buckwheat Common Name: Buckwheat Botanical Name: Fagopyrum esculentum Hardiness Zones: Annual — all zones Height: 2-4 feet Spread: Varies by seeding density Foliage: Heart-shaped green leaves, red stems Bloom: Small white flowers, mid to late summer Growth Rate: Very fast — germinates in 3-5 days Light: Full sun to partial shade Soil: Poor to average, […]
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crimson clover Common Name: Crimson Clover Botanical Name: Trifolium incarnatum Hardiness Zones: Annual — all zones Height: 12-36 inches Spread: Spreading mound Foliage: Bright trifoliate leaves, soft texture Bloom: Deep crimson flower spikes, spring through summer Growth Rate: Fast Light: Full sun Soil: Poor to average, well-drained; fixes nitrogen Water: Low to moderate Opening Observation
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Context and Curiosity I came to buckwheat looking for a helper, not a harvest. The back edge of my yard, where the property meets the easement, has been a quiet mess for years. Between the trees and the buried utility lines, previous owners had left it to its own devices. Burdock, in particular, had taken
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Bare Soil Is an Invitation Bare soil is an invitation. That was one of the first things I learned when I began gardening. If you do not decide what grows there, something else will, usually something stubborn and opportunistic. In my case lately, that has been burdock. When I moved back to this area after
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Opening Observation When I started researching cover crops and natural ways to reclaim the back beds, Alpine Strawberry kept appearing on every list. It was usually framed as a charming option, a ground-hugging perennial that covers soil quickly, suppresses weeds, and offers the unexpected delight of tiny, edible fruit. It caught my attention, if only
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