Skip to content

Plants have many uses; are part of local culture

Plants are used for clothing, food and shelter, making them part of the local culture. Plants that are plentiful in the wild or easy to grow are inexpensive and consumed in large quantities.
RichardsHarleyMugMay23jer
Array

Plants are used for clothing, food and shelter, making them part of the local culture. Plants that are plentiful in the wild or easy to grow are inexpensive and consumed in large quantities.

Decorative plants are also used as symbols. They can be unique to a particular culture or transcend boundaries, like the Flanders poppy. From the last Friday in October until Nov. 11, red poppies grace the lapels of people’s jackets.

These poppies are symbols of the poppies that grew prolifically between the trenches during the Second World War.

The red poppies with black marks in the centre (papaver rhoeas) have a number of other common names: corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, red poppy, red weed and coquelicot.

The seeds from these poppies can lie dormant in the soil for years until disturbed and then they germinate, which explains the large number of poppies on the battlefields.

When planted in Central Alberta, Flanders poppies flourish. If they are allowed to self-seed, they reproduce and provide flowers season after season. Flanders poppies prefer well-drained soil. They grow well in full sun to partial shade.

Broadcast the poppy seeds on the surface of the soil in early spring. Once the soil warms, the seeds will germinate and plants will begin to grow and bloom.

If left unchecked, the red poppies can become weedy but they are easy to pull and contain.

Decorating a tree is a Christmas tradition but this wasn’t always the case.

In early times, the Germanic cultures would bring evergreen boughs into the house during the winter months to protect their homes and insure that winter would end. By the 1600s, when the people immigrated to North America, the boughs were replaced with trees and the tradition was brought to North America.

Another theory as to the origin of the Christmas tree is that Martin Luther was so impressed with the beauty of the evergreen that he cut one and took it into the house on Christmas Eve, then decorated it with candles.

Poinsettias became synonymous with Christmas in North America with the introduction of hybridized varieties.

Before this time, priests in Mexico would pick the native plants to decorate their churches at Christmas.

Poinsettias grow well under warm, humid conditions, making them an ideal greenhouse crop. They don’t fare as well in a home or office environment and are often discarded as soon as the holiday season is over.

When purchasing a poinsettia, look for one that has branches from the pot upwards.

Make the purchase on a warm day as poinsettias will drop leaves if they become cold or are placed in a drafty location. Always test the soil for moisture before watering.

Leaves will fall if the soil is wet and soggy.

In areas where holly thrives, it is considered a symbol of Christmas. In ancient Rome, holly was used to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture.

Holly is a broad-leafed evergreen that does not overwinter in Central Alberta.

The large surface of the leaves lose more moisture than the roots can gather in the winter months, resulting in dry, brown leaves and dead plants.

Pumpkins and corn are crops that mature in the fall and are part of the food eaten at Thanksgiving. Pumpkin is used for dessert here but is considered a vegetable on other continents.

When growing pumpkins, choose a variety that matures quickly as the growing season is short. It is often best to start the plant inside and move it outside when all danger of frost is past. Plant pumpkin seeds in rich organic soil in full sun. Once the fruit sets, increase the amount of water to speed up plant growth.

Take the time to think about the role that plants play in our lives.

Linda Tomlinson is a horticulturalist who lives near Rocky Mountain House. She can be reached at www.igardencanada.com or your_garden@hotmail.com