Wild Ginger

also know as Canadian Snakeroot, Asarum canadense. This herb's culinary use is as a substitute for ginger, Zingiber officinale. The creeping rhizome is the part of the plant that is used. The rhizomes are very delicate and slow growing. They do have a wonderful landscape use in shady areas as a ground cover or in a wildflower garden. Their heart-shaped leaves hug the ground and those tiny, white flowers with magenta hoods are beautiful in mid-spring, see photo at right. Grow them near your vegetable garden because of their edible quality. The Spanish name for this plant is asaro or sometimes serpentaria. Add it to your collection, you'll be glad you did.

Spring has Sprung!

Well...what was sown in the spring has now sprung. Or should I say is now picked. As of last week the Chicago Farmers Market season is off and running. This past Wednesday, May 6 was the first day for the Lincoln Park Farmers Market, (across from the Farm in the Zoo) and then again on Saturday, May 9. The weather was better on Wednesday than Saturday but who cares about the weather when all that wonderful cooking permeates the air. I wanted one of everything: crepes, pastries and cheese. There were plenty of vegetable and herb plants available for sale, just waiting for you to take home and transplant. I picked-up a Sun Gold and a Green Zebra tomato. The majority of fresh, seasonal produce was asparagus, rhubarb and salad greens. This market is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 to 1 p.m. through October.

More seeds have sprouted....

The portulaca, aka Moss Rose that I started at the end of April was set outside to harden-off this weekend since we began to have nice weather. It's a little too early to keep them out permanently - so I bring the flat in at night. That will go on for a couple of weeks just to make sure these little plants get a strong start for the season. Last Tuesday, April 28 the bush beans were directly sown in a large container in the rooftop garden. The mesclun, spinach, dill, parsley plus onion and garlic chives were also directly sown outdoors into window boxes. They've sprouted already. I'm just waitin' on the beans. 7 to 14 days is about the time it takes for them to sprout. I have a feeling they'll sprout in a couple more days.