“Don’t Buck the Buckwheats” Presentation on Feb. 19
Not many people spend much time fretting over buckwheats; unlike the rose, iris, conifer or even cactus, there are no societies dedicated to the study and appreciation of these modest but very useful plants. After a half century of enthusiastic gardening, Panayoti Kelaidis, Director of Outreach at Denver Botanic Gardens, believes that no family of plants delivers more bang for the buck than this delightful–and yes, delicious–family.
Not only does buckwheat make great muffins, rhubarb (a well-known member of the buckwheat family) makes a great pie, and the throng of sulfur flowers in the Western mountains is perhaps the single most useful genus for the Colorado xeriscape. There are Persicarias galore that provide fabulous long-season color in the perennial border–and has anyone heard of Muhlenbeckia axillaris? This compact plant may be the toughest, most versatile groundcover available to Colorado, but it’s a buckwheat from Australia, of all places.
Panayoti Kelaidis will not only elucidate the best buckwheats to grow in your garden, but will open your eyes to an extraordinarily diverse and valuable First Family of plants for Colorado. He is a most entertaining and charming speaker. Regardless of your prior knowledge of this mysterious family of plants, you are guaranteed to be enlightened, amused and inspired by him. Please join us!
The presentation will be on Tuesday, February 19th, from 7 to 8:30 pm in Gates Hall. Click here to register online or call Meghan at 720-865-3580.
February 20, 2008 at 11:50 am
I ducked into this class last night to hear the Gardens own Panayoti Kelaidis speak about plants in the Polygonaceae (the buckwheat family). Standing in the back, I was just in time to hear him tell the story of this photo.
Traveling in Pakistan, Panayoti was struck by the waves of white-flowered plants by the side of a mountain road. Suddenly he realized he was seeing buckwheat! In North America and Europe, buckwheat is a crop (Fagopyrum esculentum) but it was first domesticated in Asia. “Stop the car!” he cried, and grabbed for the camera. These wild-growing, freely flowering plants were living the same way their ancient ancestors did. You can just imagine travelers through those mountains ages ago carrying the prototype Ur-buckwheat through the same mountains.
June 6, 2008 at 4:13 am
I have never given buckwheat a thought but after reading this I am impressed, I will try it in my garden, having a plant that is hardy and colorful for a long time is always a bonus and muffins is just the icing.
June 6, 2008 at 4:16 am
This a great article I never knew that buckwheat could be so interesting or that I could use it in the garden, in fact as you stated before reading this I never even thought about it.