Sometimes when you say a plant name, many varieties are included. For example: depending upon the species, today’s featured plant can be from less than one foot to greater then three feet tall. The blossom color also varies, from almost white, to pale pink, lavender, and dark purple.
This planting of ornamental onion grabs the walker’s attention. Are those colored ping-pong balls on stalks? Not exactly. Each of those globes consist of many, many small, star-shaped flowers. Long-lasting, this plant works well in borders. Yes, put the tallest ones in the back. Plant the bulbs in the fall, sit back, and watch for surprises in late spring into early summer.
Louisa Mueller, and all the other ladies tending gardens in 1851 Elm Ridge, Illinois, did not bother with this “onion”. They grew the traditional type to flavor soups, stews, and roasted meats. Some households grew them in great quantity — families were large — and some immigrant groups used them in more dishes than others.
Check out the sweet historical romance, New Dreams, to discover other facets of the lives of Louisa and other Deutsch immigrants in this fictional river town. Steamboat’s coming! Follow the link! https://amzn.to/3vWydWE
