From my garden to yours

A few seasons ago, following a several-year hiatus, the only crops visible above a morass of 6-foot-tall weeds were the citrus trees planted at the north end of my garden.

After an arduous session using a bush-hog mower and metal-encrusted string trimmer, followed by the shear muscle of a three-point hitched, PTO-driven tiller, I was able to consider replanting. A funny thing happened on the way to a semblance of normalcy in the garden: Criss-crossing the ground with heavy equipment released several bouts of aromatic discourse from long-lost herbal plantings. The fact that these crops survived total wanton neglect immediately earned them a revered position on my planting schedule.

While mowing the garden, I hit a cluster of garlic chives, releasing a surprising cloud of odiferous delight. Garlic chive (Allium tuberosum) is a perennial herb that is used for its greens. I use them in stir-fry, soups and pesto instead of bulb garlic. Its roots are sturdy, almost woody clumps, which can easily be separated for propagation. The fact that the garlic chives endured through drought and flood earned them a permanent position in my garden.

Imagine my surprise when the peppermint surfaced in a burst of holiday reminisces. Mint grows from runners, always seeking moist, fresh soil. Although it was competing with some invasive grasses (Bermuda and St. Augustine), the strength of the mint's invasion ensured its existence. Setting pots of mint in areas of the garden not cultivated on a frequent, seasonal rotation allows escaping runners to naturalize this herb into the landscape. As mint seeks new terrain, train this juggernaut to manage its empire.

The ease to which rosemary propagates by cloning as rooted cuttings is a testament to its natural survival. A forsaken plant's branches eventually drooped to the ground. Where contact with the soil occurred, roots formed, and whole new individuals commenced growing. These rooted stems, which disembarked from the ground and were carefully set into a container of potting soil, quickly responded to produce whole new specimens. I have taken advantage of this natural reproductive method with other woody perennials such as azaleas and bay leaf (Laurus nobilus).

Recognizing these survivors and the traits that commend their continued production is a gardening skill that can easily be overlooked in the chaos of daily life. Stop, turn off the electronic devices, breath deep, relax and focus on the whole of the garden. Seek to understand the garden, not the task at hand. When these opportunistic crops present themselves, enable their benefits to your commerce. Free food always tastes better!