The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825. Euphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height …

The Monkey Puzzle tree is an exotic conifer. You can see a young example at 545 S. Sunnyvale. Araucaria araucana (commonly called the monkey puzzle tree, Chilean pine, or pehuén) is an evergreen tree growing to 40 m (130 ft) tall with a 2-m (7-ft) trunk diameter. The tree is native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina. It …

Mission olives have grown in Santa Clara Valley since 1790. So I harvested the Mission olives from the Campo de Brezo estate (inside joke) in Almaden Valley. I selected the ripe black olives and dry-cured them in kosher salt for two months. Next I oil-cured some of the dry-cured olives with rosemary, orange zest, and olive oil. The flavor is …

Don’t let its banana pepper look fool youIt may look like a mild banana pepper, but really the Hungarian wax pepper has a lot more bite. In terms of spiciness, it’s more akin to a jalapeño with a chance for a bit more heat. This is a great chili for all sorts of cooking (including chiles rellenos) and a popular …

Recipe courtesy of Marcela Valladolid of Food Network. A great use for your Poblano chiles. Total Time: 35 min Prep: 20 min Cook: 15 min Yield:6 servings Level:Easy Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/marcela-valladolid/stuffed-poblano-chiles-chiles-rellenos-recipe.html?oc=linkback

Spearmint or English Mint is a flavorful addition to your Sunnyvale garden. Make sure though that you contain the roots because it is very invasive. Use in recipes like Cucumber Cooler.

This roasted feijoa chutney is a excellent kind of spicy relish. The feijoa add that tropical fruit aroma and taste. The chili adds some heat. The other ingredients add the indian flavors.

Lisianthus flowers are native to American prairies. And lisianthus is one of the best cut flowers — it will last in the vase for 2 to 3 weeks. Lisianthus can be challenging to grow. They’re extremely tricky to grow from seed, so start with established seedlings. Plant them in rich, well-drained soil in full sun after all danger of frost …

Elephant Garlic is not a true garlic; it’s actually a perennial member of the leek family. It produces a large beautiful allium head. Above ground, its bluish-green leaves resemble grass, and can grow up to 3 feet (1 metre) tall. The bulbs can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide, and weigh up to a pound (450g), or more. …

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