How to Care for Bonsai: Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)
Karen Japanese black pine is native to coastal Japan and South Korea and are common parkland trees in Japan. Because it is tolerant of poor, dry soil, pollution and salt it…
Plant Profile: Hairy Alumroot (Heuchera villosa)
Hairy alumroot is an evergreen herbaceous perennial and a member of the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, that also includes tiarella, bergenia, and astilbe. It is native to Southeast from Virginia to…
Book Review: Seasonal Flower Arranging
Florist Ariella Chezar shares her love of flowers and her knowledge of changing plant material throughout the year in her book Seasonal Flower Arranging. With a strong interest in buying…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Frontignac Wine
My paternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright, included a recipe for Frontignac Wine in her book, Old Time Reciepes for Home Made Wine, published in 1909. The recipe includes raisins and…
Plant Profile: Northern Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)
Northern maidenhair fern is a perennial deciduous clump-forming fern native to North America and Asia where it grows in humusy, moist well drained soils and rocky areas. It is a…
Plant Profile: Rose ‘Double Delight’
Long conical buds unfurl slowly to creamy white high-centered flowers with just a hint of red on the outer petals. As the flowers mature the red coloring grows, especially in…
Plant Profile: Firecracker Plant (Cuphea ignea aka C. platycentra)
Also known as cigar flower, this tender evergreen sub-shrub is native to Mexico and the West Indies but is often grown as an annual in elsewhere. It is a member…
Book Review: Forks over Knives: Flavor!
Darshana Thacker’s cookbook, Forks over Knives Flavor!, brings a very international approach to whole-food, plant based cooking. Believing that chronic aliments can be prevented, halted and oftentimes reversed by omitting…
Weeds and Their Control: Common Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium album)
Lamb’s quarters is a summer annual and member of the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae, that also includes beet, spinach, and cock’s comb. It is native to Europe and Asia , possibly…
Plant Profile: Love in the Mist (Nigella damascena)
Also called ragged lady and devil in the bush, this annual is a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, columbine and delphinium. It is native to…