Rosie's September Garden.

 Welcome to Rosie's fall garden.

Everything is late this year in my garden.

The Hawthornes were traveling

and didn't get home until the end of May,

so I didn't start planting until the first week of June.

 My celosia is just starting to bloom.

 A quick check on Wiki tells me 

celosia is a small genus of edible and ornamental plants

in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae.

The generic name comes from the Greek word kelos,

meaning "burned," a reference to the flame-like flower heads.

Well-known in East Africa's highlands

these plants are called by their Swahili name mfungo.

I think I'll start calling this mfungo.

Mfungo has numerous medicinal uses.

It can be used in the treatment for intestinal worms

(particularly tapeworm) - Good to know! -

blood diseases, eye problems, and mouth sores.

The seeds are used to treat chest complaints

and the flowers treat diarrhea.

The leaves are used as dressing for boils and sores

and the boiled vegetables are used as a diuretic.

All good to know if I'm ever plagued
 by any of these maladies.

Mfungo is also used as a food - 

a nutritious leafy green vegetable.

In Nigeria, it is known as soko yokoto,

meaning "make husbands fat and happy."

It is also widely eaten in the Congo,

Indonesia, and India.

The leaves, young stems, and flowers

can be made into soups and stews

or served as a nutty-flavored side dish.

 I love my moonflowers.

Ipomoea alba

Moonflowers open in the evening

and attract night-flying moths which aid in pollination.

The flowers start opening around 5

and you can watch them open up in a matter of minutes.

 My hollyhocks like it here.

 This is my amaranthus,

or love lies bleeding.

I love the old fashioned names for some of these flowers.

Actually, in the Middle Ages,

amaranthus was used to stem bleeding.

 The plant is valued around the world

as a leaf vegetable, a cereal, and as an ornamental.

The red color is due to a high content of betacyanins,

as in the related species known as "Hopi red dye" amaranth.

Amaranthus cultivation reached its height 

during the Aztec Empire.

The Aztecs used the flowers in several of their ceremonies,

mixing it with honey to make images of their gods.

They also used amaranthus, called huautli

to prepare ritual drinks and foods.

Amaranthus was also one of the staple foodstuffs

of the Incas, and is known as kiwicha in the Andes today.

 The tall plants in the background

are castor bean plants, Ricinus communis.

A native of tropical Africa,

the plant is cultivated for the oil found in its leaves.

The seeds from the castor bean plant

are poisonous to people and animals,

the main toxic protein being ricin.

My black corner, with elephant ear and liriope 

patiently waiting to be planted.

I recently pruned that pine.

I have plans for it.

I have a project in the works for that little pine.

 I use grass clippings for my pathways.

I like using different textures.

 One of my neighbors brings me his clippings after each mowing.

 If anyone would like to identify this for me,
I would be most happy.
Mar?


I think the tag said it was semi-tropical
but I planted it outside last year anyway.
We had a mild winter and it's back and seems very happy.
It even made it through ThatBitchIrene.


Edited to add:
As always, Mar came through for me.
It's holanda or justicia. 

Thanks, Mar.