Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Birch Wine
Karen The sap of birch trees is probably most familiar in the carbonated drink called birch beer but can also be used to make an alcoholic beer, a wine, and a…
Plant Profile: Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Purple loosestrife is a herbaceous perennial and member of the loosestrife family, Lythraceae, that also includes pomegranate and crepe myrtle, but is not related to other plants called loosestrife that…
The Language of Flowers: Amaranth (Amaranthus spp)
Amaranths are annuals or short term perennials and belong to the Amaranthaceae family that also includes spinach, celosia, and quinoa. Three species, love lie bleeding (A. caudatus), Joseph’s coat (A.…
Poisonous Plants: Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
This autumn blooming perennial is a member of the Colchicaceae family and not related to spring blooming crocus that is in the iris family, Iridaceae. It is also called naked…
Plant Profile: Dwarf Mountain Fleabane (Erigeron compositus)
Also known as cutleaf daisy and trifid mountain fleabane, this herbaceous rhizomatous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, sunflower and lettuce. It is…
Plant Combination: Hardy Garden Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x rubellum) ‘Clara Curtis’ and Dwarf Goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata) ‘Golden Fleece’
Mid-summer into fall can be a difficult time in the garden but not with this combination. Although most mums bloom in the fall, ‘Clara Curtis’ begins its show early and…
Plant Profile: Chilean Avens (Geum quellyon)
Also known as scarlet avens, double bloody Mary, and Grecian rose, this evergreen to semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to central Chile. It is a member of the rose family,…
Book Review: Container Gardeners Handbook
If you like plants you will probably need or want at least a few containers filled with plants no matter where you live. Francis Tophill’s book, Container Gardener’s Handbook presents…
Weeds and Their Control: Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus)
Also called whiskey grass, broomsedge is bunch grass native to southeastern US but has expanded its native range and can be found in the Midwest, Northeast, California and Hawaii. The…
Plant Profile: Giant Larkspur (Consolida ajacis aka C. ambigua))
Also called doubtful knight’s spur, rocket larkspur, this herbaceous cool weather annual is a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, hellebore, and columbine. It is native…