Plant Profile: Silky Leaf Woodwaxen (Genista pilosa)
Karen Also known as hairy greenweed, silky leaf broom, and creeping broom, this deciduous shrub is native to central and western Europe from southern Sweden to the Mediterranean where it grows…
Book Review: The Art of Extract Making
VanillaPura founders, Paul and Jill Fulton, offer an introduction to the vanilla bean and a guide to making vanilla extract in their book The Art of Extract Making. Making vanilla…
Weeds and Their Control: Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica)
Native to Japan, China, and India, this semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub was introduced into the US in 1804 as an ornamental for its attractive foliage and fruit but has escaped…
Plant Profile: Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)
Also called Southern pine and Georgia pine, this evergreen coniferous tree is native to the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains in southeastern US from Virginia west to Texas and south…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Common Oat (Avena sativa)
Common oat is an annual and a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes barley, rice, and bamboo. The origin of common oat is obscure but probably arose…
Plant Profile: Lydian Woodwaxen (Genista lydia)
Native to the Balkans, Turkey and Syria, this low growing shrub is evergreen in areas with warm winters and deciduous in areas with cold winters. It is a member of…
Book Review: Bees
Karen Meyers Shirley Raines’ book, Bees, introduces young readers to the lives and importance of four different kinds of bees. Written for children ages 5-8 years old in grades K-2, the book…
Weeds and Their Control: Annual Sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus)
Also known as common sowthistle, milk thistle, and several other names, annual sowthistle is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes dandelions, yarrow, and lettuce. It is…
Plant Profile: Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Also known as Canadian hemlock, this coniferous tree is native to eastern North America and is a member of the pine family, Pinaceae, that also includes cedar and spruce. The…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Italian millet (Setaria italica aka Panicum italicum)
Also known as foxtail millet, this warm season annual grass is a member of the Poaceae family that also includes corn, rice and bamboo. It was first cultivated about 8,000…