I've lost interest in the garden.
The heat has been relentless ~ it started early and persists still.
I feel as wilted as some of my plants on days I don't get out to water fast enough.
Angelica gigas
A biennial ~ seed set two years ago for blooms this year.
I think the dark purple/red flower umbels are spectacular.
The leaves add great structure as well.
Actually, everything about the plant is cool. Even how they bloom ~ a tightly clasped ball, emerging from the leaves (almost swan-like) before bursting open.
They prefer moist soil (hard to come by this summer) and semi shade. If they don't get enough water, the umbels will droop ~ trust me ~ it's happened numerous times in the short period they've been flowering!
Beloved by bees, another plus.
These pictures were taken early, when the flowers first opened.
Now they've been taken over by yellow jackets & the honeybees have moved on.
I will let the seed set again this year but I wish I could figure out a stagger system so I have them every year?
Interesting this plant is used in Chinese medicine & I think I read it has medicinal qualities for checking cancer? I found an online Herbalism course I'm interested in taking, if I can work it out, so maybe I'll learn if that's true or not. I have so many herbs, it seems like I should learn to do something more with them than point the camera in their "face."
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