...the poppy fields. In the real world the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is used as a sedative, which is reflected in its scientific name – somniferum. Herbs are in everything...
...Materia Medica from the 6th century, and then again in texts from the 1550s under names like Solanum somniferum verticilliatum, Solanum soporiferum, and Thrychnos hypnoticos – names that, again, refer...
...a nice gingery-sweet flavor. This syrup was an embodiment of the taste of spring. So, I decided to do an experiment of my own and tried making magnolia syrup with...
March 30, 2026 | By Susan Belsinger and Tina Marie Wilcox
...same time as you set out basil and tomatoes, when the ground is warming up. If the weather is cold—especially if it’s wet and rainy—wait to transplant chiles; otherwise, you...
When most people hear the word “herb” today, they think of flavorful additions to cooking or natural medicines. In ancient Greece, herbs were both of those things and much more....
...can be as simple as infusing it in a simple syrup or honey, then mixing it into lemonade, iced tea, coffee, cocktails, or even meringue. Use a tea ball with...
Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) is a deciduous shrub in the Solanaceae family with arching branches that can reach 10 feet in height. It produces small, oval red fruits that are harvested...
As a lifelong gardener and plant enthusiast, I’ve always been drawn to the versatility of herbs. Beyond cooking, herbs have incredible ornamental value as well. In my own garden in...
...spices such as ginger, garlic, turmeric, fenugreek seeds, cilantro, cumin, asafoetida, green chiles, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, fennel seeds and so on” with their geographical neighbors. But the...
