Consumer questions

Question: Lenten roses?

Answer: Lenten roses are not actual roses but are a type of hellebore. They are durable and dependable perennials. As their name implies, they often bloom during Lent.

Lnten roses and other hellebores have grown in popularity and availability over the last two decades. In the past you may have only had one or two to choose from, but now you may find several varieties or different species at nurseries and garden centers. Colors include mauve, white, pink, maroon, green, chartreuse and yellow.

Besides having pretty flowers, Lenten roses are drought tolerant, thrive in shade and have few, if any, insect or disease pests. Deer avoid eating them, an advantage in these days of exploding deer populations.

What

are

Q: What is the best way to bake a sweet potato?

A: There is not one “best” way to bake sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are a flexible and forgiving vegetable that can be baked in numerous and inexact ways and still turn out delicious.

Here are some tips and ideas to get you started:

Select medium-sized sweet potatoes. The ones too big for a person to eat in one sitting should be reserved for candied yams, sweet potato fries or other recipes. Rinse the sweet potato to remove any dirt. Use a vegetable brush if necessary. Many people rub them with vegetable oil and/or pierce the skin with a knife or fork several times. Place the sweet potatoes on a pan to prevent leaking juices from burning on the bottom of the oven. Preheat your oven to 350-400 degrees F. and bake for 40-60 minutes. They are done when a fork passes easily through the thickest part. Smaller potatoes will cook quicker than larger ones.

On cold days we like the warmth that comes from baking sweet potatoes in a conventional oven. If it’s hot or you’re in a hurry, you can microwave them. Pierce the sweet potato’s skin five or six times. Microwave for five to eight minutes, rotating