Weeds and Their Control: Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Karen Common horsetail is a herbaceous perennial plant that bears spores rather than seeds and is more closely related to ferns than to seed bearing or flowering plants. Is is native…
Plant Profile: Winter Crocus (Crocus hyemalis)
Native to rocky areas and undergrowth of Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, this perennial corm is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiolus, crocosmia, and blue-eyed…
Plant for a Plant Zoo: Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
Hens and chick is an endearing plant that is very easy to grow and does well even with neglect; a perfect plant for a children’s garden! The plants grow 4-12″…
Plant Profile: Spotted Golden Thistle (Scolymus maculatus)
Also known as spotted oyster thistle, this annual herb is native to the Mediterranean region including southern Europe, southwest Asia, northern Africa, and the Canary Islands where it grows in…
Plants of the Bible: Common Fig (Ficus carica)
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…