pollinators. If this is objectionable the flower can be cut off or covered with a plastic bag to confine the smell. Pollinated flowers will be followed by a round berry.

As a tender plant, the leaf is very frost sensitive (although buried tubers are supposedly hardy to zone 6), and must be grown indoors as a house plant (oh joy!) or as a seasonal outdoor plant. It is easy to plant the tubers outdoors once the soil has warmed and dig them again in the fall once the weather cools. Also known as konjak, konjaku, konnyaku potato, devil's tongue, voodoo lily, snake palm, or elephant yam.

This variety is grown for food. The corm has dietary and medicinal uses and provides several vitamins, but must be used only after careful research.

Definitely worth growing for it's unique display and 'fragrant' experience, a true conversation plant.

Bulbs available here

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Dr. Seuss Trees - Tree Echium

Probably the drama queen of the Echiums...

Echium pininana, also called Tree Echium and Giant Viper's bugloss, is a plant, native to La Palma in the Canary Islands. 

E. pininana is a biennial or triennial, showing little more than leaf in the first year, but subsequently produces a dense, 10-12 ft high (potentially) flower spike that carries a dense mass of leaves and small blue flowers. Attracts many Hummingbirds, Bees, Butterflies.


The tree echium is a showy plant, that will withstand negative temperatures down to 26°F - 25°F (-3°C to -4°C) - zone 8+

Inflorescence of the tree echium appears in the beginning of the second spring. Resembling a Palm tree, the stem quickly reaches up to 10-12 ft tall, and bears numerous tiny blue-violet flowers. 

Certainly the most sought-after of all Echium species that will bring crowds flocking to see it. Stunning!

Seeds...

American Ginseng Panax quinquefolius

Panax quinquefolius roots have become a very popular herbal medicine, especially in China. As a result of its over-exploitation and the loss of its natural forest habitat, it is now rare in the wild, and material used commercially has to come from cultivated plants. It is now considered to be a threatened species in 16 states and endangered in a further 10 states. 

American ginseng (Xi Yang Shen),  Panax quinquefolius. The word "panax" comes from the Greek word "pan" meaning "all", and the Greek "akos" meaning "cure", or "cure all", which exemplifies the high regard for this herb. Ginseng plants have glossy green leaves and grow to about 2 feet tall and wide. 
They have a thin, single stem that emerges from the top of the root that shrinks each year as the plant grows. This causes wrinkles or rings at the top, or neck, of the root and is the most accurate way to date the age of a ginseng root after harvest. In most climates seedlings are best grown in a deep pot in a greenhouse or cold frame for the first winter, then can be planted in a permanent location in late summer. The plant is perennial and hardy to USDA zone 6. Prefers moist humus rich soil in semi shade to full shade.

Pre-chilled, already stratified Seeds

The Dove Tree, also called Handkerchief Tree or Ghost Tree

Native to China, handkerchief tree is considered to be the Holy Grail of exotic flora, and seeds were first sent to England by the legendary botanist Ernest Wilson in 1901. The dove tree is a deciduous tree that typically grows 20-40’ tall with a broad pyramidal habit. Red-anthered flowers in rounded clusters bloom in April-May. However the showy parts of the bloom are the large showy white bracts (one 3-4 inches long and the other 6-7 inches long) which subtend each flower cluster. The bracts flutter in the slightest breeze, and, from a distance, purportedly look like white doves sitting in the tree, hence the common name. Flowers are followed by round, greenish-brown, golf ball-sized fruits on 2-3” stems. 
The bright green leaves (3-6” long) are heart-shaped at the base. Variable fall color ranges from undistinguished dull pastels to bright oranges and reds. Other common names, all in reference to the unique flowers, include handkerchief tree, laundry tree and ghost tree. Genus honors Abbe Armand David, a French missionary to China from 1862-1873, who first described and collected the tree. This Tree is hardy Zone 5-8

Dark Purple Cauliflower..Yum!

Look what we have here...

This specialty market variety will certainly attract attention at your garden and kitchen.
This rare and stunning hybrid F1 cauliflower produces rich colored heads for cropping July-October. The unique purple curds can be eaten raw, boiled, steamed or stir-fried. The deep purple color along with its dark green leaves makes for a very striking combination. Works best for fall planting but can also be grown in spring. Tender texture and mild cauliflower flavor. Superior quality retain most of their vibrant color even after cooking - a beautiful presentation!
Purple cauliflowers contain anthocyanins a very powerful antioxidant, said to help prevent cancer and very beneficial for general health. 80 days from setting out transplants

Seeds: Graffiti Cauliflower 

Heirloom Bean Yard Long Vigna Unguiculata Sesquipedalis

The coolest new bean in my assortment. 

It is doing extremely well in the Texas heat. Another great feature is the bend ability that lets you create wondrous eye appealing edible conversation material. 

Unique and delicious, yard long beans grow extra long with super slender pods that are a tasty addition to stir-fries and stews. This variety produces long, dark green, slender, round string-less pods that grow 16-18" (to 45 cm) long. This strong, easy to grow plant needs a warm climate to thrive and will reward you with high yields. They are very
crisp, tender and delicious. Try in recipes that use snap beans. Prepare by cutting into 2" sections. Shell mature pods and use as dried beans. 70 Days Also known as Chinese long bean, garter bean, snake bean, spaghetti bean, yard long bean, asparagus bean.

Yard Long Bean Seeds

Incredible Maniltoa

Latest stunning discovery.

The Australian Manitloa is a highly ornamental small tree with very spectacular, cascading pink new growth. As an added attraction to the spectacular new foliage growth it will produce fluffy white balls of flowers. It will grow into a medium size tree suitable for suburban back yards. 

They produce a brown pod containing one brown seed, probably one of the reasons why no one sells them.

 
Common names include: Silk Handkerchief Tree, Cascading Bean, Native Handkerchief Tree.