I was doing herbalist things in the garden this morning. When I turned around I saw that the Elecampane (Inula helenium) has finally bloomed. I'd grown these from seeds last year but nothing other than foliage grew - and I mean foliage - the plants are huge. So I threatened them this spring: either produce this year or you're out!
And they did. The plants erupted in these huge blooms on stalks that are taller than I am. Inula gets its name from Helen of Troy, from whose tears the plant was said to have grown. Herbalists dig the tubers in the fall to prepare an extract said to be good for respiratory congestion. I'll probably not do that preparation, but it's cool to see what finally grew.
Check out more of the garden at my Fourth of July garden pages.
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