Plants

May is one of the most exciting months in the kitchen garden. After the slow, careful work of early spring — the seed sowing, the waiting, the anxiety over late frosts — the garden suddenly begins to deliver on its promises. Growth accelerates, beds fill out, and the first proper harvests of the year begin … Read more

May is one of the most anticipatory months in the fruit grower’s calendar. The trees are in blossom, the canes and bushes are leafing out with fresh green growth, and the first tentative fruits of the year are beginning to form from the flowers that have been steadily opening through the warm days of late … Read more

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) is a genus of striking flowering plants in the Strelitziaceae family, comprising five species native to the subtropical and tropical regions of South Africa. The genus was named in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III of Britain, by the botanist Sir Joseph Banks following his voyages … Read more

Periwinkle (Vinca) is a genus of flowering plants in the Apocynaceae family, consisting of around six to seven species native to Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia, with the most commonly cultivated species being Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) and Vinca major (greater periwinkle). The name “periwinkle” is believed to derive from the Latin pervinca, possibly … Read more

Goldenrod (Solidago) is a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family, comprising roughly 100 to 120 species native primarily to North America, with a smaller number of species found in Europe, Asia, and South America. The name Solidago is derived from the Latin word meaning “to make whole,” a reference to the plant’s long-standing … Read more

Bellflower (Campanula) is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants belonging to the Campanulaceae family, comprising over 500 species distributed across the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name Campanula is derived from the Latin word for “little bell,” a perfectly fitting description for the plant’s most iconic feature — its delicate, nodding, … Read more

Passion flower (Passiflora) is a genus of flowering vines comprising over 550 known species, native primarily to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. The plant was named by Spanish Christian missionaries in the 16th century, who saw symbolic representations of the Passion of Christ in the flower’s distinctive parts — the tendrils, filaments, … Read more

Maple trees are among the most iconic and beloved trees in the Northern Hemisphere, belonging to the genus Acer, which comprises over 130 species. They are native primarily to Asia, with a significant number of species also found across Europe, North Africa, and North America. Renowned for their spectacular autumn foliage, maples display stunning shades … Read more

Turnips (Brassica rapa) are root vegetables that have been cultivated for thousands of years, with origins tracing back to ancient Europe and Asia. They belong to the Brassicaceae family, making them relatives of cabbage, broccoli, and mustard. Their long history of cultivation speaks to their resilience and nutritional value as a dependable food crop. The … Read more

June occupies a unique and particularly exciting position in the growing calendar. It is the month when spring finally hands over to summer in earnest — when the last of the cool-season crops are reaching their peak and the first of the warm-season harvest is beginning to arrive. The kitchen garden in June is a … Read more