Category: Multi Purpose
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Chives
Chives are perennials that survives winter down to –40 degrees F (USDA zone 3). Chives are native to North America and Europe. I planted mine from seeds. The tops die back in winter but the bulbs in the ground survive and grow back the next spring. The scapes or stocks are edible. These scapes are the typical green pieces Read more
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Sunflower
I like Sunflowers for many reasons. The blossoms are beautiful and bees love them. I originally planted a few varieties. One with large blossoms and the others with smaller blossoms. The blossoms open mid to later summer providing blossoms for the bees and native pollinators. They grow well in many different soils. They also come up Read more
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Daffodils
Daffodils (Narcissus) come up in early spring. Their blossoms are wonderful to see indicating spring is here! These early bloomers are great for filling in the early spring habit with blossoms for native pollinators and bees. Daffodil bulbs are planted rather deep and therefore are deeper than most other plants. This allows other plants to be planted in the same area Read more
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Siberian Pea Shrub
Siberian Pea Shrub (Caragana arborescens) is a perennial legume shrub. It fixes nitrogen from the air into the soil in a similar process to clover, alfalfa and beans. I have planted them along my garage where there is a bank consisting of sandy pit run used as fill upon which my garage is built. Siberian Pea Shrub blooms with small yellow flowers that produce seed pods with small Read more
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Autumn Olive
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is a shrub that produces red berries shaped like an elongated olive. The berries are about the diameter of a sweet pea and about twice as long. The berries have a fruity tomato flavor. The leaves have a shape very similar to an olive tree. The berries are very nutritious. They are very high in lycopene which is found in tomatoes. Read more
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Comfrey
This plant serves several purposes in my backyard orchard. It has large roots that can grow into hard packed clay soils. This will help loosen compacted soils and improve water absorption. A 1 inch root cutting can be planted by making a slit in hard clay with a shovel, pry open the slit with the shovel, drop in the root cutting, Read more