Book Review: What’s in the Garden
Karen From the very first page, What’s in the Garden is a hit. Author Marianne Berkes presents factual information about 12 fruits and vegetables in a way that captivates and engages…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Common hawthorn is a thorny deciduous shrub or small tree native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia It was introduced into the US and has become invasive in some…
Plant Profile: Indian Shot (Canna indica)
Indian shot is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the Cannaeceae family that is most closely related to ginger, banana, and bird of paradise. It is native to the…
Artemesia for the Garden
Artemesia is a genus of woody and herbaceous perennials and includes several well known plants such as tarragon, sagebrush, mugwort, and wormwood. It is a member of the aster family,…
Plant Profile: Milky Bellflower (Campanula lactiflora)
Milky bellflower is a bushy herbaceous perennial and a member of the Campanulaceae family that also includes balloon flower, lady bells (Adenaphora), and Lobelia. It is native to Caucasus, NE…
Book Review: Growing Perfect Vegetables
From the Mel Bartholomew Foundation of Square Foot Gardening fame comes this book about recognizing when fruits and vegetables are ripe, picking, and storing them. It is not about growing…
Edible Mushrooms: Black Truffle (Tuber melanosporum)
Also called the Perigord truffle, this justly famous fungus is native to southern Europe where it grows singly, two to twenty inches below soil level among tree roots in red…
Plant Profile: American Linden (Tilia americana)
Also called American basswood, this medium to large deciduous tree is native to eastern US and southern Canada, and is a member of the mallow family, Malvaceae, that also includes…
The Language of Flowers: Pheasant’s Eye (Adonis autumnalis aka A. annua)
Also called red Morocco, blooddrops, red chamomile, rose-a-ruby and soldiers-in-the-green, this colorful annual is a member of the buttercup family, Ranuncluaceae, that also includes anemone, hellebore, and nigella. It is…
Plant Profile: Rose Escapade
Bright crimson buds open to lilac pink flowers with white centers and conspicuous yellow stamens. The flowers fade to pale pink in hot climates creating a lovely effect with many…