February 27, Late Summer, Garden Activity (in a time of some global heating)

Flowering, fruiting and leafing in a summer ending with a climate change induced heatwave.

Peanut Butter Fruit flowers with small fruit forming

"The Peanut Butter Fruit (Bunchosia argentea) is just one of the delicious fruit bearing trees we sell that is regarded as highly underestimated. Apart from being a valuable tree for the fruit it bears it is also highly ornamental. It can be grown into a bush or a small tree with a tendency to go deciduous during the winter. The yellow flowers are produced through late Spring and are followed by a nearly constant production of fruits in varying quantities.

The dark-red to dark-orange fruit is the size of a quail egg and needs to be picked every day as they spoil quickly on the tree. They can be stored for several days in the refrigerator or can be separated from the seed and frozen. The skin is very tender with rich, sweet flesh that has a texture very similar to peanut butter or a sweet potato. The concentrated sugars of the fruit make it much like a dried fig. They are especially good when blended into a milkshake." from Daleys Nursery Newsletter

Hamelia patens - Firecracker Bush
The fruit of Hamelia patens may be edible according to some online sources. Try the fruit if you dare and but carry out the taste tests.

Mushroom Plant surrounded by strappy leaves

The Mushroom Plant has quickly responded to good rain. It is very useful in salads and omelettes.

Common Mint

This is another plant loving the recent rain but it probably needs more sun to thrive and spread. However, it produces enough leaves for us.

Donkey Ear Succulent

Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnier

This succulent spreads well but is easily controlled. It is a striking sculptural addition in spots where rain fails to fall such as under eaves.

Heliconia rostrata

Heliconias look nondescript most of the year, and then they flower extravagantly!

Brazilian Red Cloak (Megaskepasma erythrochlamys)

We grow the Brazilian Red Cloak (Megaskepasma erythrochlamys)

purely for its attractive shape and flowers.

Perennial Bell Capsicum

This Perennial Bell Capsicum bush is four years old and has developed some heat in the seeds.

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm is so useful as an additive to many vegetable and meat recipes.

Mandevilla

We love the colour of this Mandevilla or Sun Parasol.

A weedy and leafy Amaranth

We have bought seeds of Leaf Amaranth growing but when their leaves are scarce this weedy Amaranth is perfectly edible.

#heliconias   #mexican firebush   #amaranth   #capsicum  #hamelia patens  #lemon balm   #  peanut butter fruit