The Canadian Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is a large, iconic deciduous tree (up to 35m tall) known as Canada’s national tree and the primary source of maple syrup. It features five-lobed leaves that turn brilliant yellow, orange, and red in autumn. It has smooth gray bark when young, becoming scaly with age, and is valued for its hard wood and high-sugar sap. 

Leaves: Simple, opposite, 5-pointed lobes with rounded notches.

Habitat: Thrives in deep, rich, moist, well-drained soils, often in deciduous forests.

Lifecycle: Long-lived (200–400 years) and shade-tolerant.

Symbolism: Its leaf is the inspiration for the Canadian flag.

Uses: Primary source of maple syrup; wood is used for flooring, furniture, and musical instruments. 

Huge melons. Weighs 45lbs. 

Rich flavor; taste like mango

Excellent melon.

The Moskvich tomato is a semi-determinate, heirloom tomato variety that is globe-shaped, deep red, and crack-resistant. It's one of the earliest tomato varieties and is well-suited for short and cool growing seasons. Here are some characteristics of the Moskvich tomato: 

Flavor: Rich

Size: Small, 4–6 ounces

Maturity: 58–60 days

Uses: Can be eaten fresh or used for canning and cooking

Growing tips: Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost, sow 1/4 inch deep, and keep soil warm

Sweet and prolific

Low acid

1 oz fruits

White cherry tomatoes are a unique variety characterized by their pale yellow to creamy-white color

They are known for being low in acidity, making them a good choice for those who prefer a sweeter tomato flavor.

White cherry tomatoes also tend to ripen well in cooler climates or during cooler summers. 

Indeterminate

Appearance: Marmande tomatoes are deep red, flattened ovals with ribs and a touch of pink on the shoulders. 

Flavor: Marmande tomatoes have a savory, slightly tart, and subtly sweet taste. They are considered tastier than regular round tomatoes due to their high sugar content. 

Texture: Marmande tomatoes have meaty flesh with minimal seeds. 

Uses: Marmande tomatoes can be used in salads, soups, sauces, burgers, or sliced on bread. They are also ideal for salsas because of their few seeds. 

Plant: Marmande tomato plants are semi-determinate and bushy, and they grow upright. They need support as they produce clusters of large fruits. 

Season: Marmande tomatoes are available in the summer.

Rich, slightly sweet, mildly tangy

More “old-fashioned tomato” taste compared to modern hybrids

Widely used herb from northern india and China. 

Often used to dye ginger and plums (umeboshi). Perfect for providing color to food and drinks and adds a minty aroma.

Red shiso (Akajiso) is a vibrant, aromatic herb from the mint family with deep ruby-purple leaves, known for its unique flavor blending basil, mint, anise, and citrus notes, used widely in East Asian cooking to color and flavor pickles (like umeboshi), drinks, and sushi, offering a fresh, slightly spicy taste with a crisp texture. 

Leaves: Deep purple, often with frilled edges, resembling nettle leaves but safe to touch.

Scent: Strong, fragrant, with hints of mint, basil, and sometimes cinnamon or clove. 

A complex blend: minty, basil-like, spicy, and slightly citrusy.

Milder and more basil-forward than green shiso. 

Coloring: Infuses liquids and foods with a bright red hue, especially with umeboshi (pickled plums) and their brine (umezu).

Flavoring: Used in sweet red juices, fermented pickles (shibazuke), sushi wraps, salads, and furikake (rice seasoning).

Garnish: Tender leaves and flower spikes (hojiso) can be used fresh or tempura-fried. 

Red Perilla, Purple Shiso, Beefsteak Plant, Red Mint, Chinese Basil (Perilla frutescens var. crispa). 

Naga Morich is a very hot chili pepper that originated in Bangladesh and India: 

Naga Morich peppers are red, elongated, and have a wrinkled surface with thin walls. They are slightly smaller than Bhut Jolokia peppers, but have a similar taste. 

Naga Morich peppers are extremely hot, measuring between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 on the Scoville scale. Their name translates to "cobra bite" or "snakebite". 

Naga Morich peppers have a sweet and fruity aroma, with an earthy and fruity flavor and a hint of flowers.

Heat Level: Extremely hot, with a Scoville rating ranging from 800,000 to over 1,001,300 SHU.

Flavor: Intensely hot with a fruity, citrusy, and slightly sweet undertone that becomes more apparent after the initial heat hits.

Appearance: Wrinkled and conical, with a pointed tip, and ripens to a vivid orange color.

Size: Typically 2–3 inches long and about 1 inch wide, though some varieties can be larger.

Origin: Northeast India, like the original ghost pepper (Bhut Jolokia).

Uses: Popular for making hot sauces, jams, powders, and for adding a fiery kick to dishes like stews, salsas, and curries. 

The Golden Nugget cherry tomato is a productive, determinate (bush) variety known for its early, abundant yields of small, golden-yellow, ping pong ball-sized fruits with a sweet, balanced flavor. Developed for cool climates, it's ideal for containers and small gardens due to its compact size and high productivity when picked regularly. It matures in approximately 56 days and has a rich, sweet taste that can be similar to a sweet yellow pear.