Book Review: MiniFarming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre
Karen The concept of self sufficiency in a small space is very appealing as more and more horror stories circulate regarding the use of hormones, antibiotics and pesticides in commercially produced…
Plant Combination: Upright Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) and Japanese Anemone (Anemone hypehensis) ‘Hadspen Abundance’
Just when the garden looks like it is winding down in autumn goldenrod and Japanese anemone come into bloom adding bright color with their winning combination of gold and pink.…
Plant Profile: Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha)
This bushy herbaceous perennial is a native of Mexico and Central America and is grown in the United States either as a perennial in warm climates or as an annual…
How to Care for Bonsai: Fig Tree (Ficus carica)
A relative of the popular rubber plant, this native of the Middle East and Mediterranean regions is significantly different because it loses its leaves in winter. Fig trees have been…
Plant Profile: Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
A deciduous shrub or tree, sassafras is native to eastern North America from Canada to Florida westward to Kansas and Texas where it is found in woods and thickets. It…
Book Review: The Reasons for Seasons
The change of seasons has special meaning to gardeners and is a difficult concept for young children. Gail Gibbons’ book, The Reasons for Seasons, attempts to simplify the basic principles…
Beneficial Insects: Yellow Jackets
If you have ever been chased and stung by a yellow jacket you must be surprised that the title of this post suggests that they are good insects. The truth…
Plant Profile: Korean Angelica (Angelica gigas)
This tall biennial or perennial is a native of Asia where it inhabits forests and grasslands. It is a member of the carrot family, Umbelliferae, that also includes celery, sea…
Six Spring Bulbs for a Pink-Themed Garden
When the cherry trees begin to bloom in the spring with their pink cotton candy colored flowers the garden is bathed in soft light that seems to go perfectly with…
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.…