AMERICAN GARDENER

Okra, known scientifically as Abelmoschus esculentus, is a vegetable that’s quite popular in various cuisines around the world, particularly in the Southern United States, Africa, the Middle East, India, and parts of Asia. Okra is believed to have originated in Ethiopia or the upper Nile region in Northeast Africa. From there, it spread throughout the … Read more

Mesquite is a common name for some plants in the genus Prosopis, which contains over 40 species of small leguminous trees. They are native to dry areas in the Americas. They have extremely long roots to seek water from very far under ground. As a legume, mesquites are one of the few sources of fixed nitrogen in … Read more

Tamarind is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is indigenous to tropical Africa, particularly in regions like Madagascar and Sudan. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. It belongs to the family Fabaceae. This tree has been naturalized in many parts of Asia, Australia, the Americas, and the Caribbean. … Read more

Lettuce is an annual plant of the family Asteraceae. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Lettuce is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps; it can also be grilled and sometimes … Read more

The word “kumquat” comes from the Cantonese “kam kwat,” which translates to “golden orange.” Kumquats are native to Southeast Asia and have been growing wild since ancient times. The fruits were first documented in China in the 12th century, grown for culinary, medicinal, and cultural uses, and were symbolically believed to bring good luck and … Read more

The grapefruit (Citrus × paradisi) is a subtropical citrus tree known for its relatively large, sour to semi-sweet, somewhat bitter fruit. The interior flesh is segmented and varies in color from pale yellow to dark pink/red. Grapefruit is a citrus hybrid and is relatively new in the world of citrus fruits. It’s believed to have … Read more

Fig trees belong to the genus Ficus, which includes over 800 species, but Ficus carica is the species most commonly associated with the fig fruit a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Moraceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region, together with western and southern Asia. It has been cultivated since ancient … Read more

Yellow watermelon is just the same as any other watermelon other than its bright yellow flesh, which can range from pale yellow to a deep golden hue. This color comes from different pigments, mainly carotenoids like beta-carotene, rather than lycopene which gives red watermelons their color. The outside rind can vary, but it’s typically green … Read more

Tsuga mertensiana, known as mountain hemlock, is a species of hemlock commonly found from southeastern Alaska southwards through the Cascade Range and the Sierra Nevada in California. Prefers high altitudes, often found at or above 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) in elevation, thriving in subalpine and alpine environments where other trees might struggle. Unlike many conifers … Read more

Tsuga heterophylla, the western hemlock or western hemlock-spruce, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California. The Latin species name means ‘variable leaves’. Western hemlock is the state tree of Washington. Western Hemlock can … Read more