The Corn – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions One of the greatest gifts that the New World presented to the Europeans was corn or maize as it was then called by some. One of the first sights for Christopher Columbus’ crew as they reached Hispaniola was of fields of maize growing on the island. The cultivation of corn in…
The Collard and the Kale
The Collard and the Kale – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Kale and Collards are probably the earliest cultivated variations of the European wild cabbage. Kale is known to have been widely grown by both the Greeks and the Romans. From a scientific classification point of view, kale and collards are considered to be the same plant – just…
Sweet William Single and Double
Sweet William Single and Double –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Sweet Williams, members of the Dianthus family, specifically Dianthus Barbatus, have been cultivated for at least 1000 years. It was the Athenians that named the flower Dianthos, from the Greek words dios (devine) and anthos (flower), but the common name, Sweet William, has a much more confusing past.…
Potatoes
Potatoes –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Potatoes are members of the Nightshade family of plants which also include the Tomato and the Eggplant. The potato is native to the Andes mountain regions of Chile and Peru. Archaeologists believe that the potato was being cultivated by pre-Columbian farmers as early as 5000 B.C. Remains of potatoes have been found…
Portulaca
Portulaca – 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Portulaca is an annual member of the Purslane family that is indigenous to the tropical regions of the world. It is also known as the Moss Rose. It is one of the few ornamental plants that can be used to stabilize a sandy bank. Portulacas have been a part of American…
Poppies
Poppies – 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Poppies are native to the temperate regions of the world and have been known and cultivated for thousands of years, primarily for medicinal purposes. There are more than 50 species of annual and perennial poppies native to Europe and at least 100 varieties that are indigenous to other areas of the…
Nigella
Nigella – 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Nigella, also known as Love-In-A-Mist, Jack-In-The-Green or Lady-In-The-Bower, is an annual and member of the Ranunculus Family. It is native to southern Europe and the northern regions of Africa. It has been cultivated in British and European gardens since 1548, but it has been known since Biblical times when in Isaiah…
Nasturtium including Canary Creeper
Nasturtium including Canary Creeper – 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Nasturtiums, also known as Indian Cress or Flame Flower, are annuals, native to Columbia, Bolivia and Peru where they grow as perennials. They were discovered by the Spanish conquistadors and brought to Spain in the sixteenth century. The first nasturtiums brought to Europe were a variety, Tropaeolum minus, which produced…
Money Plant
Money Plant (Lunaria) 
- A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Money Plant, also known as Lunaria or the Honesty Plant, was originally native to the central and southern areas of Europe, but the plant has proliferated throughout the temperate regions of the world. It was introduced into Britain before the 1600’s and was brought to the United States by…
Marigolds
Marigolds – 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Marigolds, both French and African, are indigenous to Mexico and Guatemala. They were discovered in the early 16th century and brought to Europe and Northern Africa in the late 16th century where they were quickly adopted into gardens. The family name, Tagetes, is derived from a mythical Etruscan deity. In the…