If I had more garden space, I’d like to grow some of these Chinese Lantern flowers. Not to be confuse with the Chinese Lantern Lily I posted about earlier. These flowers are suppose to make great dried flowers too. These beautiful photos are from Photos Ali in Holland via Flickr.
Chinese Lanterns got their name for the orange, paper-like husks they produce that resemble Chinese paper lantern. They are native to Asia and Japan. They are sometimes called Strawberry Tomato, Winter Cherry or Ground Cherry. I think it’s because of the berry inside this paper-like husks that gives it that name. Chinese Lanterns are also related to tomatillos . Tomatillos are popular in Mexican sauces and look like green tomatoes. They are used to make salsa verde or green sauce.
11:54 pm on March 9th, 2009
This is a cute looking plant, and the fruit shapes just like a heart, and is eatable also.
It’s nice and warm in our area now, so I should be able to start working in my garden this weekend, my daughter has all her garden tools and gears ready, I think she is more excited about this than me.
11:45 pm on March 11th, 2009
I think the two of you will have so much fun!
Just a couple of years ago, I used to be so scared of worms and getting my nails dirty. Now I just wear garden gloves and think of the worms as my little friends.