F is for Forsythia, Ferns, Fennel, and Fava Beans
Season 7, Episode 20, April 16, 2025
There were both gardening successes and failures on this week’s episode, but overall, spring is trying to spring forward. It’s still cold in Carol’s world, and in mine, I’m at that stage where I need three of me.
Speaking of needing three of you, after our updates, we discussed everything F: forsythia shrubs, ferns, fennel, and fava beans. We also introduced a lovely new book.
If you’re starting seeds, you may need a Little Dibby for pricking out seedlings. We love ours.
Also, as requested, here is the stand up dandelion weeder from Groot Pow that Carol is trying out.
Carol’s favorite thing was her ‘Lady Jane’ tulips. My favorite this week was this view.
For out flower topic, we conversed about forsythia and ferns. We didn’t realize it, but forsythia is invasive in some places. Here is Lucy’s Instagram reel on how forsythia is invasive in her state. She’s a good one to follow. It’s not invasive in Oklahoma or Indiana though.
For veggies, we discussed fennel and fava beans. You can buy common fennel seeds from Burpee. I grow bronze fennel which doesn’t bulb, but it is pretty and black swallowtails love it.
If you want to try growing fava beans, which are very French, you can get seeds from TrueLeaf Market. We’ve not grown them. Have any of you?
On our bookshelf is The Generosity of Plants: Shared Wisdom from the Community of Herb Lovers gathered by Rosemary Gladstar (Amazon link.)
For our dirt, Carol read Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks--a Cool History of a Hot Commodity by Amy Brady (Amazon link.) It sounds fascinating.
My rabbit hole was a search for Feathered Friends Cordial Cherry ajuga which I thought was the plant my daughter Megan had, but I was wrong. It was Feathered Friends Tropical Toucan, and I found it locally at Taracotta Garden Outlet in Guthrie. I have just the place for it.
Carol stayed down in the cult rabbit hole after finding The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet by Lyn Millner.
She also says, “I finished listening to P.D. James’s first book, Cover Her Face, and am now reading her autobiography, Time to be Earnest, and listening to her dystopian novel, The Children of Men. I might end up reading all her books this summer!
That’s all for this week!
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