Text and photographs are © by Ellen Spector Platt & Ellen Zachos, all rights reserved.


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Grazing the 'Hood


I know, I know, we've written a lot about The High Line here at Garden Bytes. So sue us. We like it.

Monday morning I took a new friend to visit: Francesca Yorke, who taught the Garden to Plate photography class I took last month in Santa Fe. It was lovely strolling the park with a companion in photography, each of us finding images that floated our respective boats.

No surprise that my boat was floated by the surprising number of ornamental plants with edible parts. I'm a little obsessed at the moment, working on my back yard foraging book. But even for me, who sees edible plants everywhere, The High Line was impressive.

Let's be clear: I am NOT suggesting you graze The High Line! (I promise I didn't pick a single thing.) But take a walk and see what's on the menu. Then use it as a model for your own yard or terrace. You might be surprised by how tasty some of those traditional ornamentals can be.

Use dried, ground juniper berries in spice rubs.

The flesh of yew arils (berries) is sweet and juicy. But spit out the seed...it's highly poisonous!

Sumac berries are tart and lemon-y. You can make sumac-ade, or use it to flavor rum. I vote for rum.

Both the flower and berries of elderberry are tasty in multiple ways.

That's right, sedum leaves. Put 'em in your salad.

Young sassafras (the autumn leaves above are too old), when dried and ground, make file gumbo.

Rose hips are very high in vitamin C and make a great jelly.

Thanks for the acorns, noble oak!
(Thanks for the sign, Manhattan Mini Storage.)

And thanks to The High Line for showcasing so many useful/delicious plants, of which the above are a mere smattering.



7 comments:

Zoe said...

Cool! I did not know you could eat sedum leaves. And that sign made my evening - a good reminder to just point out the obvious and get on with it.

Sweetgum Thursday said...

That first picture is so dreamy. Hope the research and writing is going well. Looking forward to reading your book.

Frank said...

The beach farm is filled with hairy galinsoga (ciliata). I hear it is edible like lamb's quarters. Be on the look out?

picture here:
http://nycgarden.blogspot.com/p/weeds.html

Karen Chapman said...

Love the photos Ellen - especially the first one.
Just tried to send you an email using the address given in the 'about me' section, but it bounced back. Has it changed?

buy eve accounts said...

WoW! i super love the photos.

JT said...

I have no clue what is better, the tree or the sign. Let's call it a tie.

-JT

http://www.thinkitripitwriteit.blogspot.com/

24h Pfleger said...

Great! that was really a good post..


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