The Good Life Garden contains an ever-changing edible landscape, which features organic and sustainably grown vegetables, herbs and flowers accompanied by compelling food and health educational signage for the benefit of faculty, students, staff, and visitors.
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ageratum
Ageratum houstonianum
Ageratum produces fluffy flowers all season long in pink,
blue and white. learn more >>> |
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amaranth
Love Lies Bleeding
Amaranthus caudatus
Graceful rope of cascading deep red, lavish plumes.
Stunning in bouquets. learn more>>> |
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artichoke
Cynara scolymus
The common name comes from the Italian word cocali
which means pinecone. learn more>>> |
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basil
Ocimum basilicum
the standard “sweet basil” of Europe and North America
has been cultivated into many different flavor varieties which
include lemon, lime, cinnamon, anise and camphor. learn more>>> |
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beans
Phaseolus vulgaris
A one-cup serving supplies a hefty dose of vitamin C, fiber
and vitamin K. Eaten raw as a crunchy snack or steamed
until just tender, various varieties of string beans also add
vital minerals to the diet such as potassium, magnesium
and copper. learn more>>> |
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chillis
Capsicum annuum
The active ingredient that makes chillis so spicy, capsaicin,
evolved to protect the seeds of the fruit from digestion by
mammals. Birds are immune to its effects because they swallow the fruit whole; however, mammals who chew and grind the fruit are affected by the heat. Despite the ingenious tool designed to repel mammals, humans have fallen in love—chili peppers are the most widely grown spice in the world! learn more>>> |
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chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Chives are easy to grow from seed, but need a warm environment of about 65 degrees in order to germinate. They grow well in pots if partially shaded, and need regular watering and fertilizing. learn more>>> |
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coreopsis
Coreopsis tinctoria
Sow in a sunny place in the garden from early spring to midsummer. Can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. learn more>>> |
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corn
Zea mays
Triple Play corn, shown here, is a delicious short, season corn on a 4-5' stalk that tolerates cool soil. learn more>>> |
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cosmos
Cosmos sulphureus
Cosmos do well in areas with full sun. They need a moderate amount of water and do best in soils that are well drained and not too rich. learn more>>> |
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cucumber
Cucumis sativus.
Two compounds in cucumbers, ascorbic acid and caffeic acid,
prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers
applied topically are often helpful for swollen eyes, burns and
dermatitis. learn more>>> |
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daisy
Zulu Prince Daisy
Venidium fastuosum var. alba
This bold, black-centered daisy has white petals
with striking orange and purple markings. learn more>>> |
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eggplant
Solanum melongena
Known for its beautiful skin, eggplant is rich in various
pigments with potential health benefits. Nasunin is a pigment
that studies show may protect brain cell membranes from
oxidative damage, and all for only 27 calories in one cup cooked.learn more>>> |
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laurel
Lauris nobilis
The bay tree was sacred to the ancient Greeks, and was associated with Apollo (the god of prophecy), poetry and healing. learn more>>> |
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lavender
Lavandula hidcote (french) and Lavandula stoechas (Spanish)
Native to the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Madeira, lavender brings both beneficial bees and a pleasant aroma to the garden. learn more>>> |
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marigold
Targetes
Marigolds do well in areas with full sun. They require moderate to regular water, however avoid overhead sprinkling on taller plants as stems can break from the weight of the water. learn more>>> |
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melons
Cucumis melo
The sweet melons familiar to us today were unknown in ancient times; similar fruits were grown but they were more similar to the cucumber. The first reference to truly sweet and aromatic melons was not until the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries as a result of hybridization. learn more>>> |
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Meyer lemon
Citrus meyerii
This hardy member of the citrus family only arrived in the United States in 1908 when it was imported from China by Frank Meyer. learn more>>> |
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okra
Abelmoschus esculentus (syn. Hibiscus esculentus)
This vegetable, a cousin of the cotton plant, is rich in cholesterol-lowering fiber that is also known to help regulate blood sugar levels, key for people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. learn more>>> |
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olives
Olea europaea
Olives grow well in poor soils, full sun and heat. Moderate irrigation will increase fruit size and improve oil quality, although olives can survive with very little irrigation once established. learn more>>> |
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oranges
Citrus sinensis
Oranges are native to China and Southeast Asia. The tree made a slow path west through India and Arabia before finally reaching Europe where it was recorded as growing in Sicily in A.D. 1002. It was the Spanish who later brought the orange to North America where they planted it around missions in California. learn more>>> |
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pomegranate
Punica granatum
The internal structure of pomegranates is unlike any other fruit with its randomly arranged clusters of seeds separated by white membranes. Botanists have even given pomegranates their own family in the plant kingdom, Punica granatum. learn more>>> |
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rosemary
Rosemarinus officinalis
In the Elizabethan era rosemary was a symbol of fidelity, and during the Victorian period it was burned to purify the air from plague and disease. learn more>>> |
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sage
Salvia officianalis
The sage family has over 750 species, consisting of annuals, biennials, perennials, herbs, shrubs and sub-shrubs, and can be found throughout the world. learn more>>> |
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squash
Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita pepo
Fruits of Cucurbita maxima, commonly known as Hubbard squashes, as well as other winter squashes can reach up to 300 lbs., and are the largest fruits of any plant. learn more>>> |
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sunflower
Helianthus annus
Hardy and widely adaptable, this plant has a long history in the U.S. and Central America. Native Americans once used the seeds to make a nutritious gruel or cake, high in both vitamin E and phenolic antioxidants. learn more>>> |
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thyme
Thymus vulgaris
There are many different types of thyme --- 60-70 species of the tiny-leaf Mediterranean varieties and just as many (if not more) of the common thyme, which is planted in the Good Life Garden. learn more>>> |
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tomato
Lycopersicon esculentum
Tomatoes are in a family of plants known as nightshades along with peppers and eggplants, tobacco, and belladonna, a plant also known as deadly nightshade. learn more>>> |
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zinnia
Persian Carpet Zinnia
Zinnia haagean
Zinnias thrive in hot weather and prefer full sun. Plant in good soil and fertilize regularly. learn more>>> |
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