Tuesday, May 29, 2012

What is this plant?


I was helping a friend who is new at gardening to identify that come up as seed.   I am really bad at labeling my seed plants.  I plant flowers with herbs and vegetables.  Where there's space, a seed goes down.  I am a believer of survival of the fittest.  So, I am posting some pictures of garden plants in different stages to help indentify some beginning plants.

What is this plant?

Can anyone identify this plant?  A lot of my plants in my garden look like weeds.  My husband is not allowed to weed.  If you plant the plant in the sun, the leaves taste like cucumbers.  This is a great plant to have around so you do not have to run to the grocery store if you forget to buy cucumber?  Hint 2, it comes back every year. 

Monday, May 28, 2012

Garlic chives


My garlic chives are so tender.  I think that being is part shade contributes to it.   They are a commitment.  They come back every year.  You can eat and should eat all the garlic buds too.  Otherwise, the garlic chives will spread with the seeds.  The garlic chives will spread thru the roots too.  You have to love garlic chives to plant them in a garden.  Otherwise, they will take over.  They are good as a diet food.  They are great fillers and are high in fiber.  My Korean girlfriends keep telling me that they are good for husband's or boyfriend's sex drive.  I am not sure about the last claim.  I just know that they taste good.  Below are recipes that uses my garlic chives. 

Rice Paper rolls

Pork dumplings 

Chewy scallion and garlic scape pancakes

Look closer

 Can you see him on my hand?  Look closer...below.
I had not seen such a baby praying mantis  before.