Garden Tools: Basic Garden Trowel
Karen Meyers The basic garden trowel has a handle with a scoop-shaped blade that is wider near the handle and pointed at the far end. The point may be sharp or not…
Plant Profile: Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum)
Karen Native to California and Baja California, this variable annual, perennial or subshrub, is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflower, daisy and lettuce. It usually grows…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Teddy Bear Cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii)
With their soft fuzzy appearance and resemblance to teddy-bear’s arms these shrubs or small trees have a strong visual appeal that belies their danger to passers-by. They grow up to…
Plant Profile: California Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica)
Also called California brittlebush, this shrub is native to coastal southern California and Baja California, and is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow and…
Book Review: How to Garden Indoors & Grow Your Own Food Year Round
Author, Kim Roman, presents a comprehensive guide to growing edible plants indoors in this easy to understand, well-organized book. Limited space and resources do not have to prevent most people…
Poisonous Plants: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Also known as Canada puccoon, bloodwort, redroot, red puccoon, Indian paint, and black paste, bloodroot is a member of the poppy family, Papaveraceae, that also includes bleeding heart, greater celandine,…
Plant Profile: Cardinal Catchfly (Silene laciniata)
Also known as fringed Indian pink and Mexican campion, this herbaceous perennial is native to northern Mexico and southwestern US from California to Texas and is a member of the…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Bunny Tails Grass (Lagurus ovatus)
The blooms of this perennial grass are just plain cute and are bound to attract children of all ages along with their parents. The plant grows 1-2′ tall and has…
Plant Profile: Bluff Lettuce (Dudleya farinosa)
Also known as powdery liveforever, and powdery dudleya, north coast dudleya, and sea lettuce, this evergreen succulent is native to the coastlines of northern California and Oregon where is grows…
Book Review: Perfectly Peculiar Plants
Botanist and author, Chris Thorogood, explores the diversity of plants by describing the characteristics of some very unique ones. He draws attention to the fact that humans depend on plants…