"Old Favorites," a tour of heirloom plants.

The trend of growing heirloom plants in gardens has been growing in popularity in North America and Europe in recent decades.

Some heirloom plants are much older, some being apparently pre-historic.

Another important point of discussion is that without the ongoing growing and storage of heirloom plants, the seed companies and the government will control all seed distribution.

The parallel of rare animal breeds are heirloom plants, which are rare cultivars.

Nostalgia for heirloom plants no doubt plays its part in the comeback, but there are other reasons.

Like other heirloom plants, Jenny Lind Melons are generally not grown commercially.

Modern hybrids focus on improving disease resistance over the heirloom plants.

It is available from growers that specialize in heirloom plants.

But thanks to the vogue for heirloom plants, martagons are beginning to find their way into gardens once again.