When I was in Melbourne at the weekend I took a stroll through my friend Wendy’s garden and took a few photos.
This is an interesting one – the plant is commonly known as ‘elephant ears’ as an ornamental, but the tubers are edible and are known as ‘taro’, a useful food, especially in the tropics.
Elephant Ears
Just as a matter of extra interest, the clump of rather spiky leaves with pink flowers on the right is ‘aechmea gamapetala’, a bromeliad. On the other side is a ‘wrinkly chili’ quite mild, grown from seed in ripe chillies given to Wendy by a Greek friend. Behind it, looking straggly, is a recently replanted black seeded chilli – very hot. Both of these are perennial, the hot one can grow to around 3 metres and last 7 or 8 years.
The edible canna canna edulis, known as Queensland arrowroot, is quite attractive with bronze tipped leaves and smallish red flowers, although in Melbourne it has reached its scraggy season as winter approaches.
Edible Canna
A quote from Wendy “I’ve included a photo of my jaboticaba tree, as it is unusual. It’s a Brazilian fruit tree, very slow growing, in fact this one is already about 8 years old and is only a metre and a half high. It will, hopefully, have grape-like fruit which form right on the branches – if I live long enough!”
Jaboticaba
I thought this weeping tree below was a lovely corner of the garden
And finally, Wendy’s husband Kevin took a snap of me under this tree with the lovely autumn colours. A novelty for me because we don’t get a fall of leaves up in Brisbane.
Thank you Kevin and Wendy for a lovely weekend.
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May 24, 2012 @ 19:57:29
Nice photos Jean – I remember my Great Aunt who lived across the road from me, sixty five years ago, growing Elephant Ears and I remember as a child being facinated by their shape, however I never realized that one could eat the tubers?
May 24, 2012 @ 20:16:00
It’s all new to me too Di. My friend Wendy is an avid gardener and seed saver. She has some really interesting stuff in her garden.
May 28, 2012 @ 18:07:28
We are in the middle of autumns flush of colour here in Tasmania. When I lived in Western Australia we didn’t get “autumn” (so to speak) and it didn’t colour the leaves, much like Queensland I guess but here, we get 4 distinct seasons and autumn is crisp, cold and very beautiful 🙂 I would love to grow taro and Queensland arrowroot here though! Swap you some autumn leaves for the ability to grow them 😉
May 28, 2012 @ 18:59:23
I know you cannot grow tropical plants but you grow the most wonderful cherries and other foods. Incidentally, I mean to mention to you that I follow Matthew Evans “Gourmet Farmer” from Tassie. Love that program.