Genus Brugmansia for the Garden
Karen It is hard not to be impressed when you see a Brugmania in bloom. The pendulous flowers are large and trumpet shaped giving rise to the common name, Angel’s trumpet.…
Plant Profile: Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)
Also known as horsetail milkweed, this deep rooted herbaceous perennial is a member of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes bluestar, periwinkle,and oleander. It is native to North America…
Book Review: Dazzling Dragonflies
Dazzling Dragonflies by Linda Glaser introduces young readers to the life cycle of a dragonfly beginning with mama dragonfly as she lays a clutch of eggs that hatch into little…
How to Care for Bonsai: Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea)
download Firethorn is a thorny evergreen shrub native to southern Europe to western Asia. It is in the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes apples, meadowsweet, and lady’s mantle. The…
Plant Profile: British Columbia Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum)
This western wild ginger is a member of the pipevine family, Aristolochiaceae, that is known for its unusual flowers and is not a true ginger. It is an evergreen herbaceous…
Deadly Poisonous Mushrooms: Death Cap (Amanita phalloides)
The Death Cap is found singly or in troops growing in rich soil throughout the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere from late summer to fall. It is mycorrhizal with…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Lovely Fairy’
This popular Polyantha rose produces clusters of 10-40 deep pink flowers in flushes throughout the season beginning a bit later but continuing well into fall. Each flower is up to…
Book Review: Beginner Gardening
DK’s book Beginner Gardening presents the basic principles involved in making and maintaining a garden from conception to birth. It breaks down the process into small segments and presents each…
Old Time Recipies for Home Made Wine: Barley Wine
Barley wine goes back to ancient times when the Greek military commander and historian Xenophon mentioned it in his History of the Persian wars. Xenophon’s beverage, however, predates the use…
Plant Profile: Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)
Also called false sarsaparilla, shot bush, small spikenard, wild liqorice, and rabbit root, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the ginseng family, Araliaceae, that also includes ivy, umbrella tree,…