Book Review: Attracting Native Pollinators
Karen As gardeners we appreciate the value of pollinators. Without them we would not have many of the flowers, vegetables, and fruits that we enjoy in our gardens and on our…
Plant Profile: Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens)
Also called Allegheny monkey flower or square-stemmed monkey flower, this herbaceous perennial is native to North America where it grows in wet soils such as wet meadows, swamps, stream and…
Plant Profile: Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Cardinal flower is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial native to North America where it grows in moist to wet areas such as stream and river banks, pond edges, marshes and swamps.…
Book Review: Waiting for Wings
When the summer days are filled with butterflies feasting on garden flowers, you have an ideal time to introduce young children to the mysteries of a butterfly’s life cycle. What…
Plant Profile: Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis)
This evergreen shrub is native to coastal California and Oregon and is found in chaparral but is often used as a ground cover and to stabilize slopes. It is a…
Plant Profile: Rock Rose (Cistus x purpureus)
Rock rose is an evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean region from Portugal to Italy that boasts large beautiful flowers in spring and outstanding drought tolerance once established. Even if the…
Six Purple-Flowered Plants that Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies
A garden a flutter with butterflies sipping nectar from the flowers on a sunny day is a beautiful sight. A visit of a hummingbird to the garden is a treat.…
Plant Profile: Ornamental Oregano ‘Rotkugel’ (Origanum x ‘Rotkugel’)
The name “oregano” may conjure up visions of pizza or Greek salad but after you grow this ornamental form you will find a whole new place in your life for…
Plant Profile: Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpureum)
Purple praire clover is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupines, mimosa, and black locust. It is native to central North America…
Book Review: Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds to Your Backyard
One of the great pleasures of having a garden is watching the butterflies and birds that come to live there. Their beauty alone makes them desirable guests but added to…