Monthly Archives: February 2012

Holluco is a traditional staple food crop grown northern Argentina to Venezuela at elevations between 2,400 and 4,200 metres. As one of the “lost crops” used by the Incas it is still grown and eaten today, mainly by subsistence farmers. … Continue reading →

Gunnera is a truly ancient plant, having evolved some 150 million years ago, around the time of the dinosaurs. Named after Norwegian botanist Johan Ernst Gunnerus (who, by the way, described the basking shark and gave it its scientific name, … Continue reading →

In a survival situation, you have to take advantage of everything available to eat! It won’t be long before we must eat them. The ever growing populations of the world will at some point force us to eat new things … Continue reading →

Phragmipediums are other types of slipper orchids, but these hail from Central and South America. These relatives of the Asian slipper orchids are indigenous to the mountainous areas in Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Bolivia, Brazil, and as far north as southern … Continue reading →

Here’s wishing a Happy Valentine’s Day to all my readers! Today’s the special day to celebrate love and romance. Even if you don’t give them a gift, just hearing it could make someone’s day. I wish you love, happiness and … Continue reading →

The genus Puya supposedly contains over 100 species, most native to the higher elevations in South America. Despite the large number of species in the wild, only a dozen or so are ever seen in cultivation and only a few … Continue reading →

Dahlias are considered one of the most spectacular garden flowers. There is a great variety of form in Dahlias, from the showy dinner-plate size to the bright, little single ones. There are 30 species and 20,000 cultivars of Dahlias. Originating … Continue reading →

This plant has quite a long history in cultivation, dating back to the early 1700’s. It is a native of Argentina and Brazil and derives its species name from the city of Buenos Aires. Verbena belongs to a plant family … Continue reading →