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How to grow an Artichoke The artichoke is one of the most curious plants you will ever encounter. It is actually a perennial herb from the thistle group. Scientifically, it belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes all asters. Artichokes are native to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. As an edible vegetable, the artichoke was first developed in Sicily, Italy, though there is mention of it in both Greek and Roman literature as early as 77 AD. It is known that the North African Moors cultivated the plant near Granada, Spain, around 800 AD and that the artichoke was introduced to England in the mid-1500s, however it was not well received. The Spanish brought the first artichokes to America when they introduced them to California in
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Celosia - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Celosias belong to a family of more than 50 plants that are native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa and the Americas. The cultivars produce flowers that are either plume-like (Celosia Pampas Plume) or crested (the Cockscombs). They are believed to be related to Amaranths. The name Celosia comes from the Greek, kelos, meaning "burned" which probably refers to the color of the flower of the indigenous species - red. A dark red crested version of the plant was introduced into Europe in 1570. During the 18th century, the Cockscombs were considered a potted plant by the British while with the American colonists, they were a popular garden flower. Thomas Jefferson, ever the connoisseur of the
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The Celery - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Wild celery is believed to have grown throughout Asia and Europe. It was used by ancient peoples for medicinal purposes. The plant was a biennial which grew in damp, marshy areas and had a strong, unpleasant taste. Probably because of its unpleasant taste, it was ignored as a vegetable until the Italians and French developed a sweeter tasting, thicker stalked variety in the 1500s. In a 1848 seed catalogue, there were two kinds of celery offered, a white solid and a red solid. It was written of celery, “The Celery is a hardy biennial plant, a native of Britain, and known in its wild state by the name of smallage; the whole plant has a rank coarse taste,
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Castor Beans (Ricinus) - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Castor Bean is an annual native to the southeastern Mediterranean and East Africa. Its Latin name, Ricinus, means tick because the seeds are said to resemble a blood filled tick. It is an ancient plant that has been cultivated for thousands of years and considered by many civilizations to be an important medicinal herb. Seeds have been found in Egyptian tombs dating to 4000 BC. The Greeks and the Romans used the oil for wound healing, but the Greeks believed that the oil should only be used externally. In the Middle Ages, the Europeans used the oil as a kind of liniment and also as a lubricant. In the 18th century, the extraordinary capabilities of castor
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Carnation - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Carnations, members of the Dianthus family, specifically Dianthus Caryophyllus, have been cultivated for at least 2000 years. It was the Athenians that named the flower Dianthos, from the Greek words dios (devine) and anthos (flower). Gillyflower, another name by which the plant is known, probably came from the French who called dianthus, gelofre. Carnations probably originated in the Pyrenees as single flowered specimens, but none of these naturally occurring, single, wild varieties exist today. The beauty of its flower, its longevity as a cut flower and the ease with which it could be cultivated combined to give it instant popularity in many, many cultures. Early on, the plant was subjected to massive breeding programs and by the early 1700's
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Canterbury Bells - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Canterbury Bells belong to the Campanula family, a huge family of flowers (more than 300) that all share the common characteristic from which they derive their Latin name. Campanula comes from the Latin, meaning tower of bells. So many of the campanulas are desirable garden flowers, that this species has long been a part of gardening history. The species of campanula discussed here is Campanulaceae medium - the Canterbury Bells. Canterbury Bells are native to Southern Europe and were introduced to British gardeners in 1597. In the 16th and 17th centuries Canterbury Bells were called Coventry Bells, but by the 1800's they had assumed the name, Canterbury Bells. Joseph Breck in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, states
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Calendula - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions The Calendula, also known as Mary-Bud, Mary-Gold, Pot Marigold and Poor Man's Saffron, is one of the oldest of all cultivated flowers. The plant was described in the Third Century, BC and was an important part of the gardens of 5th Century France. It has been under cultivation for six centuries. The Latin name, Calendae, means the first day of the month. The plant has been cultivated in England since the 1200's. One of the many folk tales which enrich the history of this plant describes a beautiful, golden-haired child called Mary-Gold who spent all of her time watching the sun until one day she disappeared and was never found. In the place where she used to sit, there
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Blue Lace Flower - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Blue Lace Flowers are native to Australia and little is known about how this plant made its way to the New World. The plant's Latin name is Trachymene Coerulea, but it is also identified by the Latin name Didiscus Coeruleus. Blue Lace Flower was probably carried to England and then introduced into the United States from England. Joseph Breck in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, called didiscus, "...an elegant annual...producing its fine blue flowers in numerous umbrels...the size and shape of a large quilled Aster." It was a popular cottage garden flower during Victorian times, but lost its popularity in the mid-20th century. Among commercial growers, Blue Lace Flower is now re-emerging as an important
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Black Eyed Susan - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Black Eyed Susans are indigenous to many sections of the United States. They were introduced into Europe soon after Columbus's visits and were named by Linnaeus in 1753. Linnaeus gave them the Latin name Rudbeckia Hirta after his mentor Olaf Rudbeck and hirta meaning rough, hairy. The plant was known and used by many Native American tribes. The Native Americans used the plant to wash sores and swellings, as a poultice for snake bites and for treating worms and colds in children. In 1918, the Black Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia Hirta was designated as the Floral Emblem of the State of Maryland. Each year this flower has its moment of glory when a huge drape made of
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Bells of Ireland - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Bells of Ireland belong to a curious genus containing only 4 species of erect, branching plants that are indigenous to the Mediterranean and Northwest India. Their Latin name Molucella Lamiaceae is a reference to the Moluccas, the Spice Islands of Indonesia where they were mistakenly thought to have originated. The plants were introduced into Europe in 1570 from Syria. There is evidence that they were first cultivated in Belgium and used in perfume making. The plant has never enjoyed widespread popularity in the United States and is still regarded by many as a garden curiosity. Little is known about when or how the plant made its way to the Americas, but in all probability, it was introduced
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