August, 1999
July was a surprisingly
cool month in Austin, Texas...will August be the same??
The Herbal Pond
Herbs need not be isolated
in a garden by themselves. They can be found intermingled with your
favorite flowers, cascade from hanging baskets or even adorn a backyard
pond. Indeed, the name for Ann Marie's garden, Horsetail Haven, comes
from the large pot of Equisetum hyemale
grown on a ledge in her 800 gallon pond. Other herbs grown as bog
plants in this tranquil hideaway include Mentha aquatica, Houttuynia
cordata, Oenanthe javanica, and Tulbaghia violacea.
Although references state that these plants may be grown in submerged pots,
Ann Marie has found that all except Equisetum are at their most attractive
when the soil surface is just above the water level. They are grown
in pots filled with heavy clay soil, the high quality, well draining soils
that gardeners normally associate herbs with just float away when used
in a pond.
Tulbaghia
violacea
Society garlic is not a true
garlic, but insead a "kissing cousin" whose long thin leaves smell and
taste of garlic. Growing from a bulb, this member of the Amarillidaceae
Family has lavender clusters of blossoms throughout the summer. There
is a delightful variety with green and white striped leaves that is particularly
attractive. The foliage may be used as one would chives and the flowers
are a lovely adornment for salads and sandwich plates. Society garlic
will bloom in full sun or light shade.
Oenanthe
javanica 'Flamingo'
Not a
true celery at all, this variegated cultivar of water dropwort has exciting
pink, white and green leaves that can really brighten up a garden.
Hardy to zone 7, it does very well in shade. In the summer heat it
loses its pink coloration, but will gain it back with the arrival of cool
weather. The plant has a celery taste and its finely divided leaves
may be used in salads. Land bound plants will require plenty of water
in the summer, so a pond is the ideal location for easy cultivation.
Houttuynia
cordata 'Chameleon'
This low growing plant is sometimes
considered a substitute for cilantro, although Ann Marie is usally found
admiring the lovely heat shaped green, yellow and pink leaves rather than
eating them. Like 'Flamingo' watercelery, 'Chameleon' loses the pink
coloration during the summer heat. It is a low growing plant, hardy
to zone 6, that is at its best in a shady, wet situation. Sometimes
called doku-dami, Houttuynia is used in asian cooking. (A tip learned
at an HSA seminar: for
pronunciation, think "hot tuna")
Mentha
aquatica
Watermint is responsible for
the myth that mints grow best under shaded, dripping faucets.
While many members of the
mint family want partly sunny locations, Mentha aquatica does thrive
in shady bogs. Naturally growing from six to thirty six inches tall,
frequent prunings encourage a denser shape. The plant grown at Horsetail
Haven was obtained from Lilypons Watergardens
and has spring-green toothed leaves and a biting taste with hints of citrus
and pepper.
Use
Your Herbs
Spicy
Baked Shrimp
these
are peel 'em as you eat 'em, so serve with plenty of napkins
1/4
cup olive oil
2
tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1
tablespoon brown sugar
1
teaspoon dried oregano
1
teaspoon lemon pepper
6
cloves garlic, peeled
4
jalapeno peppers, seeded and quartered
1
cup mini carrots
1
pound shrimp in the shell
Preheat
oven to 400 degrees F. Whisk together olive oil, Worcertershire Sauce,
brown sugar, oregano and lemon pepper. Rinse and dry shrimp.
Place garlic cloves, peppers, carrots and shrimp in a baking dish.
Pour oil mixture over them and toss gently to coat. Cover and bake
for 20 minutes. Serves 2-4. (This works well in a clay baker)
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