Plant Profile: Tan Oak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus aka Lithocarpus densiflorus)
Karen Tan oak is an evergreen shrub or tree native to western US from Oregon to California where it grows on dry, rocky slopes and in chaparral. It is a member…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Barley
Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a major cereal grain and a member of the grass family (Poaceae). It is an annual and grows over 36 inches tall so is considered a…
Plant Profile: Bluebloosom (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus)
Blueblossom, also known as wild/California lilac, is an evergreen shrub endemic to southern Oregon to southern California where it grows in open woods and chaparral of coastal mountains. It is…
Book Review: The New California Wine
If you have been drinking California wines over the last several decades you might have noticed that they are constantly changing. These changes are the focus of Jon Bonne’s book,…
Garden Plants for Flower Arrangements: Garden Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
Garden angelica is a biennial native to cooler parts of Europe and Asia. It is a large plant and needs plenty of space in the garden. The first year it…
Plant Profile: Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana)
Sweetbay is a deciduous to semi evergreen tree native to the eastern coastal plain of the US, from Massachusetts to Florida, west to Texas, Texas, where it grows in low…
Garden Plants for Flower Arrangements: Bloody Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum)
Bloody cranesbill is an herbaceous perennial native t Europe and temperate Asia where it grows in grasslands, open woodlands, sand dunes, and rocky slopes. Thick rhizomes form mounts of shallowly…
Plant Profile: Cheddar Pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus)
Cheddar pink is an evergreen herbaceous perennial native to southern England east to Poland amd the Ukraine. It is a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes baby’s…
Book Review: Lettuce Grows on the Ground
Young children often don’t like vegetables but learning about how they grow can spark an interest in them. Mari Schuh’s book, Lettuce Grows on the Ground, presents facts about lettuce…
Earth Kind Roses: Small Bushes
Earth-Kind is a designation given to roses by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service after extensive testing that evaluates pest tolerance as well as outstanding landscape performance. It tells the public…