Autumn arrives

Although it's been an incredibly warm autumnal season this year, we're still getting amazing colors on the trees. The photo is of a Sassafras albidum, Eastern Sassafras. This year in particular it's really showing off! Of course, the drought is the news this year in the Southeast. The High Country of North Carolina is also suffering, and as of October 20, 2007, we were listed in the category of "Severe Drought," whereas, areas such as Atlanta, GA, are listed as "Exceptional Drought." Pretty serious stuff no matter how you label it.

We'll have more Autumn and Halloween photos up soon.

Japanese Gardening

This is a small introduction to some of the Japanese Gardening that we're attempting on our property. It's a slow process, as it should be, and we've found that attempting to be "hard-core" Japanese Gardeners, is really quite difficult. So we've allowed ourselves to enjoy some little touches of that type of gardening, blended in with the other types that we enjoy. If you're interested in Japanese Gardening, send us an email for information regarding research, books, articles, etc.

Humulus Lupulus: Common Hops

Four years ago, we ventured into the realm of growing hops. Of course, most people with "normal" gardens, would never consider this extremely invasive vine, due to of course, it's invasiveness. It grows about 50 - 60 feet in one season. It's cut back completely to the ground, and after the PM temperatures reach an average of about 50º it begins sending up the beginnings of the individual vines. The leaves are incredibly beautiful, and of course the hops themselves have a certain "grape-like" quality in their clusters. We typically harvest a huge bag-full each October, dehydrate them, or make tinctures out the dried hops. It's great for insomnia, anxiety and other anxiety related issues.

Japanese Irises

This is one of our prized Japanese Irises, now working on it's third year of growth, it's always a beautiful display of lavendar and purple. We've been collecting different variaties of irises for several years now, and the Japanese variety is by far our favorite. This is not to say that Louisiana and Siberian are on the same level, it's just that the incredible petal display is nearly always breathtaking, and has a certain need to be painted in watercolor. Please share any photos or experiences you may have had with growing Japanese Irises.

Welcome!

It is our intention to offer information regarding, well, Food & Foliage. Two of our favorite topics. In regards to Food, there will be recipes, ideas about cooking & food, as well as links to some of our favorite sites with the same theme. In regards to Foliage, since we are avid gardeners, there will be a vast amount of photos, ideas, and growing experiences posted here for all to enjoy and comment upon.

We live in the Western mountains of North Carolina, and as such, being in Zone 6-7, depending upon whose zoning maps you look at, we have specific challenges, as everyone does, in attempting to grow certain types of plants, and garden vegetables. With the herbs that we grow; medicinal and culinary, there doesn't seem to be a particular type that doesn't do well in this zone. This is good news of course, and we hope to continue the number of each type of herb that we grow, since it's not only beneficial, it's a great deal of fun!

Again, welcome to Food & Foliage