You cannot have a true Greek village salad without cucumber, nor can you have true Greek tzatziki (cucumber and yogurt sauce). So can you be a true Greek gardener and not grow cucumber? I think not.
Continue reading Cucumber (Cucumis sativus Linnaeus)
For whatever reason, the first appearance of asparagus in my garden seems almost magical. One day it’s just empty dirt, the next day baby spears of deliciousness have erupted through the surface.
Continue reading Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
One of the characteristic seasonings of many Greek dishes is oregano. Not just any oregano, mind you, but one of the richly flavored varieties that grow wild in the rugged mountainous areas of Greece.
Continue reading Cretan Oregano (Oreganum onites)
Yes, these cherries are sour. No, you don’t want to eat them fresh. Yes, you still want to grow them in your garden.
Continue reading Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus)
Known also as Granny’s Bonnet (because your granny still wears one?), Columbines are a diverse group of perennial flowers that are sought after due to their unique flower shape and the ability to have multi-colored blooms.
Continue reading Columbine Flower (Aquilegia spp.)
One of the things missing from so many modern cultivars of plants is the one thing we keep sticking our noses into them for: fragrance. Yes, looks are good, but why not have both?
Continue reading California Lilac (Ceanothus spp.)
No self-respecting Greek will return home from Greece without a large stash of dried Greek Oregano in their luggage. Try explaining that one to a customs officer.
Continue reading Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare var. hirtum)
Any plant that can multitask is a plant I want in my garden. Sweet Fennel lives up to this expectation very well as most of the plant is edible, as well as attractive. Oh yeah, pollinators like bees and butterflies love it, too!
Continue reading Sweet Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Usually when a plant has the word “weed” as part of it’s name, it doesn’t immediately attract itself to the typical gardener as a good candidate for their landscape. But this is one of those that should be given a second look.
Continue reading Narrow Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis)
Imagine a carpet of the most intensely blue flowers polka-dotting a mat of deep green foliage and what you’re really seeing is Lithodora. This lovely ground cover plant brings in pollinators throughout much of the year, too.
Continue reading Lithodora diffusa
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