Oak Honey — Nice Exotic Honey! 橡花蜜–美味的特殊蜂蜜!

Oak Honey — Nice Exotic Honey!  橡花蜜–美味的特殊蜂蜜!

Oak Honey — Nice Exotic Honey! 橡花蜜–美味的特殊蜂蜜!

Oak Honey — Nice Exotic Honey! 橡花蜜–美味的特殊蜂蜜!

This weekend we shopped at St. Lawrence Market, well it was busy as usual!    After the sampling we decided to get this Oak Honey.    It is very nice to taste the honey first to confirm that is what you like before purchasing them. Wow, what a treat!    We liked it and purchased it mainly because it is rare and also the reason of its unique flavor — the sweet honey with flavor combination of wood, nuts and resin.

I was surprised by the rich taste of honey, what a difference compared with ordinary honey! You can taste the wood, resin and nuts.  The experience takes me to long life span oak forest!

最近和我先生去了有名的鬧市去買純正的蜂蜜. 品嚐了2種不同的蜂蜜後買了這個很少見的蜂蜜.  雖然每種蜂蜜的風味都如此獨特,但這種讓人感覺口中有著混合堅果,樹脂.木質的樸實香氣,這種香甜幸福感很特別！

橡樹花蜜居然有令人驚喜的風味,完美的濃郁具有層次感的木香,橡實香與樹脂香的混合在口中伴著蜂蜜的甜散出,教人無法忘記它.　每嚐一小口都有種感受到置身於蒼鬱的橡木森林一般的感動與奇妙.  建議單獨享用,讓它帶領你的味覺與嗅覺引發的記憶旅行!

Coffee (Coffea arabica) 小果咖啡/阿拉比卡咖啡

Coffee (Coffea arabica) 小果咖啡/阿拉比卡咖啡

Coffee (Coffea arabica) is nice as indoor plant. 小果咖啡/阿拉比卡咖啡很適合當室內盆栽.

Coffee (Coffea arabica) raw beans/seeds. 小果咖啡/阿拉比卡咖啡生豆/種子.

Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora are the most common coffee species in the world and 80% of coffee beans are consumed today are Coffea arabica.   It is such an important crop in the world nowadays!  It is a tropical tender perennial/shrub.  Easy to grow.  Good for growing in containers indoors, prefer light shade location in moist but well drained soil.  Glossy dark foliage is very pretty, when plant is mature it produces many small white flowers in spring, the flowers have a strong sweet fragrance!   Flowers attract bees and butterflies.   Its mature size can reach 12′-15′(H) X 6′-8′(W) but for easy picking the plants often are pruned short.  USDA Zones:9-11.  Propagate by seeds.

茜草科咖啡屬的熱帶多年生植物/灌木. 現今市面流通的咖啡豆有超過八成是阿拉比卡咖啡.  它是如今被栽種的最重要的經濟作物之一!  容易栽種.  室內散光處都能盆植.  最好是用排水佳但溼潤的有機土壤. 油亮深綠的葉片非常美麗,成熟植株春開許多白色小花,花有著濃郁甜香! 花為吸引蜂蝶的蜜源. 雖然成熟植株可達12-15呎高,6-8呎的寬幅,但是為了便於採收熟果,植株通常都被控制成一人的高度. 喜熱不耐寒.   以種子來繁殖.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffea_arabica                                   https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E6%9E%9C%E5%92%96%E5%95%A1   http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-04202006000100011&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en     http://www.coffeeresearch.org/agriculture/varietals.htm           http://www.coffeeresearch.org/coffee/coffeeplant.htm                 http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2057/

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) 麵包果

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) 麵包果

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) seedless variety. 無子品種的麵包果

 

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) halves. 麵包果對切.

 

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) peeled, removed the center of the fruit and then sliced into chunks. 麵包果去皮去心後切成塊.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) One of ways of cooking breadfruit: Mixed batter and add seasonings. Lightly bread the chunks and deep fried them. Serve right away, yummy!! 料理麵包果的方法之一:調好麵糊,加入調味料後,沾上麵糊後炸到外皮金黃酥脆就可以起鍋享用,美味好吃!!

This variety of breadfruit has bumpy surface and lots of large seeds in it (Artocarpus altilis) — breadfruit in whole and in halve, the section view. 麵包果整顆的外觀與對半切開的樣子.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) this variety contains lots of large seeds inside. Seeds are edible after cooked. 這種品種的麵包果外皮有突起,皮薄,子多且蠻大顆的. 種子可煮食.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) seeds from different type of bread fruit. 不同種的麵包果種子.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) seeds germination in about 3 weeks. 麵包果的種子約3週出芽.

Breadfruit seedlings. (Artocarpus altilis)麵包果的小實生苗.

Many ways of cooking the fruit.  This  tropical tree has very large, glossy, dark green foliage.   A very good shade tree for open area.   Easy to grow in warm climate for food source.   Best growing in full sun location.  Fruit has very high starch content.  After cooked the layers of fruit gives bread or potatoes like texture and flavor, hence the common name.  Ripe fruit smells close to guava fragrance.  Delicious!  Bloom repeatly all year around with green male and female flowers.  USDA Zones:9-11.   Mature size:40′(H) X 15′-25′(W).  Propagate by seeds, air-layering or cuttings.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) One of ways of cooking breadfruit: Mixed batter and add seasonings.   Lightly bread the chunks and deep fried them.  Serve right away, yummy!!

它的果實為聚生果.   大部份的品種能生產種子,也有的品種是無子的. 料理的方法有好幾種.  這種熱帶樹種有著很大片,油亮深綠的葉片.  很好的造蔭樹.  容易栽種在溫暖氣候區,以經濟作物為目的來種植.  最好栽種在全日照處.  果實含高澱粉.  料理後吃起來的感覺有像麵包或馬鈴薯類. 熟果聞起來很接近番石榴的香味.  很好吃!  一年到頭開綠色的公花及母花.  喜熱不耐寒.  成熟株高40呎,寬幅15-25呎.  繁殖以種子,壓條/高壓或扦插法來進行.

料理麵包果的方法之一:調好麵糊,加入調味料後,沾上麵糊後炸到外皮金黃酥脆就可以起鍋享用,美味好吃!!

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadfruit                                    https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%BA%B5%E5%8C%85%E6%A8%B9                       http://ntbg.org/breadfruit/breadfruit/fruit1.php                                http://subtpg.tpg.gov.tw/web-life/taiwan/9910/9910-13.html http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282739&isprofile=0&

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) 波羅蜜

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) 波羅蜜

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) fruit is really large and heavy, in store sold in small sections. 波羅蜜果實大又重,店裡通常切小塊在賣.

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) fruit has bumpy peel like crocodile’s skin. 波羅蜜果皮粗糙如鱷魚皮

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) open the fruit you can see the yellow edible seed coating. OMG, its sop is really sticky! 波羅蜜切開後將黃色可食的子囊分離出來. 天啊,它的汁液超級黏手的!

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) yellow edible seed coating is very delicious! One seed coating contains one large seed. 波羅蜜可食的子囊真是美味啊! 一個子囊通常含有種子一枚.

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) fresh seeds from this section of fruit. Seeds are edible after cooked. 買來的這塊波羅蜜取出的完整種子都在這兒了. 種子煮熟後可以食用.

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seeds germinate in 2 weeks! 波羅蜜種子約2週就陸續發芽了!

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seedlings. 波羅蜜的實生苗.

Tropical fruit.   Ripe Fruit is very large, fragrant, sweet and flavorful!  Yummy!  Good for eating fresh or dried/preserved, also can be canned, candied, cooked.  Very large fruit with bumpy surface, very thick peel.  The edible flesh is the seed coatings.  Raw seeds are toxic but after cooked, seeds are edible like chestnuts. Raw fruit can be cooked like a vegetable.    Easy to grow in warm climates from seeds.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  It can be grew in a large pot indoors.  Plants stay evergreen in warm climate.  Bloom and fruit all year around.   Mature size:40′(H) X 12′-15′(W).  USDA Zones:9-11.  Propagate by seeds.

熱帶水果.  熟果塊頭非常大,果香濃郁,甜美好滋味!  真是好吃!  可直接食用或乾燥/醃製保存,或做成水果罐頭,或糖漬或煮食料理.  外皮粗糙有短刺,好像鱷魚皮.  切開外皮的裡面黃色子囊是可食的部份. 生的種子有毒不可食,煮後方能食用,味如栗子.  生的果實可用來料理當做蔬菜.  它是容易栽種的.  最好種在全日照到半日照的溫暖環境.  亦可室內盆植做為美麗的觀葉植物.  在熱帶這樹是經年常綠的.  花果全年可生長.  原生地的地植成熟株高40呎,寬幅12-15呎.  喜熱不耐寒.  多以種子來繁殖.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackfruit                                             https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%E6%B3%A2%E7%BD%97%E8%9C%9C   http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/910/

 

Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides)松蘿菠蘿

Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides)松蘿菠蘿

Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) 松蘿菠羅. Foliage is silvery green. 銀綠色的葉色.

 

 

Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) 松蘿菠羅. After watering, the foliage is more green rather than silvery when it is dry. 澆水後葉子由銀白色變得較綠.

Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) 松蘿菠羅. Growing in a glass jar. 吊在玻璃罐內種植. (The inside cap has rubber coating. 蓋子內層有橡皮保護層.)

Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) has small yellowish green flowers. 松蘿菠蘿盛開黃綠色小花.

Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) opened and unopened seedpods. 松蘿菠蘿已爆開及未爆開的種夾.

 

Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) seeds from a seed pod. 松蘿菠蘿從一個種夾中取出的種子.

This is a tropical tender perennial mainly for its unique silvery green foliage.  Very easy to grow.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  In the native habitat, they are growing on the tree branches trailing down.   Require high humidity.  Tiny yellowish green flowers in late spring to early summer.   Just hang the cuttings/plants in somewhere bright and humid location.  Avoid plant contact with metal because plants do not react well.  USDA Zones:7-11.  Mature size:8′-10′(L) X 3″-6″(W).  Propagate often by cuttings but also can be from seeds.  Bag the seed heads if you want the seeds for easy collection.

菠蘿科空氣菠蘿屬的多年生草本.  這個一般來說喜溼熱的松蘿空鳳主要是以觀葉為主的.  非常容易種植.  最好栽種在全日照到半日照處的濕潤環境裡. 雖然說它的耐寒程度其實也還不錯. 春末夏初時成熟植株會開黃綠色小小不起眼的花朵. 植株不喜接觸到金屬所以吊掛它的材質要注意避金屬類. 植株喜熱,耐寒性尚可.  成熟植株垂掛下的長度達8-10呎,寬幅僅3-6吋.  主以植株分段來無性繁殖,亦可由種子繁殖.  若要便於收集種子,種莢未開裂前就要紮袋包起準備.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_moss                                        https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%E6%9D%BE%E8%90%9D%E8%8F%A0%E8%90%9D  http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2060/

Sweet Chestnut/Spanish Chestnut (Castanea sativa) 歐洲栗

Sweet Chestnut/Spanish Chestnut (Castanea sativa) 歐洲栗

Sweet Chestnut/Spanish Chestnut (Castanea sativa) seedling. 歐洲栗實生苗.

Sweet Chestnut/Spanish Chestnut (Castanea sativa)歐洲栗 Seedling start to grow true leaves. 歐洲栗開始長本葉了.

Sweet Chestnut/Spanish Chestnut (Castanea sativa) 歐洲栗 European variety has smaller and darker nuts. 歐洲栗的栗子比亞洲栗個頭稍小且顏色較深.

Sweet Chestnut– Asiatic species (Castanea) 亞洲栗

Medium to large tree for its sweet nuts and beautiful wood!  Long life span. It is fairly easy to grow from seeds.  Best growing in full sun location.   Tiny creamy white flowers on flower stems in spring and nuts mature in late fall.  This European type of sweet chestnut has slightly smaller nuts and duller, browner nut color than Chinese sweet chestnut.  If you have good size land, you should grow them.  Very hardy and low maintenance.  USDA Zones:4-11. Mature size:40′(H)/(W).   Propagate by seeds, cuttings or grafting.  Good food source and medicinal.

歐洲栗是歐洲的鄉土栗樹品種,種植分佈相當廣.  樹齡很長.  很容易栽種.  春開黃白色小花密生在花梗上,結的果實於秋末成熟.   這屬中大型樹種,主以種來取其可食栗子及其均勻美麗木紋的硬木材,它是落葉喬木.  其栗子比中國種的甜栗個頭要稍小些,顏色也稍暗淡深褐些.  它的耐熱耐寒低維護且多用途,若是你有夠大的土地不妨考慮種植.  它很強健且低維護.  主以種子,扦插或嫁接等法來繁殖. 極具食用及藥用價值.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castanea_sativa
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%E6%AD%90%E6%B4%B2%E6%A0%97
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/77032/

Saltwort/Oka hijiki (Salsola komarovii)無翅豬毛菜/陸海帶

Saltwort/Oka hijiki (Salsola komarovii) 無翅豬毛菜/陸海帶

Saltwort/Oka hijiki (Salsola komarovii) seed packet and seeds. 無翅豬毛菜/陸海帶種子包與種子.

Saltwort/Oka hijiki (Salsola komarovii) seed germination fast! The 2nd day. 無翅豬毛菜/陸海帶種子第2天就開始發芽了,非常快速.

This succulent is an annual leafy vegetable.  Native in Asia.   Easy to grow from seeds.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.   Small white flowers in mid summer.   They are harvested the leaves and young shoots, blanch in hot water.  It is nice to go with other food as side dish.  Plants tolerant salt and drought.  Mature size:6″-1′(H) X 3″-6″(W).  Propagate by seeds.  Harvest in 20-30 days.

它是日本常見的野菜,葉菜類,是一年生的多肉植物.  原生於亞洲.  容易以種子來栽種.  最好栽種在全日照到半日照處.  小小的單瓣白花在仲夏間盛開.  採收其細長多肉的葉及嫩芽,短暫的汆燙或蒸煮後即可調味後食用,或可當配菜.  植株忍受鹽份偏高的土壤且耐旱度不差.  成熟植株6吋到1呎高,3-6吋寬幅.  以種子來繁殖.   種子發芽到可以採收僅20-30天.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsola_komarovii                     https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%82%AB%E3%83%92%E3%82%B8%E3%82%AD                                                                                                                         https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%E6%97%A0%E7%BF%85%E7%8C%AA%E6%AF%9B%E8%8F%9C                                                           http://www.evergreenseeds.com/landseaweed.html                        http://www.seedaholic.com/okahijiki-saltwort-or-land-seaweed.html

Japanese Wisteria ‘Shiro Noda’ (Wisteria floribunda) 白花紫藤

Japanese Wisteria ‘Shiro Noda’ (Wisteria floribunda) 白花紫藤

Japanese Wisteria ‘Shiro Noda’ (Wisteria floribunda) There are two shoots growing first and turning green. 白花紫藤有2芽有芽動並轉綠了.

Japanese Wisteria ‘Shiro Noda’ (Wisteria floribunda) these shoots on cuttings are activated and turning green. 白花紫藤扦插枝條上的芽漸轉綠,開始有動靜了.

Japanese Wisteria ‘Shiro Noda’ (Wisteria floribunda) cam be propagated by cuttings.  This is how they look like when I got them.  日本白花紫藤可以枝條來扦插繁殖. 這是剛來才扦插的樣子.

White flower form Japanese wisteria vine.  Very hardy and easy to grow.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  Mid spring to early summer with nice long fragrant white flowers.  Flowers attract bees and butterflies.     Propagate by seeds, cuttings, air layering or grafting.  USDA Zones:5-10. Mature size:30′-40′(H)/(L). But it can be trained as tree form for free standing.

*I am hoping to graft the shoots from white flower form to reblooming Wisteria plant.  In theory the white flower form shoots will flower once every season except winter.   But it is too cold to do so in winter…  I also germinated reblooming Wisteria seeds but their fragile stem are not woody enough to graft, perhaps in late spring or summer if these cuttings still alive to do so.  It will be better to root soon, of course.   Either way, it will be very interesting experiment!  Many thanks to my gardening friends’ help!  🙂

白花種的日本紫藤.  非常強健易於栽種.  最好栽種於全日照到半日照處.  仲春到初夏開花序蠻長流瀉而下的白色花串,優雅而清香.  花頗吸引蜂蝶.  以種子,枝條扦插,壓條或嫁接的方式來繁殖.  喜冷耐熱.  成熟株高30-40呎高/長.  但可以修剪來控制植株的大小或訓練成樹型.

*我是要來實驗將白花的紫藤芽嫁在續開紫藤上面,看這樣是否能借續開型除了冬季外每季開一次的好處,但這實驗由於季節不對,要等這些扦插枝條熬到春天能接時再說.  我也孵出了續開型紫藤的種子但枝芽太細尚未達木質化階段,嫁接困難.  所以也是得等到春天才行.  這會是個有趣的實驗!  在此感謝花友們的幫助!  🙂

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

http://floranelsalento.blogspot.ca/2014/09/wisteria-floribunda-willd-dc-fabaceae.html                                                          http://baike.baidu.com/subview/984/8173038.htm  http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/83008/

Amaryllis ‘Chico’孤挺花

Amaryllis ‘Chico’孤挺花

Amaryllis ‘Chico’ 孤挺花

It has unusual spider legs thin flower petals, quite different in its pretty way! 🙂   How do you like this variety?

這品種花瓣似蜘蛛腳般細長,有種殊異的優雅!  🙂  你覺得這個品種怎麼樣呢?

Kohleria ‘Lilla Gubben'(Kohleria) 苦苣苔屬花貓

Kohleria ‘Lilla Gubben'(Kohleria) 苦苣苔屬花貓

Kohleria ‘Lilla Gubben'(Kohleria) 苦苣苔屬花貓

Kohleria ‘Lilla Gubben'(Kohleria) more flower buds are forming. 苦苣苔屬花貓更多花苞形成中.

Very cute!  This genus are tropical perennials.  Easy to grow in moist, sunny and warm environment.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  This type of plants are not big.  Mature size: 1′-1.5′(H) x 6″(W).  Propagate usually by worm likes rhizomes, dividing plant clumps, stem cutting or seeds.  There are many hybrids around.

很可愛的植物! 這屬的是喜溫暖,陽光及水份的熱帶植物.  最好是全日照到半日照的生長環境.  成熟植株不大,約1-1.5呎高,寬幅6吋但也要看品種.  花小巧可愛,多花.  不耐寒也不耐旱.  有許多品種花色可供選擇.  繁殖多用外觀長的像是毛蟲一樣的地下根莖,也可用枝條扦插或種子來繁殖.