Plant Profile: Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
Karen This autumn blooming perennial is a member of the Colchicaceae family and not related to spring blooming crocus that is in the iris family, Iridaceae. It is also called naked…
Book Review: The Fruits We Eat
We all recognize that fruit is a healthy food and tastes sweet and delicious yet how much do we or our children really know about this special food? Gail Gibbons’…
Weeds and Their Control: Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Multiflora rose is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or climbing vine that is probably the parent of ramblers and the popular Polyantha roses of today. Native to Japan, Korea, and eastern…
Plant Profile: Climbing Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
Also called bittersweet, poisonflower, and many other common names, this deciduous semi-woody perennial vine is a member of the potato family, Solonaceae, that also include peppers, tobacco, and petunia. The…
Plant Profile:Porcelain Vine (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
Also known as amur peppervine, and wild grape, porcelain vine is a woody, deciduous herbaceous perennial that climbs by tendrils. It is a member of the grape family, Vitaceae, that…
The Language of Flowers: Introduction
The language of flowers, also called florography, refers to the use of flowers and plants to secretly communicate with others. It is the result of the a blending of traditions…
Book Review: The Broad Fork
Whether you have a CSA, a vegetable garden, good Farmer’s Market, or a well stocked grocery store, you might want to learn new ways to cook vegetables and fruits. Hugh…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Fine Clary Wine
Clary (Salvia sclarea) is a biennial herb that has a long history of use to remove irritants from the eye and to flavor alcoholic beverages. German wine merchants in the…
Plant Profile: Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
Russian olive, also known as oleaster and oil-tree, is a thorny, deciduous small tree or large shrub growing up to 23’ tall and is native to southern Europe and western…
Plant Combination: Myrtle Spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites) and Purple Heart ( Tradescantia pallida) ‘Purpurea’
This pleasing color combination offers long season interest for a hot sunny spot. The spurge is evergreen and begins in spring with chartreuse flowers against the blue-gray foliage. Later in…