Growing Hibiscus/Roselle in Phoenix

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) took over my garden this year. I had two plants from Vilardi Gardens and didn't realize how big they would get, but I love them! Not to be confused with tropical hibiscus, this is also known as Jamaican Sorrel and in my garden grew to be about 4 feet tall and wide.  Both the flowers and buds are striking.

Before growing hibiscus, I thought that the vivid-hued jamaica I often drink in Mexican restaurants was made from the dried flowers. It's actually steeped from the calyxes which encase the seed pod. The pod is removed and then the calyxes dried.

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Fall Vegetable Gardening

Though it's still oppressively hot and the autumn cool-down seems far away, I started prepping my vegetable beds for fall planting.  This weekend I weeded, cut back herbs, pulled out plants that didn't survive the summer, and top dressed with BioFlora Dry Crumbles, a favorite organic, granular fertilizer. I'm all set for some Vilardi Gardens plants.  

My friend Suzanne, owner of Vilardi Gardens, has a fantastic variety of plants that are available at the local farmers markets - look for them at Roadrunner Farmers Market, DeSoto Central Market and Ahwatukee Farmers Market.  After meeting up for lunch recently, I came home with some new additions of sesame (black, tan, and white), tomatoes (Indigo Rose, Cream Sausage, Violet Jasper, Tasmanian Chocolate, Dwarf Beryl Beauty, Punta Banda, and Taxi), Hibiscus sabdariffa, purple and Genovese basil, and Lunga Violetta eggplant.  I can't wait to get them planted this week.  

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I'm especially excited to try growing capers for the first time.  

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