ANGELICA

Angelica! Have you heard of Angelica? When I googled I found Angelica, NY; Angelica Glass; Angelica Corporation, etc. This post is about Angelica, the herb. According to legend, Angelica was revealed in a dream about an angel as a cure for the plague. As an herbal medicine, it has been used for fevers; infections; blood purification; protection from contagions; perhaps as a cure for every conceivable malady. Today, it's main use is as a flavoring for confectionery and liqueurs and as an attractive addition to the garden.

Actually, if you want a conversation starter for your garden, Angelica would be it. Angelica can grow to a height of 6 to 8 feet. It's eye-catching and hardly anyone recognizes it.

I have grown Angelica for about 5 or 6 years. At first I thought it was a perennial. When it didn't return the following year, I concluded it was an annual or a perennial not hardy for my zone. When I did some research, I found that it is a biennial. I was excited to think all the little seedlings near the site of the original plant would be towering giants the following year. Alas, that didn't happen. The following year, I had horizontally larger leafy plants but no signs of a flowering stalk. More research. "Angelica usually only blooms every two, three, or even four years". Thank goodness I'm a patient person. This year I'm being rewarded with a blooming Angelica.