Jane bounced into the kitchen - eyed the shopping still on the worktop and remarked "Oooh! Dad`s got some syphilis!!!" (And proceeded to pinch one and eat it!) LOL!
Pat
Be who you are and say what you feel....Because those that matter....don't mind....And those that mind....don't matter.
Okay, I'm stumped....what did she mean to say???
Joan
Physalis!!! (You know - Chinese Lanterns/ Cape gooseberries. Papery orange flowers with edible yellow berries inside! LOL!)
My wife's finest spoonerism is "teasted toecakes" instead of "toasted teacakes"
I thought you were bound to have them there. They`re pretty as a plant (but once you have them you have them for ever!) and the fruits are really good. They look a bit strange in the shops, but you peel back the dry flower to reveal the berry. They`re great for dipping in chocolate, too!
Pat
I know a few people that grow them (I'm a tad too cool), and they are delish. But uncommon....
Cheryl
Wow, the things you discover on this newsgroup.
Some years ago my husband and I owned a trailer in the Pocono Mountains. Everyone had some kind of flowers planted around their places except me because I consider myself horticulturally impaired.
One of my friends couldn't stand it and made me plant something that she said wouldn't need much care. Now I know the other name for what we called Chinese Lanterns and I find out that they're uncommon. They are pretty, but I thought they were just a step up from a weed.
Lucille
>
No - just tough to grow if it gets really cold and hard to find the fruit in the stores....
Cheryl
If I'm right and the ones I had are the same ones you're talking about, something peculiar must be going on. I had them come up all over the place for three summers and the temps where I was in the Poconos are about the same as New Hampshire. Very, very cold.
I guess it was dumb luck for me.
L
Ahhhhhh. I never know the taxonomical names for plants. My mom actually used to grow these before the flood took their old house. I bet she never knew the berries existed, much less them being edible, since I never heard about it! Must tell her.
Thanks for the explanation, Pat!
Joan
They grow like weeds here, once you have them!
Pat
>
My philosophy is that a weed is a plant that is in the wrong place.
That's the standard philosophy of many Iowa/Missouri farmers, too. I've heard it all my life.
They also grow rampantly in West Aust, though I have never seen the lantern as bright orange, ours are a creamy white lanterns. The berries can be made into a most delicious jam, though eating too many of them 'au natural' has one not wanting to move too far from the bathroom over the next 12 hours or so
Joanne
Oh most certainly! While I absolutely adore my wisteria which grows along the fence between my veggie garden and the pond, I did not enjoy the long suckers that chose to grow up in the midst of my corn crop this summer and they have been hacked down.
I've also had an ongoing battle for several years with some morning glory, planted by a passing bird I'm sure, in the middle of my artichokes and asparagus.....However, when I pulled some out and planted it instead on the outside of the garden fence it has thrived and I find myself smiling at it's pretty flowers and heart-shaped leaves every time I see it there.
We also have a history of bird-planted trees starting up in odd places. Our drive has climbing rose along one side with pine trees and hedges and grapes on the other. I found a baby palm tree the other day trying to get started - sorry no - and now have a peach tree in the middle of the hedges which just decided to grow there. I've pulled out eucalyptus trees from the center of the drive as well.
Sigh....I guess it's nice to know just about anything will grow here :)
MelissaD
OK, I probably snipped all the wrong stuff, but this is the first time in my 70, oops 39, years that I have heard Chinese lanterns mentioned. The house where I lived during WW2 in England had them growing in the border. Sheena know where I mean, she was kind enough to send me a picture of what is now on that site . I really don't remember seeing them in my later years.
isn't this group a wondeful source of information??
Gillian Florida, but hopefully not for ever!
You surely aren't going to move before Spring, are you? During the ten years we lived in Tampa, I figured "Florida summers are the price you pay for Florida winters."
Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.
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