Plant Profile: New Zealand Laurel (Corynocarpus laevigatus)
Karen Also known as karaka, this narrow upright evergreen tree grows in coastal and lowland forests of New Zealand. It a shrubby habit with erect or spreading branches. The large leathery…
Garden Plants for Flower Arranging: Wolfsbane (Aconitum lycoctonum)
A native of southern Europe, this herbaceous perennial grows in mountain woods and meadows, often near streams, in moist peaty soils. Although there is a purple flowered variety, the primrose…
Plant Profile: Kaffir Lily (Clivia miniata)
Also known as Natal lily, fire lily, and bush lily, Clivia is a clump forming herbaceous perennial belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. It is native to South Africa and Swaziland…
Book Review: Grow, Cook, Eat
The joys of growing your own food are great but are enhanced when the fruits of your labor grace the table with a flare. Willi Galloway’s book, Grow, Cook, Eat,…
Five Flowering Perennials for Coastal Gardens
Coastal gardens present plants with two major problems: wind and salt spray. The wind not only dries out the plant but also dries the soil. In addition it can shred…
Plant Profile: Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqua)
Carob tree, also called St. John’s-bread and locust bean, is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae) and native to Southern Europe, Northern Africa, the Levant, Middle East and Macaronesia…
Aconitums (Monkshoods) for the Garden
A member of the buttercup family, this genus includes over 250 species and is known by many names including monkshood,wolfsbane, and devil’s helmet. These common names refer to the fact…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Pink Pet’ (aka Caldwell’s Pink’)
Also known as the polyanth ‘Cladwell Pink’ ‘Pink Pet’ bears lilac pink flowers in large clusters. The upright bushes are compact and carry medium green glossy foliage with pointed tips.…
Book Review: Butterfly Counting
Butterflies are captivating and always seem to attract the attention of children and adults alike. Jerry Pallotta’s book, Butterfly Counting, brings the subject of butterflies to a whole to height…
Collecting Seed: Spider Flower (Cleome hasslerana)
Spider flower is an annual native to southern South America but grown widely in the US for the large unusual flowerheads that feature long stamens that give a spider web…