Dear Helen: What do you know about black seeds, called nigella, that are used in baking? Is this a听plant that can be grown here?
H.E.
Nigella, called love-in-a-mist for the plants鈥� finely divided, feathery leaves and showy blue, rose, pink and white blooms, is an easily grown, 45-cm annual with attractive seed pods and flowers that are excellent for cutting.
Persian Jewels (West Coast Seeds, William Dam) is the most commonly available colour mix. Nigella sativa (black cumin, fennel flower, Russian caraway) is the preferred species for its aromatic black seeds that taste like peppery nutmeg.
Richters (Richters.com), a Canadian source for herb seeds, plants and products, describes the seeds鈥� legendary healing powers as being summed up in an Arab proverb: 鈥淚n the black seed is the medicine for every disease except death.鈥� Richters lists Nigella sativa, oddly enough under Cumin.
The Chiltern Seeds catalogue (chilternseeds.co.uk), which lists a dizzying number of nigella species and cultivated varieties, notes that black cumin has long been used, for 鈥減erhaps 2,000 years or more,鈥� for seasoning curries, spreading on bread and听generally as a spice in cooking.
I haven鈥檛 grown nigella in recent years, but I used to enjoy the plants regularly in the summer garden as I tried different varieties. I was introduced to its culinary delights this year through a new artisan bread I found at a farmers鈥� market. The loaf is coated with sesame and nigella seeds. I love the light peppery taste of the black nigella seeds. Now, nigella is back on my list of annuals to grow next year.
听
Dear Helen: I was surprised by the number of plants I lost this past winter. Other plants, mainly shrubs and vines, have ballooned way out of bounds. From what you have heard from others and observed in your garden, is this unusual?
D.C.
You have described exactly what has happened in many local home gardens. On my visits to garden centres I鈥檝e overheard salespeople assuring gardeners seeking replacement plants that this past winter caused many losses. It wasn鈥檛 unusually low temperatures but rather the relentless wave after wave of freezing weather that eventually wore certain plants down.
The heavy, incessant autumn rains contributed to the problem by setting some plants up for winter kill. Many lavenders, sent into winter with wet soil, did not survive. The winter was a test of toughness. Among the lavenders in my garden, the Grosso plants survived, as did a row of five Phenomenal (Richters Herbs) lavenders planted just last spring.
The cool, wet weather that lasted for nearly the entire spring season promoted masses of lush, soft growth on some shrubs and vines. Parts of my garden have become wildly overgrown. Strawberry leaves grew larger and softer than usual. Some of the rhododendrons have put out ridiculous amounts of new growth.
Rather than lament plant losses and the amount of pruning work involved in cutting back errant growth, I鈥檓 choosing to see opportunities for renewal. It鈥檚 been enjoyable scouring garden centres and plant tables at farmers鈥� markets for unusual new plants. I recently found a sprightly little 鈥楲emon Fizz鈥� santolina with thread-like, chartreuse foliage. An ornamental oregano called Amethyst Falls has smaller, daintier gray-green leaves than similar varieties like Kent Beauty.
The rampant overgrowth is an opportunity to reshape and create a new look in plants. Two long established rhododendrons in my garden are receiving particular attention, with a view to giving a lighter, neater, and airier look to both the plants and their immediate surroundings.
听
Dear Helen: Where can I find heathers? I saw plants at garden centres in the spring, but by the time I was ready to buy some they were almost all gone.
G.O.
Heathers are most readily available in the spring and fall. About a month ago I found a few plants in the small (20-cm wide pot) size I prefer. The pickings were meagre by that time though.
Make a few phone calls to find a local nursery with heathers in stock. Ask also when the next shipment of heathers is expected and plan to shop early for the best selection.
听
GARDEN EVENT
Nanaimo tour of gardens. The Nanaimo Horticultural Society is marking its 70th anniversary by hosting a听free tour of six members鈥� gardens on Sunday, July 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details are available at nurseries and libraries from Ladysmith to Nanoose.