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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] Shade loving annuals

In a message dated 98-02-05 22:36:02 EST, you write:

<<  I don't
 remember the name of one particular plant - except that it begins with a
 "g" and is always advertised as being used to make May wine; somebody help
 me here - the genus includes an annual species that has tiny, blue flowers;
 very nice >>

Hi Sheila,

Are you thinking of Galium oderatum (Sweet Woodruff)?  It was formerly called
Asperula oderata.  It is one of my favorite groundcovers because of it's tiny
leaves and its many tiny, bright white flowers.  According to Ken Druse's "The
Natural Shade Garden" the wilted leaves and flowers are used for flavoring May
wine.  He thinks it smells like raisins or hay.   Mileager's catalog says it
has a vanilla fragrance.  I like the smell of vanilla better than raisins, so
I'll choose to believe Mileager's until my plants come up this spring and I
can stick my nose in them and see for myself.

I don't know about the annual species with the blue flowers, but it sounds
interesting.  Anybody else know?  There is also our native Galium boreale
(Northern Bedstraw) which I planted last summer in my woodland garden, against
the advice of some friends....I guess it's not just kids that have to learn
things the hard way <g>.

Cindy Johnson
White Bear Lake, MN
zone 4a
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