Amazing how many plums you can get from one tree and this is only about 2/3 of the crop! Due to the lack of night here in May when they are flowering there is never a crop failure due to late frosts…so I can get this every year! The variety is called “Sviskeplomme” (literally prune plum…although they don’t look much like prunes when dried. All these are to be dried…so a bit of work de-stoning ahead of me!
Danish masterclass mega-salad ingredients
Aiah Noack and Naturplanteskolen have come closest so far to my mega-salad world records. During the masterclass I taught there in August we collected as many edibles as we could find around the nursery and I blogged about it here (with pictures):
http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=6155
Aiah recently sent me a Danish list of ingredients (over 150) which I’ve added English names to in the list below:
Allium cernuum, White Form; Nodding onion
Allium fistulosum; Welsh onion
Altai pibeløg, Allium altaicum ; Altai onion
Amarant topamarant; Amaranth
Amarant rævehale ; Amaranth
Angelica, Kvan; Garden Angelica
Anisisop; Anise hyssop
Appelsinmynte, Mentha gentilis ; Orange mint
Appelsintagetes; Orange Tagetes
Bananmynte; Banana mint
Bibernelle / kvæsurt, sanguisorba minor; Salad burnet
Blåbær, Duke; Bilberry
Blåbær, Putte; Bilberry
Brombær, Navaho; Blackberry
Brombær, Oregon Thornless; Blackberry
Bronzefennikel; Bronze fennel
Brændenælde; Stinging nettle
Bønneblomster, Pralbønne; Runner bean
Campanula persicifolia, smalbladet klokke; Peach-leaf bellflower
Campanula portenschalagiana, krybeklokke; Adria bellflower
Canadisk viol; Canadian violet
Chokolademynte; Chocolate mint
Chrysantemum; Chrysanthemum
Cikorie; Chicory
Citronhestemynte; Lemon monarda
Citronmelisse; Lemon balm
Citrontimian; Lemon thyme
Citronverbena; Lemon verbena
Cola malurt; Cola wormwood
Daglilje; Day lily
Daglilje blomsterknop; Day lily
Daglilje, Strawberry Candy; Day lily
Daubenton kål; Daubenton perennial kale
Engelsk røllike; English mace
Engelsk spinat, Rumex patientia ; Patience dock
Etageløg; Catawissa onion
Fransk estragon; French tarragon
Fransk Syre, Rumex scutatus; Buckler-leaved Sorrel
Frugtsalvie; Salvia spp.
Fuglegræs; Chickweed
Gladiolous hvid; Gladiolus
Gladiolous lilla; Gladiolus
Gladiolous rød; Gladiolus
Glatbladet sødskærm; Smooth sweet cicely
Græskar skud; Marrow (shoot)
Gråært blad; Grey pea (leaf)
Blomstergulerod blad; Ornamental carrot (leaf)
Havebasilikum; Basil
Havemelde gylden; Yellow garden orach
Havemelde grøn; Green garden orach
Havemelde mørk; Dark garden orach
Havtorn; Sea buckthorn
Hestebønne; Horse beans
Hestemynte; Monarda
Hindbær, Autumn Bliss; Raspberry
Hindbær sort, Black Jewel; Black raspberry
Hindbær gule, Fall gold; Raspberry
Hjulkrone; Borage
Hornviol; Viola cornuta
Hosta sieboldiana Elegans; Hosta
Humleoregano, Ametyst Fall; Hop oregano
Hvid kløver; White clover
Hvidmelet gåsefod; Fat hen
Indisk Jordbær, bær; Indian strawberry
Japansk Bladmynte, Perilla frutescens; Perilla
Japanske Vinbær; Japanese wineberry
Jordbær; Strawberry
Jordbærmynte; Strawberry mint
Katost almindelig; Common mallow
Katost mauretansk; Mauretanian mallow
Katost, Malva mauretania, Zebrina; Mauretanian mallow
Kinapurløg; Chinese chives
Kinesernellike ; Chinese pink
Klokkeblomst; Bellflower
Koreansk Mynte, Agastache rugos, ; Korean anise hyssop
Krusemynte; Curly mint
Krybeklokkeblomst; Campanula spp.
Kåltidsel; Cabbage thistle
Lakridstagetes; Licorice Tagetes
Lavendel hvid; Lavender, white
Lavendel, blå; Lavender, blue
Lodden Løvefod, Alchemilla mollis ; Lady’s mantle
Lægekokleare; Common scurvy grass
Løg, Hooker blomsterknop; Hooker’s onion
Løg, Sugar Melt; Allium “Sugar Melt”
Løgkarse; Hedge garlic
Løvstikke; Lovage
Mamelukærme, Lavatera trimestris; Royal mallow
Marrokansk mynte; Moroccan mint
Merian; Sweet marjoram
Morgenfrue; Pot marigold
Moskuskatost; Musk mallow
Mynte broget; Ginger mint
Mælkebøtte; Dandelion
Nedsliggende surkløver Oxalis corniculata; Yellow sorrel
Oka; Oca
Olivenurt; Cotton lavender
Oregano Hot & Spicy; Oregano “Hot & Spicy”
Peberod; Horseradish
Pileurt; Polygonum spp.
Porrefrøkapsler; Leek immature seed pods
Pralbønner; Runner bean
Prydløg; Siberian nodding onion
Prydløg “Lena”; Siberian nodding onion “Lena”
Prærieløg, Allium cernuum; Nodding onion
Purløg, Major; Chives “Major”
Purløg, Pink; Chives
Rabarber; Rhubarb
Romersk Kamille; Roman chamomile
Rosenblomst; Rose flowers
Rosenrod; Roseroot
Rosenvejbred; Broad-leaved plantain
Rosmarin; Rosemary
Rumex, Abundance; Sorrel “Abundance”
Rødbede; Beetroot
Rødbladet Vejbred, Plantago major atropurpurea; Broad-leaved plantain “red-leaved”
Rødknæ / engsyre, Rumex acetosella; Sheep’s sorrel
Sankt Hans urt, Telephium; Orpine
Siberisk kantløg; Siberian blue chives
Siberisk nikkeløg; Siberian nodding onion
Skorzonerod; Scorzonera
Skovjordbær; Wild strawberry
Skvalderkål broget; Variegated ground elder
Slangeurt, Bistorta persicaria, Superba; Bistort
Solbær, Ben Alder; Blackcurrant
Sommerfugleløg; Allium spp.
Sonchus asper, ru svinemælk; Prickly sow-thistle
Spinatranke; Hablitzia
Spring balsamin, Impatiens noli-tangere; Touch-me-not Balsam
Strandkarse, Lepidium latifolium; Dittander
Strandkål; Sea kale
Strandnellike; Dianthus superbus
Strandvejbred; Seaside plantain
Syre; Rumex spp.
Sødskærm, Myrrhis odorata; Sweet cicely
Tagetes patula, Ildkongen; French marigold
Tagetes tenuifolia, Appelsintagetes; Orange Tagetes
Tagetes, Jolly Jester; Tagetes
Timian, Thymus vulgaris; Thyme
To-årig Natlys, Oenothera biennis; Evening primrose
Tradescantia ohioensis; Bluejacket
Tradecantia andersoniana; Tradescantia
Træspinat; Tree spinach
Tyttebær, Red Pearl; Cowberry
Vadstenamynte; Vadstena mint
Vejbred; Broad-leaved plantain
Vindruer; Grapes
Vinterkarse; Common wintergreen
Æble; Apple
Æblemynte; Apple mint
Geir Flatabø’s forest garden: Torblålia, Ulvik, Hordaland
A visit to Geir Flatabø’s forest garden which is located high above the picturesque village of Ulvik at the end of an arm of the Hardangerfjord was an unexpected treat on my recent visit to western Norway! I knew we would meet Geir but I had misunderstood an email from Geir a couple of years ago that the red deer had eaten everything he’d tried to plant…far from it, many of hundreds of trees, bushes and herbaceous perennials that Geir has planted on his plot are thriving. To reach Norway’s largest and most diverse forest garden, we drive high up above the village. Geir’s plot is a narrow strip of land almost 1 km straight up the hill with large spruce tree plantations on either side (felled on Geir’s plot to make way for his garden). Some might call it an arboretum, but Geir is very knowledgeable about the uses of the trees and other plants, most of which are edible or have other uses and he does call it himself his forest garden. We (my host Eirik Lillebøe Wiken and I) pass through many climate zones as we climb the hill talking plants with Geir. He has planted according to hardiness and has used various natural techniques to protect young plants against the red deer…permaculture in other words! An amazing place that will only get better as the year’s go by…and we only got half way up the hill….time went quickly and suddenly Geir noticed the time and dashed off to get to the National Fungi Symposium which was being held nearby…he was giving a talk that evening on the fungi of Hardanger!
Lofoten Victory Onions
Here are a few of my Allium victorialis pictures from the 2014 onion safari to the Lofoten Islands! The aim was to see the naturalised stands of viking onion / seiersløk on the island Vestvågøy, quite possibly a viking introduction…it grows commonly around the Borg viking museum (on the site of an old viking settlement)…much more in my book on this amazingly tasty, healthy, shade-tolerant and productive onion!
Follow the link to the original FB album:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152404571040860.1073742080.655215859&type=1&l=b45f8fdd13
Skomvær 2014
Here is my report from the second permaveggies / foraging weekend on the wonderful arctic island Skomvær outermost in the Lofoten Islands off north west Norway. I spent an amazing couple of days here in June 2014 with some lovely people!
Foraging on land and for seaweed, wonderful wild food, warm weather, Tai Chi, Permaculture, arctic swimming, 5 Eagles soaring above us, the sunsets, inquisitive seals, lighthouse tour, the historical rose garden and much much more…………..
Please let me know if you’d be interested in joining us in 2017 (it’s not confirmed yet)…
This album appeared originally on FB: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152397484675860.1073742076.655215859&type=1&l=f6a7c2e28e
Skomvær Fyr / Lighthouse: 2-4 August 2013
The first magical long weekend on the island Skomvær outermost in the Lofoten Islands. I was contributing at a permaculture / wild food workshop there in August 2013, the first of two (so far)!!
I hope we can arrange a third weekend here in 2017…please let me know if you’re interested :)
The following album was originally posted on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151760469675860.1073741927.655215859&type=1&l=85babbbbd0
Løksafari til Lofoten / Onion safari to the Lofoten Islands
The document below is in Norwegian but contains many pictures from my first visit to Vestvågøy in the Lofoten Islands to see the stands of naturalised victory onion (seiersløk), Allium victorialis, including a harvesting trip with Judith van Koesveld (she and her partner Christoph produce a local pesto from the plants). The document also contains an account of a visit to Brynhild Mørkved at the botanical gardens in Tromsø to see the collection of Allium victorialis accessions from different parts of this onion’s extensive range (from the Pyrenees to Japan). Plants vary quite a lot in their form. Finally, I visited Geir Flatabø in Ulvik (Hardanger) in south west Norway and he showed me the large naturalised stand of this plant next to the Granvin river. There are also a few pictures from a collection of heritage ornamentals at the Lofotmuseet and from a visit to a once great but now derelict garden at Finneset (Steinhagen). All pictures were taken in June 2009.
The Youngs of Aberdeen
On my way up north from Edinburgh by train I stopped off to visit Scottish Rockers ( Scottish Rock Garden Forum luminaries) Ian and Maggi Young’s wonderfully diverse garden in Aberdeen. Ian was actually the first person to review my book and I blogged about the review and Ian’s labour of love since 2003, his weekly Bulb Log here: http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=269
Maggi is the intrepid commander-in-chief of the Scottish Rock Garden Forum and other FB fora for many years, a forum I used to follow daily until FB took over as there’s an enormous amount of information and knowledge there, and perhaps 30% or so of ornamentals are edible!
Ian kindly volunteered to pick me up at the station and I spent a pleasant hour or two looking through their paradise. Although it wasn’t the best time of year to see the garden there were still a number of plants in flower and it was good to also meet Allium wallichii here too (see my blog about the Edinburgh botanics)…and this week’s Bulb Log from Ian features a great shot of this plant on the front page: http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2016Sep141473851515BULB_LOG_3716.pdf
Now to plan a spring visit!
Edimentals talk at the Royal Botanical Gardens
Fun day collecting edimentals from the garden’s collections, making a multi-species salad followed by my talk and walk!
Thanks to all who came and to Sabina Knees for helping out!
Some of the plants we collected were: Gunnera manicata, Saxifraga stolonifera, Hemerocallis spp. (daylilies), Hosta (leaves and flowers), Allium wallichii (two forms), Ligularia fischeri, Allium nutans, Allium schoenoprasum sibiricum, Ostrich Fern, Lilium leichtlinii, Lime leaves, Cacalia (Parasenecio) delphiniifolia, Hops, Aralia cordata (Udo), Aralia elata, Angelica gigas and Aster macrophylla. Flowers of Yucca filamentosa were used in the salad!
It was great to have the chance last week in Bergen to harvest and share the Gunnera tinctoria (Nalca) leaf stalk….the verdict was that it was surprisingly good, sweetly acid flavour (see http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=6772)! In Edinburgh, I was able to taste G. manicata for the first time. I’ve never seen evidence for its use. My hunch that this was probably due to it being more fibrous than its smaller cousin was confirmed:
Here’s an album of pictures I took of the amazing Nalca food forests of Chiloe Island in Chile (including being shown by a local how to eat it!): http://www.edimentals.com/pictures/index.php?/category/10
See also http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?page_id=677
More pictures of edimentals in the botanics can be seen here: http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=6796
Finally, thanks to my “old” friends Robin and Gwyn Allan (with an A), Diane Blakeley and Pete Fordham and our hosts Sabina Knees and Martin Gardner for not heckling during the proceedings ;) (we had a great reunion weekend in Edinburgh, not having met for some 35 years or more!)
Edimentals in Edinburgh’s Royal Botanical Gardens
On Monday 12th September 2016 I visited the botanical gardens in Edinburgh, and I wandered around the collections looking for edimentals (edible ornamentals), many of which are also forest garden plants, in preparation for my edimentals walk the following Saturday. See http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=6572. Conclusion: there’s a lot of food in spring in the gardens!