I had been wanting to try out some new herbs this summer, so I planted quite a number of them in flats with some great potting soil. Being surrounded by trees the sun that we do have tends to move around a lot from the morning to the afternoon. I kept moving the flats so they would feel the heat of the sun. Perhaps the shifting of the soil in the tray was not appreciated as only a couple seeds sprouted. Perhaps I purchased a bunch of crappy seeds. Anyway, having waited three weeks time, I figured no other seeds were going to sprout so I dumped the flats into the vegetable garden between a couple rows of Walla Walla onions.
Two plants emerged from this planting disaster — sorrel and giant blue hyssop.
Sorrel, Rumex acetosa, actually belongs in the vegetable garden. Its leaves attain great size and serve as a nice addition to garden salads. The great oval shaped leaves are a foot long or longer and at least a few inches wide. One leaf is quite enough to add some zest to a lettuce salad or to place on a couple sandwiches.
Giant Blue Hyssop, Agastache foeniculum, is also called anise hyssop because of the anise flavor of its leaves and flowers. I enjoyed adding a couple blossoms to a tomato and cucumber vinegar salad.
Here’s a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers that we brought in from out back. May your day be as sunny!
Sunny happy sunflowers!