One more question...

Amy Stewart, author of the new book, ‘Wicked Plants: A Book of Botanical Atrocities,’ answers one more question for Green House in the May 31st issue in the Chicago Sun-Times.


GREENHOUSE: Do you really believe there are wicked plants or are they just misunderstood?

AMY: A little of both. Take a really invasive plant like kudzu or loosestrife or killer algae (Caulerpa taxifolia). These plants get around with our help.
They are opportunists; they do what they are designed to do, which is to reproduce. We are the guilty party in these horticultural crimes; we're the ones who drove the getaway vehicle. They just make themselves at home wherever we happen to bring them.
And coca (Erythroxylum coca) is an interesting example. Cocaine has fueled a global drug war and ruined countless lives, but Andean farmers argue that coca leaves were chewed as a mild stimulant for centuries, whereas cocaine is a European invention dating back only 150 years. The position of some farmers is that they should be allowed to continue to grow the plant they've always grown, and we should go deal with our cocaine problem at home. Now, there are arguments to be made on both sides of that debate, but it's an interesting point. On its own, coca is nothing more than a shrub. It's what we do with it that changes everything.
But a plant like ratbane (Dichapetalum cymosum or D. toxicarium), which is so toxic that it's used as a rat poison and as a chemical weapon? That's not misunderstood—that's terrifying!

Sign of spring

The white flowers of the Bloodroot are always a marker of spring for me. I planted them in a partially shady spot under a small Japanese Maple tree. Luckily, they have multiplied every year. This spring I counted more than a dozen blooms. Within a few days, the flowers will drop their petals and their lily pad-shaped leaves will unfurl. We all made it through another long winter...

Dan Hinkley’s view

I wanted to include a photograph from Dan Hinkley, original owner of Heronswood Nursery. This is a view from his newly built home and gardens off Puget Sound in Washington. Take a look at his website at www.danielhinkley.com for more photographs and the writings of an excellent plantsman. Now, I will try to go back and work in my little mess of a garden!

Support the Earth, one bookmark at a time

As well as planting your own vegetable garden this year, you can support Earth Day everyday with a ‘Grow Green’ bookmark. 25% of the purchase price will be donated to The Nature Conservancy. Images of fresh green peas, carrots and hot chile peppers are available on premium card stock or magnetic backing at www.mixitandstixit.com. Just click on ‘bookmarks’ and type in discount coupon code ‘Green House’ when purchasing, to register a donation to The Nature Conservancy.

Pink Poodles or Parasols

Coneflowers come in so many different shapes and colors these days. This one has a frilly pink center like little Victorian parasols. It is available at the Morton Arboretum Plant Sale. Members must order online by April 13th. Visit their website, www.mortonarb.org for more information.

Salsa with Eggplant

1/3  cup olive oil

3  cups chopped onion

1 1/2 cups chopped green pepper

1  cup chopped celery

2  large eggplants

1  8 oz. can tomato sauce

1  6 oz. can tomato paste

1/2  cup water

5  cloves garlic, minced

1  6 oz. can black olives, chopped

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

3 Tbl. sugar

1 1/2  tsp. oregano

1  Tbl. salt

1  tsp. cayenne

1  tsp. pepper

Peel eggplant and cut in 1-inch cubes and soak in salt water for 20 minutes. 

Drain well. 

Meanwhile, saute onion, green peppers and celery in olive oil until limp. 

Cover eggplant and cook 40 minutes. 

Add tomato sauce, tomato paste and water. Cover and cook 15-20 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients and cook additional 10 minutes.

Chill.

Serve with small rounds of Italian bread or tortilla chips.

Keeps for 2 weeks in refrigerator.

Makes 2 quarts.

Enjoy this as you dream about planting your vegetable garden. 

Grow everything yourself except the olives!

Spring...do you feel it?

We have had some tolerable but I won’t say warm days in February this year. Yet, somehow I can feel Spring tapping me on the shoulder. I quickly turn around but...no one’s there. February is mostly ready to turn itself over to March, that mean month. Sure we’ll have to shovel some more snow before we sip those margaritas, but I felt Spring’s presence and that gives me hope.

Time to chop up some salsa and get ready.