Speaking of slaughtered pigs, my Appalachian grandfather used to say you can harvest everything but the squeak — a culinary tidbit that was unsettling to my preschool self. It turns out that the plant version of the versatile pig is lovage, Levisticum officinale. Every single part of the plant is good for something, from the […] Read more
My small stand of lovage comes back strong every year and grows to be eight feet tall. Both native bees and honey bees love it, although the blooms are so far overhead I have trouble seeing who all is up there. The leaves are large and intricately cut, the stems are hollow, and the entire […] Read more
This one surprised me. I’ve grown lovage for many years, but I usually cut it back before it flowers. This year I let it go. Yesterday I was amazed to count over forty honey bees on one plant. I had no idea they liked it so well. Lovage, Levisticum officinale, is in the same family […] Read more