Lovage (Levisticum officinale) . . .

One of the lovage plants will find a new home thanks to a customer visiting the North Shore from Florida!

Lovage is a lofty perennial aromatic plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. Also in the same family are angelica, anise, caraway, carrot, celery, chervil, coriander/cilantro, cumin, dill, fennel, Queen Anne's Lace, parsley and parsnip.

This perennial herb has green leaves and greenish yellow flowers. All parts of the plant are highly perfumed. Its scent and flavor is similar to celery. The tall stems have long, flattish leaf stalks that are eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable. Leaves of lovage are commonly used for adding flavor and zing, particularly in soups

In May I added lovage and Egyptian onion to a lamb stew to improve its flavor. The cilantro family made itself known.

Plant Sale!

Angelia Seed Heads

Clary Sage Blossom

The Annisquam Sewing Circle will be holding its

Annual Plant & Bake Sale

Saturday, 26 May 2012, 8 am - 11 am

Annisquam Village Hall, Leonard Street, Gloucester MA

I have dug the following for the plants sale!

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
• Boxwood (Buxus)
• Italian or Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum)
• Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)
• Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) aka kow choi
• Lovage (Levisticum officinale)

From the garden again tonight . . .

So many wonderful flavors available in the garden!

Garden Bruschetta

Recipe for one serving. Specific varieties are what we have here at the herb Farm. Use the ones you have in your garden or farmers' market.

Slice:

• Handful of Primax cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
  

Coarsely diced:

• Brandywine tomato, an heirloom cultivar (Solanum lycopersicum)
  

Small amount to taste some or all of each of the below:

• Lovage (Levisticum officinale) leaves
• Lamb's quarter (Chenopodium album)
• Chickweed (Stellaria media)
• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaves
• Parsley (Petroselinum neapolitanum)
• Genovese Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
• Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum)

Brown on both sides a slice of homemade whole wheat & oatmeal bread in:

• 1 TL olive oil
• 1 TBL butter

Put hot bread on a dinner plate
Add cabbage on and beside the bread
Add tomato and greens to taste
Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and walnuts
Salt & pepper to taste
Dress with olive oil & balsamic vinegar
Serve right way!

Umm Umm Good

Gathering herbs . . .

Collect and dry your herbs now for a year's worth of enjoyment!

For a Salt-Free Herb Seasoning

Pulverize by hand, in a blender or food processor the following:

1/2 cup dried dill weed
1 tbsp. dried lemon verbena
1 tbsp. dried lovage
2 tbsp. dried thyme
1 tbsp. dried marjoram

Store in airtight container, out of the sunlight and away from heat. Label with list of ingredients and date. Use on vegetables, in salads and dressing.

Companion planting . . .

Today I will stake the areas for the tomatoes and locate places for the bell peppers which are good companions in the garden. There are oregano plants there from last year. After the tomatoes and pepper plants are in, later this month, more herbs will be placed nearby.

There are many places on the web for lists of the do's and don't on Companion Planting. Golden Harvest has a good list with information as well. Here is the entry for bell peppers.

• PEPPERS, BELL (Sweet Peppers): Plant peppers near tomatoes, parsley, basil, geraniums, marjoram, lovage, petunia and carrots. Onions make an excellent companion plant for peppers.