Fall Clean Up for Disease and Pest Control
Karen Some people clean-up their garden in the fall, some in the spring and still others do both. There are good reasons for a fall clean up, and equally good ones…
Plant Profile: Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)
Alexanders is a biennial herb native to the Mediterranean region and known to the ancient Greeks. It grows wild in many parts of Europe and was introduced into England by…
Book Review: Garden Revolution
Sustainable landscape and environmentally friendly are key ideas in the gardening world today and Larry Weaver’s book, Garden Revolution, addresses the topic in a fresh new way. Based on the…
Edible Flowers : Daylily (Hemerocalis fulva)
Daylily (Hemerocalis fulva) is also known by several other names including ditch lily, outhouse lily, and twany lily. It is native to Asia but was introduced into North America in…
Plant Profile: Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium)
Squirting cucumber is a half hardy perennial native to the Mediterranean, northern Africa and temperate areas of Asia where it grows in disturbed soil such as roadsides and waste areas.…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wine: Apple Wine
When fall comes we can look forward to apples and apples mean pies, cider, and perhaps, wine. My paternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright, author of the book Old Time Recipes…
Plant Profile: Rose Souvenir de la Malmaison
Named for the summer house of Empress Josephine, this rose bears its flowers singly or in small clusters. Each flower has soft pink flowers that are creamy white at the…
Book Review: The Little Gardener
One of the pleasures of being a grandmother is introducing and sharing things and activities you love to grandchildren. Jan Gerardi’s book, The Little Gardener’, is a board book aimed…
Growing Plants from Seed: Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
The tall spires of hollyhocks are always a welcome sight but especially in cottage gardens where they evoke a nostalgia for times past. Hollyhock is a native of China and…
Plant Profile: Dragon Arum (Dracunculus vulgaris)
Dragon arum goes by numerous name such as snake lily, voodoo lily, stink lily and black dragon. It is a tuberous herbaceous perennial, a member of the arum family (Araceae),…