Over the long weekend we took a picnic over to Banks Peninsula. Didn’t actually get any further than Corsair Bay’s playground,
and wandered up the track behind the Pirate ship to find an abundance of Flat-leaf Italian Parsley growing all the way along the path and many self seeding bushes amongst Sweet-peas and Fennel.
So not only could we gather some Parsley but we got to collect some seeds for planting at home too!
Also spotted these interesting looking greens amongst Shepherds purse and Puha plants…
anybody know what this is? Briar thought they might be fairy umbrella’s..
#1 by Tessa Houghton on October 28th, 2009
Quote
we have those last ones in our garden too – they’re very cute, aren’t they
i’d like to kow what they are too. i might have to go and nab some fennel – i’ve been looking for some wild stuff, as i refuse to buy it due to memories of it growing wild in epic proportions alongside traintracks!
#2 by candy on October 28th, 2009
Quote
that ‘fairy umbrella’ is miners lettuce. i was introduced to it this weekend. its a lovely gentle lettucy taste and is great in salad.
#3 by Grant on October 31st, 2009
Quote
The fluffy thing to the right in the middle looks like fennel. It has a nice taste similar to aniseed.
#4 by Matt on November 12th, 2009
Quote
That’s miners lettuce. Rich in vit C, tasty and hardy. We have it growing in our gardern and it is a great one for salad.
#5 by vanessa. on November 16th, 2009
Quote
does any know where any watercress may be?
My mum told me about this site and would like to know.
Ps . what a great idea!
Whent fossiking for pinecones at the back of bottle lake yesterday took the kids and had lotsa fun!
#6 by Kerry on November 18th, 2009
Quote
There is some in the creek on the road going into spencerville. Also if you have a look on the Google Map (look on the right hand side of this site for the maps menu) some people have put up an entry for watercress, We’ve picked some up from them and they’re nice people
#7 by vanessa. on November 20th, 2009
Quote
awww thanks for your reply , i shall go and investigate
#8 by Kelly on March 29th, 2010
Quote
Heh, I’m a bit late but will share my watercress contribution anyway…
You need to be a bit careful about water quality when it comes to watercress – agricultural runoff is the worst. I know that in other countries runoff from cattle can spread liver fluke, but I don’t know if that’s the case here in NZ. Anyway, I asked some local Maori friends where they got their watercress and they reckoned the best place was a stream out the back of the airport somewhere, although I still haven’t been to investigate. Good luck!