Eliot here reporting from the Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem, WV. Just returned from a five day trip back home to western North Carolina, visiting friends and family. In total contrast to the last couple weeks, I came back to very dry grounds. There is so much to do now!
I dug a ton of plants from my dads yard and hauled them back with me in the backseat of the car. For two days I was constantly seeking shade for the car wherever I went. Most everything survived- The haul is mostly perrennials and things that are hardy and spread. What looks the roughest now is some of the elderberry cuttings- but I think with enough water and shade they will rejuvenate.
My car was filled with plants when I got stopped at a check point in Cullowhee, NC. The officer took a long hard look at my backseat but I guess decided i wasn’t trouble and let me go.
Later today we will extend our “Survivalist” garden patch at the folklife center with three new plants- Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus and Sochan. Sochan is a type of perennial green that tastes nutty and peppery and looks a lot like a black eyed susan, you pick the greens in the spring and cook like you would any cooking green.
I love visiting other peoples gardens. I think you can tell a lot about a person by the way they garden. Above is my mamas garden. She has strawberries that are nearly ready.
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