Book Review: The Ultimate Guide to Urban Farming
Karen Urban farming is not new but to many it is daunting and outside their comfort range. Nicole Faires shares her knowledge of the subject in her book, The Ultimate Guide…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Common Yarrow (Achillea millifolium)
A native of Europe this herbaceous perennial is widely distributed in the US growing in disturbed soil such as roadsides, old fields, and waste sites. The plants spread rapidly by…
Plant Profile: Larkspur (Consolida ajacis aka C. ambigua)
Also called doubtful knight’s spur and rocket larkspur, this cool weather annual is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean. It is in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes…
Genus Ligularia for the Garden
Ligularias are herbaceous perennials native to central and eastern Asia, and Europe where they grow in cool areas with consistently moist soil and sun to partial shade. They are a…
Book Review: The Grouchy Ladybug
Eric Carle’s book, The Grouchy Ladybug, tells the story of an ill-tempered ladybug who doesn’t like to share and challenges 13 other animals to a fight. The animals range in…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Hyssop
Hyssop belongs to the genus Hyssopus in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that also includes basil, sage, and beebalm. Shakespeare’s hyssop has been identified as Hyssopus officinalis, a compact native Asia…
Plant Profile: Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)
This Mediterranean native is a thistle-like tender perennial and a member of the Aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and artichoke. Plants form an impressive 3′ tall clump…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Oxeye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum aka Leucanthemum vulgare)
Oxeye daisy is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial native to Europe and Asia but was introduced to North America and is now found throughout the US where it grows in lawns,…
Plant Profile: Redvein Abutilon (Abutilon pictum)
Redvein abutilon is a tender evergreen shrub native to southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay but has naturalized in Central American and is a popular ornamental in subtropical areas. It…