Book Review: The Spice and Herb Bible
Karen As more and more people become interested in the diverse foods available around the world the need for a knowledge of spices and herbs becomes more important. Ian Hemphill’s book,…
Plant Profile: Yellow Butterflybush (Buddleja x weyeriana) ‘Sungold’
B. weyeriana ‘Sungold’ is the result of a cross between the familiar B. davidii and B. globosa ‘Orange Ball’. It has long arching branches with gra-white stems that bear eight…
Growing Plants from Seed: Bachelor’s Button (Centaurea cyanus)
Bachelor’s button is a cool weather annual native to Europe where it was a common weed in corn fields and hence acquired the common name cornflower. The species is has…
Plant Profile: Blue Shrimp Plant (Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’)
Also called honeywort and waxflower this annual or half hardy perennial is from the Mediterranean and does well in hot sunny conditions. It is in the borage family (Boraginaceae) along…
Pink Roses for Weeping Standards
Standards, also called tree roses, add elegance and formality to a garden. They provide a vertical accent and making pruning and spraying easier. Weeping standards are especially graceful and can…
Plant Profile: Plume Thistle (Cirsium rivulare) ‘ Atropurpureum’
Plume thistle ‘Atropurpureum’ is a clump forming perennial that provides an architectural element in the garden. It has a branched, smooth, almost leafless stem that arises from a basal rosette…
Book Review: Two Hour Cross Stitch: Flowers
If you need a source of small floral related designs for a cross stitch project, Trice Boeren’s book, Two Hour Cross Stitch: Flowers, is a great source of motifs. The…
Edible Flowers: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) are best known as pesky weeds that invade lawns and are difficult to remove. They are native to Euorpe, Asia and North America where they thrive in…
Plant Profile: Angel’s Fishing Rod (Dierama pulcherrimum)
Also called fairy wand, wandflower, and hairbells, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the iris family (Iridaceae) and native to South Africa. In mid- to late summer flowers are…
Botanical Latin: Lycopersicon
Ly co PER si con Greek lykos meaning wolf, and persicon meaning peach Lycopersicon is the part of the scientific name for tomato and literally means wolf-peach. Tomatoes are a…