[gardeners] Hidden Ginger and other things
George Shirley (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Fri, 03 Aug 2001 16:27:17 -0500
Miz Anne is weeding the east side strip garden this afternoon - it's in the shade is a good reason.
The Hidden Ginger that Harry Boswell gave me a few years ago has multiplied into 4 good sized plants
and 3 of the 4 are in full bloom. Just casually walking by the plants doesn't reveal the
florescents, you have to look down into the plant. The red ginger is also blooming but it seems to
bloom all year and the hummers love the blooms. The white ginger is budding out so we will see the
blooms from that one soon. Miz Anne traded a start of Hidden Ginger for the white blooming one. The
variegated leaf ginger isn't budding out yet so we don't know what type of bloom it will have. So,
we have Hidden, red, white, variegated, and store ginger now. All were transplanted to the shady
eastside garden very early this year and they have done exceedingly well. Much better than when we
had them planted in high shade or sun. From noon until sunset they get only reflected light now and
it seems to suit them. Reckon I'm going to have to call Stokes and get a few curcuma aka "Summer
Tulip." I think we've found the place the gingers like here. Of course the cleome and the zinnias
like it too. They're getting deadheaded on a daily basis to lessen the seed drop and proliferation
of those two plants.
Today I had to reheat my pear sauce as it was watery. It is firm and canned as of this morning and
then I made 5 pints of pear butter. Both are right tasty. The pear juice is in the fermentation jug
and will get sugar and yeast added tomorrow. Waste not, want not and the pear wine in storage is
getting low. Besides, we have enough jelly for friends and family without the pear juice. I did save
a quart of the "nectar" and put it in the refrigerator for drinking later.
I think I'm through in the kitchen for a few days, or at least until Sunday when the okra will need
cutting again and the eggplant as well. Thank goodness the beans and peas that were recently planted
are only blooming right now, have at least 10 or 12 days before we start picking those.
George