Wednesday, April 18, 2012

auto parts and the edible landscape

Why did I take this picture?


Or this one?


Now can you tell?


How about now?


I'm sure the landscaper didn't think about edible plants when he chose the plants for the Advanced Auto Parts parking lot. If he did, mad props. If he didn't, well he has inadvertently given me a thrill by proving that any landscape can be an edible landscape. I even forgive his choice of hideous, died black mulch.


Redbud flowers are at the perfect stage for picking and adding to your salad. The daylilies are a little scrawny, but may well provide some edible buds and blooms in mid-summer.

6 Comments:

At April 18, 2012 at 7:36 PM , Anonymous Zoe said...

Ha! Now, if that landscaper is really lucky, one of those dunkin' donuts will go flying out somebody's window and get snagged in a redbud branch - a veritable feast!

Seriously, though... I didn't know about the redbuds - will look for some to taste!

 
At April 19, 2012 at 7:11 AM , Anonymous Leda Meredith said...

Well spotted!

 
At April 19, 2012 at 10:12 AM , Anonymous frank@nycg said...

Love the minimalist aesthetics too!

 
At April 19, 2012 at 11:01 AM , Blogger SaraGardens said...

Have you pickled the Redbud buds (yet)? I love how you can look at plants over and over and keep seeing new things.... I believe the bark (or roots - or maybe both) can also be used for dying fiber.

I favor eating daylilies to minimize their high-maintenance garden greediness ;)

 
At April 26, 2012 at 10:59 AM , Anonymous Laurrie said...

I just planted a baby comptonia, and am looking forward to its fragrance if it grows enough this season (I have never smelled one, only read that they have a sweet smell in summer). I had no idea the flowers were edible, though!

 
At April 26, 2012 at 8:58 PM , Blogger Ellen Zachos said...

Hi Laurrie, I have fond memories of summer hikes through fields of sweet fern. The smell of the leaves in the summer sun is unforgettable. And while I don't love the taste of the flowers, the leaves make a great tea, or marinade.

 

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