Herbaria (July 20, 2012)

The theme for this week is fruit. Fruit as a plant part as opposed to fruits such as strawberries and bananas, although you’ll notice some of those, too. It seems that fruit — some edible and some not — is forming in every corner of the garden. Flower diversity is still high, it’s just that many of the flowers are there in the service of forming fruit and are not there to be pretty in their own right.

The Scorched Earth. This is also the first week that marked significant loss and suffering as a result of the intense heat and drought we are experiencing. There are going to be some significant holes in the garden by the time the summer is out. I don’t think I am going to have extra ‘Hahms Gelbe Topftomate’ seeds as a result. I inexplicably gave all of my seedlings away but one and that one was in a pot that was cooked during this week’s heat emergency. Drat. The plant went from green and lush to yellow within the span of a single day. It is holding on and could recover if things stay as cooled off as they are now. It’s amazing what one bad day can bring. It’s a good lesson and reminder in how much we should respect our farmers who are at the mercy of whatever insanity the season brings. Amazingly, all of my other tomatoes are perfectly fine.

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Wild Eggplant (Solanum torvum)

Photo by Gayla Trail All Rights Reserved

Dominica is often referred to as The Garden of Eden, which comes as no surprise since it seems that just about anything will grow here. No matter where I am on the island, whether it be on the coast or in the mountain rain forest interior, I often see wild foods growing.

I found this plant, a wild form of eggplant, growing along the road just around the corner from the cottage we are staying in. Wild growing pumpkins were sharing the same space. Apparently, these pea-sized eggplants are edible but very bitter tasting. I don’t think I’ll take a crack at cooking them this time around since I think it might take some experience and know-how to work with the bitterness.

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Long Forgotten Eggplant

Photo by Gayla Trail

I took this photo at the Ward’s Island Community Garden about a month ago back when the snow was deep enough to push the limits of my moon boots’ elastic barrier.

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