Plants of the Bible: Common Fig (Ficus carica)
Karen Native to the Middle East and Asia, this large shrub or small tree is a member of the mulberry family, Moraceae, that also includes banyan, breadfruit, and Osage-orange. It grows…
Old Time Recipes For Home Made Wine: Imitation of Cypress Wine
In the book, Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines, my paternal grandmother, Helen S Wright, presented a wine made from white elderberries called imitation of cypress wine. Elderberry wine…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Cider Champagne
Meriam-Webster dictionary does not give a definition of cider champagne, but says that, champagne cider is “a sparkling cider that is matured in vats and then fermented in bottles to…
Plant Profile: Cretan Rock Rose (Cistus creticus)
Also known as hoary rock rose and pink rock rose, this evergreen flowering shrub is a member of the Cistaceae family, a small group of shrubs and semi shrubs that…
Plants for a Zoo Garden: Giraffe Thorn (Vachellia erioloba aka Acacia erioloba)
Armed with 3″ long thorns, this evergreen tree or shrub presents a great opportunity to introduce children to the unusual feeding habits of the giraffe. Yup, a giraffe can feed…
Plant Profile: Kotschy’s Crocus (Crocus kotschyanus aka C. zonatus)
Native to parts of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, this perennial corm is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiola, freesia, and crocosmia. Plants produce goblet-shaped pale…
Plants of the Bible: Palestinian Tumbleweed (Anastatica hierochuntica)
Also known as rose of Jericho, Maryam’s flower, flower of St. Mary, St. Mary’s flower, Mary’s flower, and white mustard flower, this annual herb is native to the deserts of…
Perennials for Wall Gardens in Full Sun
The crevices in walls provide an opportunity to create a beautiful wall garden but also present challenges. They usually have very little soil and so can dry out or get…
Plant Profile: Sharon Tulip (Tulipa agenensis aka T. sharonensis)
The Sharon tulip is a perennial bulb and member of the Lily family, Liliaceae, that also includes dog’s tooth violet and fritillaria. It is native to the Middle East where…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Alligator Plant (Kalanchoe daigremontiana aka Bryophyllum daigremontianum)
The alligator plant deserves a place in a plant zoo on the basis of its name alone but another name, mother of thousands, gives a better idea of the uniqueness…