Plant Profile: Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Karen Also called herb of grace, rue is an evergreen mounding subshrub and a member of the Rutaceae family that also includes oranges, limes, and skimmia. It is native to the…
Genus Pigsqueak (Bergenia) for the Garden
Bergenia is genus of semi-evergreen herbaceous perennials and belong to the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, that also includes Astilbe, Heuchera, Tiarella, and Rodgersia. It is native to central Asia but is…
Plant Profile: Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Japanese wisteria is a deciduous flowering vine native to Japan and a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupines, mimosa, and black locust. The vine grows up…
Book Review: The Climate Report
The Climate Report is the work of the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) that was established in 1989 as a result of an initiative of President Ronald Reagan. It…
Weeds and Their Control: Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
Scarlet pimpernel is an annual native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa but was widely introduced as an ornamental and is now is found in throughout the US. Although…
Plant Profile: Pink Tickseed (Coreopsis rosea)
Pink tickseed is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, sunflower, and lettuce. It is native to the East Coast of…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Turnip
The turnip (Brassica rapa) belongs to the mustard (Brassicaceae) family that also includes cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprout and radish. Brassica rapa has several subspecies including bok choi, pak choi,…
Plant Profile: Chimney Bellflower (Campanula pyramidalis)
Chimney bellflower is a short-lived herbaceous perennial and a member of the Campanulaceae family that also includes balloon flower, ladybells (Adenophora) and Lobelia. It is native to southeastern Europe including…
Book Review: Grow It Cook It
If you want to get children interested in eating more vegetables and fruits the DK book, Grow it Cook It, is a good place to start. It involves hands on…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Also called monk’s pepper, chaste tree is a sprawling deciduous shrub a native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia where it grows in moist soil such as those along…