Plant Profile: Zigzag Iris (Iris brevicaulis)
Karen Also called short-stemmed iris, this rhizomatous perennial and a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes crocus, gladiolus, and freesia. It is native to Ohio southwest to Nebraska,…
Plant Profile: Rosa La Marne
Large loose clusters of 9-20 flowers are produced in continuous flushes throughout the season. The flowers are 2” across, single to semidouble, and lack fragrance. They have ruffled deep pink…
Book Review: Vegetables Illustrated
America’s Test Kitchens cookbook, Vegetables Illustrated, is a treasure trove of recipes that make vegetables the star of the show. In spite of the title, the book is more about…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Birch Wine
The sap of birch trees is probably most familiar in the carbonated drink called birch beer but can also be used to make an alcoholic beer, a wine, and a…
Plant Profile: Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Purple loosestrife is a herbaceous perennial and member of the loosestrife family, Lythraceae, that also includes pomegranate and crepe myrtle, but is not related to other plants called loosestrife that…
The Language of Flowers: Amaranth (Amaranthus spp)
Amaranths are annuals or short term perennials and belong to the Amaranthaceae family that also includes spinach, celosia, and quinoa. Three species, love lie bleeding (A. caudatus), Joseph’s coat (A.…
Poisonous Plants: Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
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…
Plant Profile: Dwarf Mountain Fleabane (Erigeron compositus)
Also known as cutleaf daisy and trifid mountain fleabane, this herbaceous rhizomatous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, sunflower and lettuce. It is…
Plant Combination: Hardy Garden Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x rubellum) ‘Clara Curtis’ and Dwarf Goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata) ‘Golden Fleece’
Mid-summer into fall can be a difficult time in the garden but not with this combination. Although most mums bloom in the fall, ‘Clara Curtis’ begins its show early and…
Plant Profile: Chilean Avens (Geum quellyon)
Also known as scarlet avens, double bloody Mary, and Grecian rose, this evergreen to semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to central Chile. It is a member of the rose family,…