Provenance

In a guest lecture I recently presented for a plant propagation class, I was explaining the importance of provenance in graft compatibility within certain species like red buds. Sometimes, even though the plant is the same, it's origin makes all the difference in the world. There are issues that arise when trying to graft a red bud from the southeastern U.S. with a red bud from Oklahoma. It makes sense when you look at the climate and soil in either of those locations: they are remarkably distinct, and it makes sense that the red bud would adapt and evolve to the conditions it's been dealt.

In trying to explain provenance to the class, I looked over and saw one of the students that works for me. Adelle is from the island of Granada. She has a beautiful smile and the most mellifluous speaking voice. In the months from October through May, she is bundled in long pants and sweaters. Now being a good, southern garden girl, I don't exactly sport the shorts and flip flops until it's at least 75F, but Adelle will be in full-on winter layers until it's at least 72F. The high temperatures in Granada hover around 84F and the lows at 75F. Year. Round. Adelle's provenance makes her a little sensitive to a climate outside of that zone of paradise. Welcome to Texas. 

Adelle sowing seeds from peppers her mom sent.

Adelle is generous in sharing her provenance with us. She shares delicacies that her mother makes, seeds from trees that would want to layer up in sweaters here too, and gifts that reflect the culture of her home. And then there's the rum punch. I'm entirely convinced that rum punch is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Granada. I just might have to go check that out.

Today, Adelle's surprise mailed from home, was a bag of peppers that looked like habañeros. Um...thanks, I think. In reality they are Granada seasoning peppers. A mild-mannered version of the scotch bonnet, these peppers have an intense, fruity flavor with hints of citrus and pineapple. They are infused throughout  Granadian cuisine, and just happen to represent the colors of their flag when in varying stages of maturity. She cleaned and then sowed the seeds; I can't wait to grow them here!

Mild-mannered Granadian Seasoning Peppers

That's the thing about gardeners. Regardless of your own provenance, you still maintain a remarkable passion for the plants you may only visit or be introduced to from a friend from a foreign land. Native plants should remain the staples in our gardens, but isn't it fun to try something that comes straight from paradise?

Sure you can find these seeds for sale on the internet, but the plants I grow in the future will have a story. And they will have a connection to a young lady, who just briefly, layered on a few sweaters, braved our Gulf Coast winters and put the island of Granada on my bucket list.