Viewing comments posted by Bonehead

This herb self-seeds for me rather aggressively (Pacific NW). My whole chicken yard is filled with it, and the birds won't touch it (I believe the leaves are extremely bitter). I weedwack it regularly. Strangely, in my actual herb garden it is fairly well behaved. Go figure.

My Grandma Ghost is 20' tall and wide, in a more or less round shape. I thought it would be a smaller tree, but it is working well for me. I sited this at the east side of a covered porch and it provides good coverage for the songbirds who frequent my feeders along the eaves of the porch. I have pruned it to keep it somewhat open and not become a total screen.

I am in the Pacific NW. This species is on our invasive list as 'monitor' so be cautious where you plant it. It was noted that both 'Red Baron' and 'Rubra' are less aggressive than some of the taller forms which have become problematic in the SE corner of the U.S. In any event, I found 'Rubra' to be a bit slow to establish, and it has not overstepped its bounds (so far). Very pretty coloring.

Juicy orange cherry, thin skinned, VERY sweet, doesn't crack, my go-to cherry tomato. Note: In 2017, the fruit was not nearly as sweet, hoping this is just a fluke.

Weirdly shaped, fairly large, low productivity.

Purplish beefsteak, doesn't climb well, really late, bland taste, scant yield. Plus the odd coloring puts me off.

Native throughout the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East, found in disturbed sites at low to mid elevations. Provides forage for field mice, slugs, beetles, sowbugs, millipedes, and crickets. May be used as a trap crop for leaf miners. It can help restore nutrients to poor soil. Emerges early in the spring, and if you have a lot of it you should pull it before it sets seed, or harvest the seed and use as birdfeed. Leaves and seed are also great to feed to poultry. Has many common names: fat hen or pigweed (used as feed), goosefoot (describing the leaf shape), wild spinach (may be substituted in any spinach recipe). I do not know why most folks call this plant lamb's quarters.

P. vitacea differs from P. quinquefolia in growth habit. P. quinquefolia is often high climbing, whereas P. vitacea is more sprawly. P. vitacea has less branching tendrils and lacks adhesive discs. P. vitacea also produces flowers/fruit more regularly than P. quinquefolia.

Native in the Pacific NW, from British Columbia to southern California. May be used medicinally to reduce inflammations or as a diuretic. The leaves may be rubbed on the skin to reduce eczema, itching, psoriasis, or other rashes. Tiny brownish purple flowers attract pollinators and hummingbirds. Host plant for checkerspot larvae.

Attractive blue foliage works well as a vertical accent. The airy flowers and foliage remain showy into winter, even as the blue color fades. Prune back in late winter. Can be grown in moist to dry soils. Let dry between waterings.

Native in the Pacific Northwest, from Queen Charlotte Islands to Willamette Valley. Found on beaches, rocky shores, salt marshes. The flowers are surrounded by bracts covered with a white sticky latex or 'gum.'

According to an old Polish legend, a mother cat was crying at the bank of a river her kittens had fallen in and were drowning. The willows at the river's edge swept their long branches into the river, the tiny kittens gripped tightly to the branches, and were brought safely to shore. Ever since, in spring the willow branches sprout tiny furry buds at their tips where the kittens once clung.

Native in the Pacific NW, west of the Cascades from Washington to California. Found in open fields and at forest edges. Forms large clumps from slender rhizomes. Flowers are usually a shade of purple, but occasionally are white or yellow.

For those (like me) unfamiliar with this tree, the reason it is called a 'live' oak is that it is evergreen rather than deciduous like most other oaks. They are found in warmer areas along the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Florida, and across the Gulf coast to California.

Native in the Pacific NW, found in ditches along roadways. Used medicinally for colds and coughs, smallpox, as a salve, for kidney ailments, and to aid in childbirth. Male flowers are showier than female, and are found on separate plants.

Native in the Pacific NW, found in meadows, along creeks, edges of woods, rocky slopes. All parts of the plant are toxic, and may cause skin irritation to some folks. It is listed as medicinal, but care should be taken due to its toxicity. The tubers contain aconitin, which causes paralysis of the nerves, lowers body temperature, and blood pressure. This plant is also toxic to livestock.

Native in the Pacific NW, found in moist open to shady meadows, rocky slopes, clearings. I call this Rainy Pass columbine, which seems to be a good spot for them to grow. The milky sap of the roots can be macerated and put on wounds to help form a scar; other parts of the plant may be used for diarrhea, dizziness, and aching joints. The common name is derived from columbina, which means 'dove like' to describe the flowers.

Native west of the Cascade Mountains, from Alaska south to California, east to Idaho, across Canada, and from the upper Midwest to the Atlantic coast. Usually found in sphagnum bogs. Berries are edible, fresh, in oil, or dried. The berries were associated with high rank by the Sechelt people.

Native west of the Cascade Mountains, from British Columbia to California. Found in coniferous forests. Berries are edible, eaten fresh or dried, the taste improves following a frost.

This did not ripen for me, even though our summer was noticeably warmer than usual.