Summer Blooming Perennials for High Altitude Gardens
Karen Plants in high altitude gardens face unique challenges in terms of drying winds, intense sun, short growing season and frigid temperatures in winter. But none of those factors means that…
Plant Profile: False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa aka Maianthemum racemosum)
3fa88309b94f01bdd5a927e152190f5f2e700444 Also known as treacledberry, this clump-forming herbaceous perennial is native to North America where it grows in woodlands. It is a member of the asparagus family, Asparagaceae, that also…
Book Review: Mediterranean Landscape Design
In her book, Mediterranean Landscape Design, author Louisa Jones explores gardens and landscapes in France, Greece, Italy, Morocco and Spain to explore the relationship between man and nature in the…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Noyau
According to Wikipedia noyau is a liqueur made from brandy flavored with fruit kernels. In my paternal grandmother’s book, “Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines, it is included in…
Plant Profile: European Wild Ginger (Asarum europium)
European wild ginger is a low growing evergreen herbaceous perennial native to the of forests and woodlands of eastern Europe and western Asia. It belongs to the pipevine family, Aristolochiaceae,…
Plant Combination: Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) ‘Black Scallop’ and Variegated Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra) ‘Aureola’
This gold and purple combination offers long season interest for a shady spot. It depends on the foliage of these two plants and begins in spring when the variegated hakone…
Plant Profile: Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Native to Eastern US where it grows in moist shady sites, wild columbine is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes clematis, delphinium,…
Book Review: My Pantry
Alice Waters, known for her use of organic, locally grown ingredients shares her home experience in her book, My Pantry, written with her daughter, Fanny Singer. Believing that a well…
Easy to Grow Hybrid Tea and Florabunda Roses with Great Fragrance
We all love fragrant smelling roses but unfortunately many of them are not easy to grow. Here are five that are considered especially fragrant but also do not need pampering.…
Plant Profile: Silverbush (Convolvulus cneorum)
Silverbush is a fast growing evergreen shrub native to coastal areas of Spain, Italy, Croatia and Albania. It is a member of the morning glory/bindweed family, Convolvulaceae, that includes many…