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Also known as pitaya, Belle-Of-The -Night, Cinderella Plant, Honolulu Queen, and Jesus in the Cradle (to mention just a few names), this lithophytic or hemiepiphytic perennial vine is a cactus native from Honduras to Mexico. They grow up to 33′ long and may creep, sprawl or climb by means of aerial roots. The stems are branched, up to 5″ in diameter, and have three ribs and horn-like, undulating margins, with wings up to 2″ wide. Nodes are located along the stems 12-48″ apart and are marked by 1-3 needle-like spines that are grayish-brown to black and up to .4″ long. From early summer to mid-fall, scented, nocturnal, trumpet-shaped flowers appear. They are white or greenish yellow, up to 14″ long by up to 12″ wide, and have yellow stamens and a prominent style. Each flower blooms for only one night and are attractive to bees, bats, and moths. The green and pink fruits that follow are oblong, up to 5″ long, and bear hard tentacles/scales. The fruit can weigh up to 3 lbs. and has pink edible pulp with tiny black seeds. The plant is valued for its ornamental value as well as its fruit and is a good choice for edible, moon, fragrance, rock, and pollinator gardens. The genus name, Selenicereus, honors the Greek moon goddess, Σελήνη (Selene) and is combined with the Latin word, cereus, meaning candle, a name used for upright cacti. The specific epithet, undulatus, is derived from the Latin word, unda, meaning wave, and refers to the stem margins.

Also known as bay laural, this aromatic evergreen shrub or small tree is native to  the Mediterranean region and a member of the laurel family, Lauraceae, that also includes sassafras, avocado, and cinnamon.  We know from archaeological evidence that sweet bay grew in ancient Pompei on the day of the volcanic eruption in 79 AD. A carbonized branch of a shrub was found near the lararium in the House of the Faun and a preserved trunk, leaves and berries were found near the Porta Stabiana. Sweet bay is among the most common shrubs shown in the wall paintings of ancient Pompeii houses and was valued for its evergreen and fragrant foliage that was used for making perfume, garlands, wreaths, chaplets and victory crowns offered to military heroes and winners of sports or poetic competitions. The ancient Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder (d 79 AD) tells us in his Natural History that bay was used medicinally to treat a variety of ailments from ear aches and intestinal pain to pimples. While modern science suggests that sweet bay may have some medicinal benefits, treating pimples and ear aches are not among them. Photo Credit Wikipedia

Also called jasmine tobacco, sweet tobacco, winged tobacco, tanbaku, and Persian tobacco, this annual or tender herbaceous perennial is native from southern Brazil to northeastern Argentina and is a member of the nightshade family, Solonaceae, that also includes tomato, eggplant, and petunia. The plant grows 3-5′ tall and has 6-12″ long spatulate leaves. The basal leaves are attached to the stem by a winged petiole while the upper leaves are smaller and sessile. Beginning in June, long-tubed, 5-petaled flowers appear over a long bloom season. The flowers are white to yellowish green, open at night, and emit a pleasant fragrance. Cultivars are available that vary in plant size, flower color and fragrance but they tend to be less fragrant than the species and are open during the day. Flowering tobacco is valued for its fragrance and is especially appropriate for patio containers, and moon and fragrance gardens. The genus name, Nicotiana, honors Jean Nicot (1530-1600), French diplomat and scholar, who brought tobacco to France. The specific epithet, alata, is the Latin word meaning winged, and refers to the petiole.

Herbs by Emelie Tolley, celebrates herbs with their ability to stimulate the senses and bring joy to every aspect of life. With more than 450 photographs Tolley shares her visits to gardens across the US and Europe, illustrates the many ways herbs can be used to decorate a home, and provides over 40 recipes using herbs. The book is a compendium of knowledge on herbs as well as a visual treat for the eyes, and is sure to inspire even the most experienced gardener to find new ways to enjoy herbs in the garden, home, and kitchen.

Northern corn leaf blight is caused by the fungus  Exserohilum turcicum, and first appears on the lower blades at the time of silking or at full maturity It is characterized by narrow, 1 ” long, grayish tan lesions surrounded by a darker border. Lesions may also occur on leaf sheaths and husks. Infestations are usually worst in wet humid cool weather usually found late in the growing season. The disease is spread by the wind blowing spores among plants or from field to field. Photo Credit Daren Mueller, Iowa State University, Wikipedia

Also called Montauk daisy and Japanese chrysanthemum, this deciduous flowering sub-shrub is native to cliffs and rocky sites in the coastal regions of Japan and is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflower, yarrow and lettuce. The plant grows up to 3′ tall, is bushy, and has a woody stem that carries thick, glossy, dark green leaves. Each spoon-shaped leaf is up to 3.5″ long, oblong, and coarsely-toothed. From late summer to fall 2-3″ wide flowerheads appear on long stems. The flowerheads have white ray florets surrounding disc florets that may be yellow, green, red, or purple. The flowerheads attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, and are good in the vase. The plant tolerates salt spray and drought, and is a good choice for xeriscape as well as seaside, butterfly, pollinator, and rock gardens. The genus name, Nipponanthemum, is derived from the former name of Japan, Nippon, and the Greek word, anthemon, meaning flower. The specific epithet, nipponicum, is also from the former name of Japan.

This upright evergreen shrub or small tree is native to  southern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, Macaronesia, and the Indian Subcontinent. It is a member of the Myrtaceae family that also includes clove and eucalyptus.  Myrtle grows today in Pompei and was known there in ancient times. Myrtle pollen has been found in the garden soil of ancient Pompeii, and the shrub was included in the wall paintings of several houses in the ancient city. In a small garden located at rear of the House of L. Ceius Secundus (I.6.15), for example, is a wild animals scene with a realistic border of myrtle and ivy painted along the bottom of the wall. In addition to being valued as an ornamental garden plant, myrtle was used for its foliage in the making of chaplets and garlands. The ancient Roman poet, Horace (d 8 BCE), notes that he prefers garlands of “the simple myrtle” made at home to the ostentatious Persian ones. Pompeians, like many other Romans, made much use of garlands and chaplets. The home owner with myrtle growing in his atrium garden would have had easy access to foliage for home made ones, preferred by Horace. Photo Credit Wikipedia

Native to Eurasia, this cool weather annual is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes cabbage, broccoli, and Alyssum. It may be upright or sprawling, and has linear leaves that are gray-green, pinnate at the base, and entire near the top. The 4-petaled appear in the spring for a long bloom time. They are .4 to .8″ across and may be purple, pink, yellow, or brown, rarely white. They appear wilted most of the day but open from late afternoon to evening and give off a sweet pleasant fragrance of vanilla, clove, and rose . Night scented stock tends to be a straggly plant and is best planted in clumps. It is suitable for containers and patios as well as for fragrance and moon gardens, and wherever the scent can be appreciated. The genus name, Matthiola, honors Italian doctor and botanist, Pietro Andrea Mattioli ( 1501 – c. 1577), who identified many plants for medicine and science. The specific epithet, longipetala, comes from the Latin word, longus, meaning long, and the suffix -petalus meaning petals.

Karen Page’s book, The Vegetarian Flavor Bible, is a comprehensive guide to plant-based flavor pairings for a wide range of foods including vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. By using the information provided by this book, cooks can become chefs as they come up with new dishes and maximize flavor without resorting to butter and other animal ingredients. This resource will be especially valuable to readers who are considering the adoption of a vegetarian or vegan diet and don’t know where to begin.