Botanical Latin: Atropa
Karen Atropa (AT ro pa) from the name of the Greek goddess Atropos, one of the three Fates. The name literally means ‘she who may not be turned (aside)’ The Three…
Plant Profile: Caucasian Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum)
This coarse herbaceous perennial is native to the Caucasus Mountains where it grows in waste places, along roadsides, in scrub, and along streams. It is a member of the boarage…
Slow Food Nation: Slow Food Nation
Americans are familiar with fast-food but how about slow-food? The Slow Food Movement was founded in 1986 by Carlo Petrini in Italy and in his book, Slow Food Nation, he…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Ginger Beer
My paternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright, included two recipes for ginger beer in her book, Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines. Traditionally ginger beer is made from the fermentation…
Plant Profile: Wandflower (Sparaxis tricolor)
Also called harlequin flower, this tender bulb is endemic to the western cape of South Africa. It is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiolus, crocus,…
Plant Combination: Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) ‘Laura’ and Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ) ‘Goldsturm’
These two popular perennials combine to make an eye-catching combination in the mid- to late summer border. The billowing purple flower heads of ‘Laura’ provide contrast in shape, size and…
Plant Profile: Argentine Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium striatum)
This evergreen perennial is a native of Argentina and Chile where it grows in alpine grasslands, open woods, and meadows. It is not a true grass and is in the…
Book Review: Smashed, Mashed, Boiled, and Baked–and Fried, Too!: A Celebration of Potatoes in 75 Irresistible Recipes
French fries, baked potatoes, and mashed potatoes are familiar meal time fare but have you thought about trying some totally new potato dish? You might consider one of the unique…
Five Best Medium Pink Old Garden Roses
Picking the “best” roses is an objective process and in this case, the ratings of the American Roses Society have been used. Every year the American Rose Society enlists the…
Plant Profile: Alpine Pink (Dianthus alpinus)
Alpine pink is a short lived, herbaceous perennial native to to the Alps of eastern Austria. It is a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes baby’s breath,…