David McLean loves collecting unusual plants from around the world. His Fort Lauderdale, Florida, garden center reflects his passion with interesting plants like tropical spinach, and edible red-leafed hibiscus.
The disclaimer on his advertising flier says,"This is not a normal garden center; this is a nursery for Plant Nuts." I got a chance to tour the nursery with McLean and 25 members of the Palm Beach Evening Herb Society. The garden is chemical-free and people are encouraged to sample the edible plants as they tour.
McLean pointed to a fleshy plant with green and purple leaves called Okinawan spinach (Gynura crepidioides). He said it grew well in the South Florida heat during the summer and cooked up very well. He added it had a bit of a fishy flavor but I thought it tasted more like parsley.
He also had Malabar spinach, a fleshy vine-style spinach that also grows well in the South Florida summertime heat. It can get quite large and produce a lot of seeds.
There was a Lat Lat plant for sale. The leaves are used in Vietnamese cooking to wrap around ground meat that is then barbecued. McLean said the leaves tasted terrible if eaten raw.
I spotted some edible red-leafed hibiscus. The leaves can taste like lemon sorrel when eaten raw. McLean said, "You can make anything out of the seeds, they are very hard."
All the plants in the garden center are for sale.
The garden is located behind the 11th Street Annex restaurant at 14 SW 11 Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is open on Saturdays from 10-1pm and Weekdays by appointment only.
To find out more call 954-768-0428.
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| David McLean at Trinity Churchside Garden, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. |
The disclaimer on his advertising flier says,"This is not a normal garden center; this is a nursery for Plant Nuts." I got a chance to tour the nursery with McLean and 25 members of the Palm Beach Evening Herb Society. The garden is chemical-free and people are encouraged to sample the edible plants as they tour.
 |
| Florida grown Okinawan spinach, Trinity Churchside Garden, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. |
McLean pointed to a fleshy plant with green and purple leaves called Okinawan spinach (Gynura crepidioides). He said it grew well in the South Florida heat during the summer and cooked up very well. He added it had a bit of a fishy flavor but I thought it tasted more like parsley.
 |
| Florida grown Malabar spinach, Trinity Churchside Garden, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. |
He also had Malabar spinach, a fleshy vine-style spinach that also grows well in the South Florida summertime heat. It can get quite large and produce a lot of seeds.
 |
| Florida grown Lat Lat plant used in Vietnamese cooking, |
There was a Lat Lat plant for sale. The leaves are used in Vietnamese cooking to wrap around ground meat that is then barbecued. McLean said the leaves tasted terrible if eaten raw.
 |
| Wild red-leafed hibiscus at Trinity Churchside Garden, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. |
I spotted some edible red-leafed hibiscus. The leaves can taste like lemon sorrel when eaten raw. McLean said, "You can make anything out of the seeds, they are very hard."
All the plants in the garden center are for sale.
 |
| The Trinity Churchside Garden, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. |
The garden is located behind the 11th Street Annex restaurant at 14 SW 11 Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is open on Saturdays from 10-1pm and Weekdays by appointment only.
To find out more call 954-768-0428.
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