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Transcendental Gardening

Celebrating useful plants that thrive in northern climates

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Poppies and borage

Savoring the ‘Barb

It’s a competition (against myself) to find a rhubarb dish that achieves the right balance between tang and sweetness.

Ancient grain in the garden

Widely cultivated in ancient Mesoamerica and other regions for food and religious practices, gluten-free amaranth is by no means a cold climate plant. But even though it looks like a diva, amaranth doesn’t act that way.

Up close with spring buds

One of my favorite garden tasks in April is monitoring the buds of trees and shrubs, and the new growth of perennials like rhubarb and sorrel.

Eau de cucurbit

Some pumpkins and squash have an incredible scent nearly the opposite of pumpkin spice. Their flowers and flesh exude a floral fragrance, kind of like gardenia, lilac or jasmine.

The alchemy of angelica

Angelica thrives in cool, wet climates and its uses range from cooked vegetable to liqueur flavoring.

Angelica: Don’t Wing It!

Unfortunately, the most common native species of angelica in Alaska looks a lot like poisonous water hemlock. Angelica and water hemlock both like wet areas and can be found growing near each other in Alaska.

A Bitter Herb

Absinthe? Whatever. Despite some historical taboos, wormwood is highly valued in Alaska and elsewhere.

Falling for Wild Plants

You don’t have to do much stalking to find at least one wild plant in Alaska that tastes like asparagus. The tender red shoots of fireweed are everywhere in early spring.

A bolting cabbage mystery

Cravings for kimchi led to last year’s troubled experiment with growing Napa cabbages. Why did they bolt? Why would any self-respecting cabbage bolt?

About the author

Elizabeth Bluemink is a professional communicator who has gardened in Anchorage, Alaska for 13 years. She started this website in March 2019 as a community service project for the Alaska Master Gardener course. Send her an email!

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(c) Transcendental Gardening, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without the author’s express, written permission is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used if full and clear credit is given to this site with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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