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African Blue Basil

June 3, 2023

African Blue Basil

If African Blue Basil could speak it might first suggest introducing you to the “parentals”. In this case, that would be a good idea. The African parent is a perennial shrub from forests of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. 

In 1983, African Blue basil was first seen by a nurseryman named Peter Borchard, owner of Companion Plants in Athens, Ohio. He noticed it growing in the path between beds of the two presumed parents, East African basil and ‘Dark Opal’. Borchard dug the hybrid out and brought it into the greenhouse hoping to save seed. No seed formed leaving Borchard with the task of growing more plants from cuttings. Shortly thereafter, African Blue Basil (Ocimum gratissimum) entered the market.


African Blue basil is now identified as a hybrid plant in the Lamiaceae family made
by crossing East African camphor basil and a varietal of purple sweet basil called
‘Dark Opal Basil’. Its strong camphor scent was inherited from the East African
basil used to breed the plant. Though some people may find the camphor odor
and taste too strong to use in the kitchen, others embrace its culinary uses.
While doing morning chores in the garden, the dark purple leaves of African basil
tempt me to experience their crisp, semi-chewy and woodsy flavor with notes of
menthol, musk and cloves. With a refreshing and earthy taste filling my mouth,it’s time to move out of the way and give the honeybees time to forage for nectar.

 

Before planting in the garden, familiarize yourself with its specific characteristics.
African Blue basil is a rare, aromatic, perennial shrub that can grow up to five feet
tall in some gardens. Plants produce abundant flowers that are pink with a dark
purple base, making it attractive to bees and beneficial wasps. African blue is one
of the few basils that is sterile, meaning it will not produce seeds. Fortunately,
this unique trait allows the plant to stay in bloom for a longer season. As with
other basils, African Blue does best in well-draining soil amended with compost.
Plants thrive in full sun and will form rounded mounds.


Suggestions for cooking with African Blue basil offer a wide range of possibilities.
While best suited as a fresh flavoring or garnish, the leaves may also be used in
pesto’s, chimichurri sauce, salad dressing and dips or sprinkled over soups, tossed
into salads or layered over bruschetta. Also, try it mixed into pasta, spread over
sandwiches, used as a pizza topping or for elevating desserts.

Along with the leaves, African Blue basil flowers are edible and can be used as a garnish in soups, salads and grain bowls.

They can also be incorporated into
cocktails, floated on sparkling beverages or stirred into teas. African Blue basil
pairs well with parsley, cardamom, ginger ale, champagne, green beans,
tomatoes, potatoes, lentils, rice, and feta cheese. For best quality and flavor, use the leaves and flowers shortly after harvesting.

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

What is Tupelo Honey?

May 24, 2023

(A $120 bottle of Gold Reserve Tupelo Honey)

“She’s as sweet as Tupelo honey

She’s an angel of the first degree

She’s as sweet as Tupelo honey

Just like honey baby, from the bee”

In 1971 singer-songwriter Van Morrison released his album Tupelo Honey. Shortly thereafter, the album reached number 27 on the Billboard charts. As a result, the name and brand of Tupelo honey reached a national audience. Then in 1996 Tupelo honey once again gained recognition in the media spotlight with the release of the major motion picture Ulee’s Gold starring Peter Fonda. Not only did Fonda win a Golden Globe for his performance in the film, but Tupelo honey also earned the distinction of being known as the Queen of the Honey World.

Tupelo honey is light golden amber with a greenish cast. The first taste is of cinnamon with a tinge of anise. That gives way to a whisper of jasmine and something citrusy like tangerine rind. 

Tupelo honey is unique for its unusually high fructose to glucose ratio. Because of this ratio, raw Tupelo honey is very slow to, and rarely ever crystallizes. The higher fructose to glucose ratio also makes Tupelo honey one of the sweeter honey options.

Considered by many to be the most expensive honey in America, it seems strangely odd that the best Tupelo honey producing region in the world is the Florida panhandle along the Appalachicola, Chipola and Choctahatichie River systems of creeks and backwaters. It comes from the nectar of the White Ogeechee Tupelo trees. The Tupelo tree, also known as the swamp gum tree, is abundant in only a few places in the country including Northwestern Florida, Southern Georgia and Louisiana. Beekeepers load their beehives on barges and float them in the swamp for the 3-week blooming period, being careful to avoid the alligators lurking in those waters. The little flowers are very delicate and can be easily destroyed by high winds or severe rain. This is why the demand for Tupelo honey will always exceed the supply! 

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

Try this Tupelo Honey Recipe:

Tupelo Honey Grilled Salmon

The Colors of Honey

May 19, 2021

Take a quick look at the six jars of honey shown above. What did you notice? If the first thing that caught your eye were the different colors, then a brief description of honey’s relative visual properties might provide some insightful information. And, yes, it’s true that most of us generally choose honey based on color.

Honey Colors

The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies commercial honey (the jars you typically find in the grocery store) into 7 color categories:

*Water White (0 mm – 8 mm) (Colorless and transparent)

*Extra White (8 mm – 17 mm) (Very light-yellow tint while remaining transparent)

*White (17 mm – 34 mm) (Slightly more yellow/very light amber, also transparent)

*Extra Light Amber (34 mm – 50 mm) (Transparent with a light orange/amber hue)

*Light Amber (50 mm – 85 mm) (Deeper orange /amber hue, not fully transparent)

*Amber (85 mm – 114mm) (Deep orange color and not transparent)

*Dark Amber (114 mm – 140 mm) (Very dark and opaque, referred to as “motor oil black”)

How Honey Color is Measured 

The color of honey is typically measured using a continuous scale known as the Pfund scale of measurement. The scale consists of a glass wedge that varies in its color from lightest to darkest amber. The honey to be evaluated is poured into another wedge-shaped container and then the color is compared with the amber scale. The place where the color of the honey matches closest to the scale is then marked as the result. The final measurement is thus given in a number ranging from 0 to 140 mm (according to the scale length where the match occurs). 

What Determines Color?

The color of honey is determined by its floral source, or blossoms of the nectar, and mineral content. Honeybees forage for both nectar and pollen. Nectar is the bee’s source of energy while pollen provides protein and other nutrients. As the bee forages, pollen grains collect on its head. The bee then uses its front legs to transfer the pollen to the pollen baskets located on its hind legs. Bees mix dry pollen with nectar to compact the pollen in the pollen basket. Honey, therefore, gets its color from the pollen that a hive gathers to make it. 

Light colored honeys like citrus, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus and thyme contain high amounts of calcium. Darker honeys contain higher amounts of potassium, chlorine, sulfur, sodium, iron, manganese and magnesium. Iron is what gives buckwheat honey its deep brown color. 

Lighter-colored honeys generally have a milder flavor but with a pronounced floral aroma often accompanied by herbal, spice, vanilla, butterscotch or other enticing flavor notes. As the honey gets darker in color, the aroma and taste become more distinctive. All honey tends to deepen in color as it ages, but this change does not affect its flavor.

Finally, it is important to keep in mind that soil, climate, water, wind and sun all contribute to every honey’s sensory attributes, including color, aroma and flavor. This unpredictable mosaic of natural conditions is a gentle reminder of the ever-changing profile of varietal honey. Clover honey from this year may surprise your taste buds with a slightly different flavor profile in the future. 

(Honeybee gathering nectar from Sage blossoms)

Examples of light honey floral sources:

*Sage

*Clover

*Fireweed

*Cotton

*Acacia

*Alfalfa

*Apple Blossom

*Blackberry

*Blueberry

*Palmetto

*Tupelo

Examples of dark honey floral sources:

*Buckwheat

*Avocado

*Chestnut

*Dandelion

*Huckleberry

*Manuka 

*Tulip

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

Have you heard? Here’s what all the buzz is about!

May 18, 2023

Saturday, May 20th bee lovers from all over the globe will gather in Rome, Italy to celebrate bees and their importance. It also serves as a chance to raise awareness of the ongoing increasing threat against them from human activity.

The theme this year is “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”. One of the featured speakers during the Friday, May 19th pre-event is well-known Texas professional beekeeper, Erika Thompson of Texas Beeworks. She will be speaking on behalf of bees and beekeepers at the United Nations in Rome. The title of her presentation is Saving Bees and Pollinators. 

For more information and to register for the webcast, google World Bee Day 2023.

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

To celebrate World Bee Day, we will post another monthly bee article tomorrow.

Scenes From Harvesting Red Potatoes

May 17, 2023

Mark Jones demonstrating how to dig under the potatoes and lift them out to minimize damage.

These potatoes were hilled up with compost but we did not add any support to keep the compost in place and they peeked out of the soil. The skin became scaly. 

Ruth Klein with a gigantic red potato

Ruth Klein and Yuliana Rivas Garcia digging up potatoes

It is fun when the potatoes pop up out of the soil.

We improvised to keep the compost from sliding off after we hilled up the potatoes. The added layers of compost increase yield and keep the potatoes from being exposed to the sun.

Cynthia Jones preparing just over 68 pounds of Red La Soda potatoes for North Dallas Shared Ministries Food Pantry.

Beverly Allen, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2018

Red La Soda and Kennebec potatoes were planted in February

A Springtime Treat 

Asparagus Caprese Salad

Last week I made one of my favorite seasonal dishes. If you imagined a multi-layered cake enrobed in a sublime chocolate frosting or a deep-dish fruit cobbler oozing with a syrupy filling and the perfect cinnamon-dusted crust, think again. 

Instead, I’m especially drawn to the simplicity of a different springtime jewel. Colorful, tasty and nutritious, this one is a winner for me. 

Roasted Caprese Salad is easy to prepare and lovely to serve. If you already have asparagus growing in your springtime garden, chances are the other ingredients may be found there, as well. Gather up some cherry, grape or Campari tomatoes, several sprigs of basil and head to the kitchen. For the past few years, I’ve developed a fondness for Balsamic Blooms and Cardinal basil. Both are growing in my garden now. The leaves hold up well using the chiffonade method and maintain their color nicely. 

After reviewing the recipe, you might want to follow it, as is, or try my suggestions for adding a little punch to the flavor profile. Once roasted and out of the oven, I like to drizzle the tomatoes with a generous splash of Apple Balsamic Vinegar. Next comes a sprinkling of Fennel Salt with Pollen. Finish the dish with chopped basil and prepare to dazzle your family or guests.

Sheila Standing in Front of her Asparagus Bed

Master Gardener, Sheila Kostelny, graciously shared her asparagus growing tips in a short Q & A. 

When did you first plant asparagus in your lovely backyard garden?

“I planted 2-year crowns from Redenta’s in 2014. I believe the variety is UC 157. I lean on the wisdom of Dr. Sam Cotner, Dr. Joseph Masabni and Skip Richter for advice regarding all my vegetables.”

When do you start harvesting?

“I harvest them from about the second to third week in February for about 6 weeks. Then they present foliage that I will use for flower arrangements for the rest of the growing season.”

How long do you expect your asparagus to produce?

“In North Texas, the crowns should continue to produce for 12-15 years. That’s quite a bonus for little effort on our part.”

What do you enjoy most about having asparagus growing in your garden?

“Asparagus are a ‘no fuss’ no muss’ vegetable. They require little and reward you with a sweet, bountiful harvest. What I especially love about them is that they grace your garden in the dead of winter when there is nothing else to bring to the table.”

Happy Growing Sheila! We appreciate your asparagus “tips”.

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

National Wildflower Week

National Wildflower Week takes place each year the first week of May. This weeklong tradition was started in 1987 by The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to celebrate the beauty and importance of native wildflowers across the United States. If you haven’t taken a “road trip” through the Texas Hill Country this spring, there’s still time to enjoy the profusion of wildflower blooms on the highways, byways and Farm to Market roads of Texas. 

 Our journey started with a smart decision to head back to Dallas from Austin last weekend by avoiding 135 and choosing, instead, to travel leisurely up 281. From Marble Falls to Hico, the panoramic views of fields blanketed by wildflowers was spectacular. Roadside stops were frequent, as patches of colorful Texas natives caught our eye.

Cattle grazing in and among pastures of bluebonnets didn’t seem to mind the closeness of our visit. Barbed wire fences stretching through the fields of yellow gave testimony to the hill country vistas so typical of our great state. Even the iconic windmills served to remind us to simply slow down and take in the sights and sounds of country life.

Sometime next week we hope to travel down another favorite route, highway 16 from Goldthwaite to the Willow City Loop. It’s a trip we’ve made countless times with each one somehow surpassing our expectations. A necessary stop at Cooper’s Barbeque in Llano will satisfy our hunger for the remainder of the drive. Here’s hoping you enjoy a few images of the scenic Texas hill country.

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

The wildflowers at Raincatcher’s were beautiful this year. We hope you made a “local” road trip to see them on Midway Road.

Here’s a little more information to promote seeds of thought:

How to grow bluebonnets.

Our Texas Wildflower

Plant Sale Today at Raincatcher’s

Raincatcher’s Garden  Annual Plant Sale  

Thursday, May 4th 2023 

10 AM – 3 PM 

Midway Hills Christian Church 

11001 Midway Road 

Dallas, Texas 75229 

We will have annuals, perennials, herbs, peppers,  succulents, shrubs, trees, groundcover, bulbs,  houseplants, decorative pots, yard art, compost and  so much more!! 

All proceeds from this sale go to Dallas County  Master Gardener Projects.

CASH, CHECK, CREDIT CARD ACCEPTED

“Happy Together”

‘Brilliant Pink Iceberg’ Floribunda and onion chives at Raincatcher’s in the edible landscape


Imagine me and you, I do…
I think about you day and night, it’s only right!

Just as the Turtles sang to us in 1967, some things belong together. In the plant world this loving and beneficial relationship is commonly referred to as “companion planting.” You might even have heard the popular expression…” roses love garlic.” Let’s consider several reasons why.

From the New York Botanical Garden

*Members of the onion family such as chives, ornamental alliums and edible onions are rumored to increase the perfume of roses, ward off aphids and prevent black spot. Herbs and other aromatic plants make wonderful rose companions. 

According to Birds and Booms

*Garlic protects roses from not only bad bugs, it can also help prevent fungal diseases. Aphids don’t love garlic, they hate it!

The Garlic Farm offers this advice – 

*Plant three to four cloves in a circle around each rose bush, and the sulphur present in the garlic will disperse into the soil and be taken up by the roses – making it a less palatable treat for little bugs.

Gardening Know How says – 

*Rose lovers have planted garlic, chives, garlic chives and onions in their rose beds for many years. Garlic has been known to repel many pests that bother rose bushes. Garlic chives have interesting foliage, repel some pests and their pretty little clusters of white or purple flowers look wonderful with the rose bush’s foliage. 

Seasoned gardeners offer these tips – 

Included in the list of rose companion plants are alyssum, lavender, marigolds and parsley. 

Be sure to check on the companion plant’s growth habit as to height. In many cases, you might want lower-growing companion plants. Herbs will work well planted in the rose beds but, again, check their growth habits to be sure.  

Pairing members of the allium family with your roses helps to ward off aphids with their strong scent and may prevent black spot.

So glad we knew about this dynamic relationship when planting our beautiful rose topiary a few years ago and surrounding it with garlic chives. As you can see from the photo, they seem to be saying… yes, we are indeed happy together!

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008



Lenten Rose 

May 2, 2023

Lenten Rose in bloom

Lenten rose plants (Helleborus x hybridus) are not roses at all but a hellebore hybrid. It was given its name because the flower looks similar to a rose and it blooms in early spring often during Lent.  This is another plant that we will have at our annual Raincatcher’s Plant sale on Thursday, May 4th.  

It is an evergreen, slow growing perennial and the blooms on the heirloom varieties are downward facing.  The flowers are very long lived, sometimes remaining for eight to ten weeks.  

Lenten rose thrives in partial to full shade which makes it a good plant for adding color and texture to dark areas of the garden.  Try planting it in small groups of 3 to 5 plants (18 to 24 inches apart) or plant along walkways and edging.   As you can see from the photo, it looks great planted alongside purple oxalis and holly fern.  It is best to keep the soil moist but it can tolerate drier conditions once established.

  

Lenten Rose foliage with Holly Fern and Purple Oxalis

We hope to see you at our plant sale on Thursday, May 4 from 10 AM to 3 PM.  Raincatcher’s Garden is located at 11001 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas on the campus of Midway Hills Christian Church.  Raincatcher’s is a Dallas County Master Gardener program and all proceeds from this sale benefit master gardener programs.   

Jackie James Dallas County Master Gardener 1993 

Come shop the sale on Thursday, May 4th, 10am until 3pm.

Midway Hills Christian Church 11001 Midway Road Dallas, Texas 75229

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