We woke up to rain this morning. Supposed to mow the lawn. It's going to be like a field soon and the Township won't like that! As Scarlet always said, Tomorrow is another day for mowing your lawn! On a brighter note, I found our hardy hibiscus blooming as I was walking out in the front of our garden a couple of days ago. Hibiscus moscheutos or hardy hibiscus is also called swamp mallow. This cultivar is 'Lord Baltimore'. There also is 'Lady Baltimore'. It is the very last plant to come up in the spring so don't despair if you don't see it right away. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the edible flower and is only hardy for people in Miami and Hawaii. We would have to take those inside for the winter and we have enough to take care of in the winter. Thank you very much! Here is a link that I found with various varieties of hardy hibiscuses. Hope you enjoy it!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
A Sunday Surprise or Two!
We woke up to rain this morning. Supposed to mow the lawn. It's going to be like a field soon and the Township won't like that! As Scarlet always said, Tomorrow is another day for mowing your lawn! On a brighter note, I found our hardy hibiscus blooming as I was walking out in the front of our garden a couple of days ago. Hibiscus moscheutos or hardy hibiscus is also called swamp mallow. This cultivar is 'Lord Baltimore'. There also is 'Lady Baltimore'. It is the very last plant to come up in the spring so don't despair if you don't see it right away. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the edible flower and is only hardy for people in Miami and Hawaii. We would have to take those inside for the winter and we have enough to take care of in the winter. Thank you very much! Here is a link that I found with various varieties of hardy hibiscuses. Hope you enjoy it!
Edible?!! Really? I never heard that before. I have a couple planted in the ground on the south side of our house. In really cold weather I will cover them with heavy blankets. Of course this is the front side of the house and it looks like a gypsy camp (no ill meant by that - quite colorful actually) The hibiscus usually come back from the roots. This is USDA Zone 8 Texas.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy,
ReplyDeleteIn Cathy Barash's book Edible Flowers, she talks about the "hibiscus' main culinary contribution is the luscious red color and mild citrus/cranberry flavor that it imparts to teas." I have found it in a lavender hibiscus lemonade mix. It does make the liquid a lovely red color and wonderful flavor. My plant is not as full of flowers as in past years and the hibiscus sawfly has a great time defoliating the plant, but I still love it for a surprising factor in the garden. Thanks as always for stopping by!
You know I must be brain dead from the heat. Of course! My favorite tea in the summertime is Red Zinger. There is one small grocery store here in New Braunfels that sells the dried flowers to make your own tea. I usually make it during our yard art festival at work. I must dig out my recipe for you. (Amazing what a little rest time out of the sun will do for your brain.)
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you stand the heat! Making hibiscus iced tea! I'll look forward to the recipe!
ReplyDelete