Discover and re-discover Mexico’s cuisine, culture and history through the recipes, backyard stories and other interesting findings of an expatriate in Canada
Dahlia (Dahlia sp.) is Mexico's national flower, a genus of bushy, tuberous plants, native to Mexico and Central America, in the same family as daisies, sunflowers and chrysanthemums. I am growing them in my garden in Canada for the first time, both from seed, and from crowns bought at a gardening centre ... click on title for more
This year, I am growing dahlias for the first time in my Canadian garden. I bought a packet of mixed dwarf cultivars; I started the seed indoors, and transplanted once the weather was warm, in early June. A few days ago, as seen in the photo above, I spotted my first blossom! ... click on title for more
Quelite is a generic name in Mexico, from the Nahuatl quilitl – edible green; a close translation to English would be “potherb”. Originally, the name referred just to native plants, such as huauzontle, epazote and quintoniles (pigweed); during and after colonial times, new edible greens brought from Spain and around the world have been making the list, such as purslane, radish leaf, watercress, and lamb's quarters ... click on title for more
A few days ago, I harvested my first large bunch of epazote; I also gathered the first thinning of basil. From my new 2022 seed, I am still getting nice handfuls of "Little Marvel" peas, and I just picked the last of the purple radishes. I also harvested garlic and shallots ... click on title for more
Epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides) is a traditional Mexican herb that I have used and described in my posts before. In English, it is known as Mexican tea or wormseed, and grows freely (sometimes considered invasive) in Southern USA, Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. I bought a seed packet a few years ago, spread some in a sunny patch, and I have had them self-seed and come back every late spring ever since, ready for harvest as soon as summer arrives. This year is no different, and as seen in the photo above, it looks like a bumper crop ... click on title for more
My Slice of Mexico 