Book Review: Bug lab for Kids
Karen John E. Guyon’s book, Bug Lab for Kids, is a dynamite introduction to entomology for children! It introduces readers to the methods and type of thinking that characterizes real scientists…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Pea Shell Beer
Making beer from peas goes back to 17th century England when brewers and distillers were using peas and other legumes to make alcoholic beverages. Of course they were using other…
Plant Profile: Ankara Crocus (Crocus ancyrensis)
Ankara crocus is a perennial plant and a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiola, freesia, and crocosmia. It is endemic to Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan where…
Plant Combination: Jupiter’s Beard (Centranthus ruber var. coccineus) and Perennial Cornflower (Centaurea montana)
The beauty of the combination lies in finding just the right color echo by matching the crimson red of the Jupiter’s beard to the red center of the perennial cornflower.…
Plant Profile: Yellow Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium pubescens)
Yellow lady’s slipper is a herbaceous perennial and member of the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is native to North America where it grows in deciduous woodlands of most of the…
Poisonous Plants: Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
This herbaceous perennial is native to the Northern Hemisphere from Canada to the Carolinas and westward where it is found growing in swamps, marshes, stream edges, and other wet areas.…
Plant Profile: Straw Foxglove (Digitalis lutea)
Also called small yellow foxglove, this short-lived perennial is a member of the plantain family, Plantaginaceae that also includes snapdragon, turtlehead, and Veronica. It is native to southern Europe and…
Plants of Williamsburg: Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor aka Poterium sanguisorba)
Salad burnet is a herbaceous perennial and member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes cherry, pyracantha, and lady’s mantle. It is native to Europe, northern Africa, western Asia…
Plant Profile: Ground Clematis (Clematis recta)
Ground clematis is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes delphinium, columbine, and anemone. It is native to eastern, central, and southern Europe…
Book Review: Infinite Succulents
Succulents are familiar plants to many gardeners but to author Rachael Cohen they have the potential of being living art. In her book, Infinite Succulents, Cohen shows readers that succulents…