Genus Bulbine for the Garden
Karen Bulbine is a genus of succulent shrubs, tender perennials, and annuals and a member of the Asphodelaceae family that also includes aloe, tritoma, and foxtail lily. It is native to…
Plant Profile: Crevice alumroot (Heuchera micrantha)
Also called small-flowered alumroot, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, that also includes astilbe, tiarella, and bergenia. It is native to western North America…
Book Review: Bong Appetit
Cooking with weed has come a long way from the brownies that that Mary Jane Rathbun created for AIDS patients in San Francisco in the 80s and 90s. Today, serious…
Weeds and Their Control: Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Also known as felon herb, mugwort is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisies, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to…
Plant Profile: Large Boykinia (Boykinia major)
Large boykinia is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, that also includes astilbe, foamflower, and coral bells. It is native to Oregon, Idaho, California, and…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Pomegranate
The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a member of the Lythraceae family that includes crape myrtle, loosestrife, and henna. It is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree growing sixteen to…
Plant Profile: Quamash (Camassia leichtlinii)
Also called Indian hyacinth, wild hyacinth, camash, and camas, this perennial bulb is a member of the asparagus family, Asparagaceae, that also includes lily of the valley, agave, and hosta.…
Book Review: Seeds Move
Robin Pace, illustrator and author, introduces young readers to the topic of seed dissemination in her book, Seeds Move. Written for children 3-8 years old, the book uses vivid illustrations,…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Fennel (Foenicum vulgare)
Fennel is a herbaceous perennial native to the shores of the Mediterranean but has naturalized in the US where it grows along roadsides, in pastures and in other open sites…
Plant Profile: Hairy Angelica (Angelica venenosa)
Hairy angelica is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, Queen Anne’s lace, and poison hemlock. It is native to Eastern US…