Although the garden herb cilantro is frequently used in making salsas, the entire cilantro plant is quite edible….and….not just for use in salsas! From the roots, to the slender leafy plant, to the flowers and seeds, the different parts of the cilantro herb have a distinctively different taste and use. The seeds of the cilantro herb are not called “cilantro seeds” but are named the herb “coriander”. Often the names are used synonymously, though cilantro is commonly referring to the herb plant leaves and coriander to the herb seeds. When using cilantro or coriander in recipes they are not interchangeable, do not substitute one for the other, the flavors of the seed and plant are very different.

Cilantro (corriandrum sativum), often times called “Chinese parsley”, does look like the parsley plant and can be confused on looks alone when purchasing or growing in your garden. They do not smell or taste the same so beware when purchasing or picking! In culinary uses, the plant leaves are used in salsas, curry dishes, guacamoles and many other Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. The leaves are best served fresh from the garden as they tend to lose flavor when frozen or dried. The seeds of the cilantro herb – coriander, are often used in teas as a remedy for colds and you will taste then in pickling applications, sausages and in some brewed beers.

The roots are edible and often used in Thai cuisine. Nothing goes to waste when growing and harvesting the cilantro herb.   Cilantro is easy to cultivate and grows wild over a good portion of southern Europe and western Asia. In an outdoor herb garden, Cilantro will germinate in about 7 days with the plant reaching maturity and ready for harvest in about 8 weeks. Cilantro plants will flower and go to seed if the soil temperature reaches above 75 degrees. In the warmer climates the cilantro plant cultivates better in the spring and fall when the temperatures are more moderate. Considered an annual herb plant, if left to go to seed, Cilantro will propagate in a continuous crop. Cilantro is also an ideal indoor garden herb plant. Grown outdoors in the outdoor herb garden, or indoors in containers, cilantro is a “must have” in your herb garden!

Sandra is a gardening enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get the best out of their herb garden designs. Her newest book, teaches gardeners everything they need to know about starting, maintaining and getting the most out of their herb garden designs. For more great information on herb gardens, visit http://www.secretstogrowingherbs.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/did-you-think-cilantro-was-only-used-in-salsa-1646938.html

In today’s world, a ‘happy new year’ or a ‘thank you’ – however courteous and sincere they may be– are often considered just a drab, flat and inadequate expression of joy, thrill or gratitude. No wonder then, gifts have come to play such an important role in the expression of our feelings.

But there are some gifts that evoke a lot more feeling than others. Decorative flags fall into that category. A flag seems to have that inexplicable power to stand way above human language when used as a tool of expression of one’s subtle and intricate feelings and emotions.

Decorate your home and garden? Check out our selection of Garden Flags

Decorated with colorful designs and various shades, the eclectic combinations and nuances of colors of a decorative flag compensate for our linguistic deficiencies. Whether loud and pompous or subtle and elegant, colors speak the language that words fail to express. Decorative flags infuse the environment with liveliness, vibrancy and vivacity, while never failing to command a sense of awe and respect.
Unlike national flags, decorative flags are not subject to restrictions and protocol, and these can be hoisted on stands and placed on one’s work and study tables. They can also be hoisted against walls or displayed like luminaries or streamers in the house rooms and courtyards, with their constant visual presence serving as a steady reminder of what they represent.

Send Gifts? Check out our selection of New Year Flags

Made from different materials like a piece of ordinary cloth, a paper or even a plastic sheet, these flags may not mean much in monetary value, but their power lies in the ability to still kindle powerful feelings. Like paintings where every stroke and every shade connote a different meaning, colors on a flag communicate different emotions. For example, the red color denotes hope (sanguine) and enthusiasm, green stands for peace, yellow for bravery, and so on. The phrase ‘flying colors’ is etymologically associated with a flying, fluttering colorful flag.
Experience the loftiest feelings of pride in belonging, joy in individuality, celebration of oneness and love in the myriad colors of decorative flags available on our online flag store, which boasts an unmatched selection of flags, suitable for every occasion that merits the giving of gifts.

Justin Brown
Flags For You
Promotional and Business Gift Items
Site:http://www.flagsforyou.com
Cherry Hill, NJ

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/decorative-garden-flags-revel-in-the-colors-and-vibrancy-of-decorative-flags-1649220.html