Plant Profile: Corncockle (Agrostemma githago)
Karen Corncockle is an upright annual belonging to the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes pinks, baby’s breath, and campion. It is native to Europe where it grows in disturbed sites…
Book Review: The Bee-Friendly Garden
We often hear about the sad plight of honeybees and the need for doing something abut it. The Bee-Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn is a great source…
Plant Combination: Rose ‘Crepuscule’ and German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Growing herbs and roses together have a long tradition and this duo combines a lovely Noisette rose with the familiar herb, German chamomile known for the tranquilizing tea made with…
Plant Profile: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea)
Peanuts are annuals and are hybrids developed and domesticated in Argentina. They are a member of the bean/pea family (Leguminosae/Fabaceaea) and like other plants in the family contain symbiotic bacteria…
Outstanding Pink Modern Climbing Roses for the Garden
Roses climbing on a wall, arches or trellises are a beautiful sight. Modern climbers resemble tall lax shrubs but offer repeat or continuous bloom which sets them apart from older…
Plant Profile: Snowy Mermaid (Libertia formosa)
Also called Chilean iris, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the Iris family (Iridaceae) and native to Chile. It was introduced into California where it has naturalized and…
Book Review: Herbal Healing for Women
As more and more medicines come on the market and are advertised on TV with all their warnings, many women are going back to home remedies that employ herbs as…
Edible Flowers: Scented Geranium (Pelargonium)
Scented geraniums are species are cultivars characterized by fragrant leaves. They are all in the genus Pelargonium and should be distinguished from true geraniums that are in the genus Geranium…
Plant Profile: Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)
Also called Himalaya nutmeg, flowering nutmeg, and pheasant berry, this deciduous thicket-forming shrub is a member of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) and native to woodlands in the Himalaya and southwestern…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Crowflowers
The crowflower of Shakespeare has been various identified as ragged robin ( Lychnis flos-cuculi), buttercup (Ranunculur spp), and common bluebell or scilla (Hyacinthoides nonscripta) but ragged robin is the most…