Friday, October 7, 2011

Lanterns in the garden…

There are a couple of very happy tomatillo plants in the neighborhood. One seemed to be on a bit of an eccentric streak as the fruit was developing under the paper “lantern” covering. Sort of like it fell through the bottom went “what the heck” and just kept growing. I meant to get a photo but never managed to have the camera with me when I walked by. Then the day I was on a mission to do so wouldn’t you know it, the owner had cut them down. Luckily these purple veined ones down the street were still available for photographing. Aren’t they marvelous? I bought tomatillos at the farmers market last year and found a few tasty sounding recipes for them, which ended up being not so tasty. Still they are such fun little lantern shapes I just might end up growing them next year. I bought this stick of Chinese Lanterns (Physalis alkekengi) with the idea it might get me in the fall spirit. When I brought it home only the bottom lantern was orange, it’s been fun watching them slowly change color, sort of a metaphor for the weather progressing from late summer to fall. I think I might need to grow these in the garden. These elegant fabric lanterns were hanging in the garden of friends on Sauvie Island. They had a big Polynesian themed party in July, these lanterns along with several tiki torches lit the garden after the sun went down. We have no lanterns or torches in our garden, a fact that was painfully obvious when trying to converse in the dark with a patio guest a couple of weekends ago. I’ve been looking at solar lanterns like these (found at Garden Fever)… But I’m not sure I would like the quality of light they give off. Does anyone have experience using them? (or similar?). How do you light your garden? I’d love to know. I really don't want to resort to this...

16 comments:

  1. The first photos of hanging lanterns so nicely mirror the tomatio "lanterns." I am thinking about growing some next year, also. I wish I could grow the orange ones in your friends yard but alas, I must find a store to buy them.
    nellie

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  2. Word of warning: Physalis alkekengi is one of those plants that will, if you let it, try and take over the entire garden. Plant with care!

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  3. Greensparrow is correct in giving you the warning. I bought some seeds many years ago and never saw an orange lantern. Now they pop up all over the place and would count them as the most invasive thing I have. I felt like I was fooled by the photo on the packet as I have been many times in my gardening life. Now I am not buying any seeds without researching the plant on line. Stick with tomatillos. They are pretty especially these green striped ones. I must give you my recipe for pork posole. It uses toms and is delicious.

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  4. In my experience growing tomatillos, they are energetic and rangy plants, so prepare to give them some room in your stock tank. As for the solar lanterns, they're pretty, but the light is really more of a glow than a light source (like the effect of flameless candles). If you really want to be able to see something using your light source, you might need to choose something brighter.

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  5. I've got some Physalis , I grew from seed this year ( they had a invasive warning on the packet) So, I planted them anyway ! In a somewhat contained area. Sooo.. disappointed no flowers this year, but the plant looks healthly...

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  6. I have some of the multi-colors solar lanterns (found them on base at the PX)--they're fun in the yard, but don't provide much light--it's more of a glow of color (mine are lime green, purple, orange and red).

    Those silvery ones look pretty, though....

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  7. Yes!! The purple veined tomatillos ARE marvelous!!! I enjoy your blog SO much. THANK YOU!!!

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  8. I started Chinese Laterns from seed this spring, they really haven't done well, probably due to neglect. We don't have much lighting in our gardens, do have a coupe of tiki torches to keep the mosquitoes away.

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  9. Form follows nature and what a beautiful one to follow!! I love your first image.

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  10. I grow physalis in a pot to keep them from running all over the place. They seem fairly happy & produce lovely orange lanterns for me each fall. (Sorry about the f word.)

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  11. I "grow" solar lanterns. The cheap ones. Rather than stick them in the ground, I've found little handing jars to place them on. They don't put out very much light though. This year we grew two Pineapple tomatillo plants. The little lanterns look just like regular tomatillos only smaller. The little ball inside is very sweet and tasty. The plant doesn't like frost and must be replaced every spring so no worries about it being invasive, which I like.

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  12. Love the pic of the stick of chinese lanterns. I grew tomatillos a couple times, they were quite easy and lovely.

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  13. BMG, are you growing them strictly for ornamental use or will you cook with them.

    Greensparrow, hmmmm, thank you for the warning!

    Lancashire Rose, I don't need that! Perhaps I'll stick to buying a branch when the mood hits, much easier! Pork posole!? Yes please!

    MulchMaid, that is what I was afraid of "glow than a light source" maybe we just need to "buck up" and do some wiring.

    linda, I'll look forward to future reports (hopefully beautiful flowers but no invasive issues).

    Meg S, so pretty accents...but not light to eat by?

    jackieb, thank you!

    Darla, oh yes...that is very important in your neck of the woods I bet!

    compost, thank you!

    Peter...this is a good idea!

    Grace, so do you cook with the pineapple tomatios?

    Nicole, and probably lived over year 'round in your climate?

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  14. We have lights all over the place. Some of them still work.

    Low-voltage lights are pretty easy to install, and don't use that much energy. In my experience sturdy is better than pretty when it comes to low-voltage lights.

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  15. Candles, candles and more candles. They need to be in jars or the wind makes the wax spew all over the place. In Thailand, they have twinkle lights up year-round to magical effect.
    When the Chinese lanterns are left to the winter weather, the orange part disappears, leaving a lacy cage around the bright red-orange berry within.

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  16. Yep. Chiming in with an echo of the 'grow that lantern plant in a pot' advice. You won't regret it.

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