Beneficial Insects and How to Attract Them: Fireflies
Karen Also known as lightening bugs, fireflies , are actually beetles belonging to the Lampyridae family of insects. There are over two thousand species, about one hundred fifty of which live…
Weeds and Their Control: Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Chicory is a biennial to perennial herbaceous plant and member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflower, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to Europe, Asia and Africa,…
Weeds and Their Control: Bigpod Sesbania (Sesbania exaltata aka S. herbacea)
Also called coffeeweed, hemp sesbania, and Colorado River-hemp, this semi-woody, native , tender perennial can be found in moist disturbed areas in the southeastern coastal plain into the piedmont from…
Weeds and Their Control: Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)
Also called wiregrass, this small annual grass is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes oats, bamboo, and rice. It is native to warm climates around the…
Growing Plants from Seed: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Lettuce is one of the most successful crops for the home gardener. There are four basic of types of lettuce. 1. Leaf lettuce such as ‘Black Seeded Simpson’ and ‘Oakleaf’…
Beneficial Insects and how to Attract Them: Dragonfly
Dragonflies belong to a group of insects that have very small antennae, very large eyestwo pairs of transparent wings, and colorful elongated bodies. There are over 3000 species of dragonfly…
Collecting Seed: Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
There are about twenty species of Digitalis and of those about four a good garden plants. One of these, common foxglove (D. purpurea), is the most popular and the one…
Weeds and Their Control: Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Multiflora rose is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or climbing vine that is probably the parent of ramblers and the popular Polyantha roses of today. Native to Japan, Korea, and eastern…
Weeds and Their Control: Marsh Bentgrass (Agrostis palustris)
Also called creeping bentgrass, this is a low growing perennial grass grown for high quality putting-green turf on golf courses. It is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that…
Collecting Seed: Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Hollyhocks are handsome plants that give the garden vertical movement and bring a touch of nostalgia. They are usually treated as biennials so that seeds are collected in summer and…