This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Mediterranean Labiates

I second this!  Satureja douglasii is a great plant.  We find it grows well
in sun as well as shade, and likes dry spells.  This is zone 24.  It gets a
fungus or something that makes it look terrible for a while,  but when the
weather changes, it grow out of it. So does mint, in the same place, come
to think of it.  Put a sprig in your car, so you get a whiff of it each
time you get in.
I think it would also make an interesting hanging basket, but haven't
gotten around to doing it yet.

Jane

>THis talk of the Labiatae ( Lamiates) got me to thinking of a native of
>the Maritime Chapparral, Satureja douglasii ( Micromeria chamissonis).
>Common name is Yerba Buena. Sunset says its tolerant of their zone
>rationg of 4-9 and 14-24. Its common from Los Angeles to British
>Colombia. Here its slow to spread. Its not agressive like some members
>of the mint family. THe leaves are small, generally no bigger than a
>half inch square. Light apple green and very wondrous smelling. Its
>kind of a light minty flavor. The one in my gardens not doing so hot(
>but it is still alive!) It puts out roots well from cuttings. We just
>pinched off a trailing piece from the wilds, put them in rooting medium
>and in about two months there were substantial roots. You can put the
>leaves in tea ( ten will give a minty flavor)  or just keep it in your
>pocket to smell all day ( it is wondrous!). Its usually found under
>bushes and seems to tolerate dryness ( since it was growing in a dry
>Chapparral climate..
>It prefers a rich moist soil for best appearance, but it will survive
>in sandy soil ( Ft. Ord is proof of this!). The stems get to about
>three feet long. If you like  mint but fear it raging out of control, i
>think this plant is a good choice.
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>--------------------------
> Ukyo: "Okonomiyaki became my life..I set up a portable griddle and
>cooked it by             the raging sea!"
>bystander 1: "Um, why the sea? Isnt that kinda pointless?"
>bystander 2:" That's the point stupid! Havent you seen old Samurai
>movies?:
>
>-------------------Ukyo Kuonji's explanation of her
>martial---------------------------------
>Okonomiyaki cooking prowess


_______________________________________________________________________

Jane Reese
E-mail:  jreese@silcom.com
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index