I'd never met one of those people before. You know, the ones who don't like tomatoes. Or eggplant (?!). Or peppers. They generally don't like potatoes either, unless the potatoes have been really deeply fried. And they've likely never even heard of ground cherries (cape gooseberries) before. Have you guessed it yet? Yes, I'm talking about the anti-nightshade folks. I'd never known one until a few weeks ago when a houseguest of mine looked on in horror as I started slicing some of the most beautiful eggplants I've seen this summer. "Do you take the poison out before you eat it?" she whimpered in my kitchen. I just shook my head and sighed, "I salt the eggplants to soften and sweeten them." I know -- I could hardly believe it myself.

Tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers symbolize the height of summer to many gardeners and food-lovers. Potatoes are more than just comfort food, they are one of the most enjoyable crops to harvest. Plunging a hand into the soil and feeling around for a tuber is one of the rewards of planting this nightshade. Tomatillos and ground cherries in their husks act like they're holding secrets behind a papery curtain. And they are ... so delicious. Tobacco has played a significant role in human life for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. And the fragrance of petunias and night-blooming nicotiana delight our sense of smell.

Nightshades have evolved to produce very desirable fruit, leaves, and tubers. They are important sources of food, spice, and medicine. To my friend's credit, the Solanacaea family of plants also contains a wide range of alkaloids that can be desirable, poisonous, or both. Some people are sensitive to the alkaloids in nightshades and have allergy-like responses when consumed. Certain plants of the Solanaceae family are poisonous, hallucinogenic, and even deadly. Belladonna, mandrake, and jimson weed are all examples of nightshades everyone should stay away from.

But for the rest of us, this time of year is one of celebration. It's time to be canning tomatoes, roasting and freezing peppers, and gorging ourselves on eggplant. It's time to make salsa verde and ground cherry pie. It's time to get over to the Hollywood Farmers Market and enjoy the bounty of the season.