Unusual varieties are welcome...

If this exhibit represents Africa, then why do so many plants in the African Village Garden look familiar? The answer lies in the rich heritage established by African Americans in the United States. Southern culture and agriculture reflect a diversity that would not be possible without the contributions of centuries of shared lives. The compatible climate allows African favorites such as okra, peanuts, and yams to grow here and even become economically important crops.

  The African Village Garden contains a sampling of vegetables, flowers, and herbs from several African countries as well as some of their American counterparts. Look for odd eggplants with ruffled or tiny red fruit, HOT chili peppers, round peppers, yellow peppers, red peppers, and even striped peppers, white-fleshed watermelons, beans, onions, tomatoes, gourds covered in warts, and more.

  Basil and sesame flavor many popular African dishes while flowering plants such as castor bean have ornamental and medicinal (potentially poisonous) value. Sunflowers provide nutritious seeds in the center of their bright faces.

  While exploring the wilds of the Okavango Delta, come visit the domestic side of life in the African Village Garden.

• 'Calaloo' amaranth- Burgundy and green oval leaves for salads and braising mixes.
• 'Aubergine du Burkina-Faso' eggplant- A short plant with large, red, ribbed fruits that are somewhat bitter.
• 'Gangan'eggplant- 5-6" plant covered in tiny ½", bitter, red fruit.
• 'Gbogname' eggplant Collards- Bitter, 3" green fruit plus edible leaves from Togo.
• 'Cow's Horn' okra- Tall, pre-1865 heirloom variety. Okra originates from NE Africa.
• 'Carolina Black' peanut- Heirloom variety closest to the black African groundnut, or 'Bambarra', which will not grow in this climate.
• 'African Fish' pepper- 22" plant with green and white leaves, striped green, orange, and red 1 5/8" peppers.
• 'Fatali' pepper- 3" long, yellow HOT peppers from the Central African Republic.
• "Ghana Round' pepper- Round, hot peppers with thick walls.
• 'Togo Trefle' tomato- 2" deeply ribbed fruit with a sweet/tart flavor.
• 'White Meated' watermelon- 2-3lb, striped fruit. Once grew wild in Africa.