The flower procession is picking up speed

It’s getting harder to keep up with everything that is flowering. The pictures in this post are a fraction of what has come into bloom.  Recent warm weather and a little rain have been ideal. Compared to the last two springs, this has been easy so far.

From northeast Asia, maralroot is considered an adaptogen and has been used by Russian and Chinese athletes to improve recovery after intense physical activity.

Native to California and Arizona, fremontia does well in protected, relatively sunny, well-drained spots in Seattle. They’re evergreen, the flowers last a long time and the inner bark has been used to treat irritated skin and mucous membrane. Ironically, the fuzzy outer bark causes irritation of skin and mucous membrane.

Growing in our western mountains, from British Columbia to California, Columbia lily bulbs and flowers are edible. Native Americans have traditionally eaten the bulbs, usually either steamed in pits or mashed, dried into cakes and stored for winter use.

 

Known in Traditional Chinese Medicine by its Chinese name, mu xiang, and in Ayurvedic Medicine by its Indian names, kushtha or kutha, Saussurea costus is used to treat a wide range of digestive and respiratory ailments and other illnesses. Oil extracted from the roots is an ingredient in some perfumes. Like so many medicinal plants, Saussurea costus has been overharvested in its native habitat, in this case the Himalayas. Luckily, it is being grown commercially which brings the price down so there’s not as much economic incentive to harvest from wild populations of the plant. We’ve seen the same problem in the USA with American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)  and other plants. Hopefully, all over the world, more people will start commercially growing their native medicinal plants to help take the pressure off the endangered wild populations.

If you look closely, you will see Jack in his pulpit.

For springtime glory, mule’s ears (Wyethia spp.) gives balsamroot (Balsamorhiza spp.) a run for its money and grows well on the west side of the Cascades in full sun and well-drained soil. Native Americans used leaves and roots medicinally and ground the seeds for pinole.

Give this globemallow plenty of sun and a very well-drained soil and leave it alone. It’s a credit to any rock garden.

Yes, it gets black spot and rust and it suckers like crazy, but who cares! The beauty and fragrance are all that matters. The French rose is in a bed adjacent to the Chinese peonies and their flowering times overlap. Don’t miss them.

Like many good things in life, peony flowers don’t as last long as we’d like, so take the time to savor them. If you come to look,  get close enough to sample their scent, more subtle than the French rose but a perfect complement and prelude. Just as these flowers start to wane, the French roses hit their peak.

I once came across a whole meadow of Sierra shooting star, flowering in a meadow along the upper reaches of Ingalls Creek Valley on the east slopes of the Washington Cascades, a very nice surprise in early summer.

The bees of New Zealand make a potent honey from manuka flowers. The shrub can grow to 15 feet or more in New Zealand. I’d be happy to get mine to 15 inches. Our short but extreme cold spells have really knocked them back the last few years. I should cover them as I do the olives and capers. Resolved! This year I will.

Vincristine and vinblastine, two of the alkaloids found in Madagascar periwinkle, are used to effectively treat various cancers, including childhood leukemia.

They’re both called salsify and their roots, flowers, spring growth and seeds are edible. Tragopogon porrifolius roots are considered a food medicine to treat liver and gallbladder conditions.

 

Common or not, thyme is a very important culinary herb and medicine with antibacterial and antifungal properties. It should be growing in every yard in the country. It’s easy to grow. Once established in a sunny spot, you can forget about it until you need it. Mediterranean herbs, where would we be without them?

The flowers aren’t big or exciting, but consider how diminished our lives would be without olives or olive oil. Though it has contenders, if any plant is fit to represent the Mediterranean region, it is the olive. I’m growing three cultivars, Arbequina and Manzanillo from Spain, and a Leccino from Italy. May the olive trees of the world live long and be fruitful.

 

 

 

 

grey-green olive tree

add grapes and figs and almonds

then briny sea breeze

 

 

 

 

See you in the garden.