the Austin Garden 🌿 Mexican culinary herbs 🌿 blossoms in the deserts 🌿 flower arrangement tips

NURSERY NOTES: join park ranger Jimmy Evans at Mayfield Park at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Sat.) for a free guided tour of this pristine preserve: Peacocks 🌿 Create your own Mini Living Wall at Articulture Designs tomorrow (Sat.) in a fun, hands-on class. $85. All materials provided, "including a mimosa if you're so inclined." Wall 🌿

SEVEN FLOWER ARRANGEMENT TIPS: group similar flowers together, mix the size and scale of blooms, use complimentary colors - and other helpful ideas from party-planner/ author Lauren Conrad. ❦

_______________________________________________

DROWN STREET NOISE WITH WATER: when NPR's Ketzel Levin decided she needed to cut back on the traffic noise near her house and garden, she spent $5,000+ on a massive fountain in her garden .. . and was delighted with the result. N.P.R. ❦

_______________________________________________

FROM PARCHED LANDS COME BLOSSOMS: "In the face of a historic drought," reports Brett Anderson, "gardeners and small farmers across Arizona are growing produce with a surprisingly scant amount of a precious ingredient: water." The New York Times ❦

THE AUSTIN GARDEN relies entirely on support from its readers. Please make a donation today. ; - ) Many thanks! PayPal link ❦

_______________________________________________

CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER: Jackson Broussard aims to artfully balance hardscapes and plants in his designs. / What are all the options for rainwater collection from your roof? Chris Maxwell Gaines (Innovative Water Solutions) has all the answers. (from March 2018) CTG ❦

. Mexican Culinary Herbs

by Chris Winslow

It’s always fantastic when you have plants that look beautiful in the garden, and work really well in the kitchen. For readers who enjoy Mexican cooking, the good news is that three of the top four Mexican culinary herbs fall in this culinary/horticultural category: Mexican oregano, hoya santa, Mexican marigold mint and cilantro.

Mexican oregano (Poliomintha longiflora) is an evergreen that grows three feet tall, and blooms with a light pink to lavender flower from spring to frost. This flowering perennial has a spicy oregano flavor and can be quite drought-tolerant when established. It can look beautiful in a landscape with salvias, lantanas, and Mexican mint marigold.

Hoya santa (Piper auritum) is a large leaf herbaceous perennial herb that has a curious root beer flavor to its leaf. This plant can grow from full shade to full sun depending on how much water it gets. Its large leaf and size will give a tropical look to the landscape. The leaves are used to wrap fish filets or chicken breasts which you then bake in the oven or steam.

In Mexico, its leaves are an essential ingredient in green mole. In Guatemala, it is used to make traditional tamales wrapped in banana leaves. Hoya santa is popular along the east coast of Mexico. Closer to home, you can find it on the menu of the excellent Fonda San Miguel.

Mexican mint marigold: (Tagetes lucida) grows from spring to fall and has an anise flavor to its leaf. This perennial is easily grown, blooms heavily in the fall, and is a good substitute in recipes for the more fussy French tarragon – which can be very difficult to cultivate.

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) may not be the best plant for your landscape, but this essential Mexican herb is easily grown if you pick the right season. It loves the cooler weather of fall and winter. Planted in late September or early October, it will flourish and then produce flavorful leaves throughout the winter.

Cilantro will, however, bolt and bloom in the spring, ending its life cycle. For a heat-tolerant plant which has a similar flavor you might try Vietnamese cilantro, known as Rau Rum. This plant thrives in the heat. Buen provecho. . . and of course, Happy Gardening! ❦