Book Review: A Swarm of Bees
Karen Meyers A Swarm of Bees by Claire Caprioli, is a fact filled book covering basic information about bees. Written for children 5-7 years old and in grades kindergarten to 2nd, it…
Book Review: Mia Mayhem and the Wild Garden
Karen Mia Mayhem (aka Mia Macarooney) is an eight-year old superhero who attends Normal Elementay School, but then goes to a Program for In Training Superheroes, (aka Pits) after school. One…
Weeds and Their Control: Common Dayflower (Commelina communis)
Also known as Asian dayflower, this summer annual weed is a member of the spiderwort family, Commelinaceae, and is native to most of East Asia and northern parts of southeast…
Plant Profile: Fragrant Winter Hazel (Corylopsis glabrescens)
Native to Japan and Korea, this deciduous shrub is a member of the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, that also includes loropetalum and fothergill. It grows 8-15′ tall and has a…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Common Stock (Matthiola incana aka Cheiranthus incanus)
This tender annual is native to coastal areas of southern Europe, from the Balearics to former Yugoslavia, and is a member of the mustard family, Cruciferae, that also includes turnip,…
Plant Profile: Cootamundra wattle (Acacia baileyana)
Native to scrub and chaparral of New South Wales, Australia, this evergreen shrub or small tree, is a member of the legume family, Fabaceae, that also includes pea, lupines and…
Book Review: The Herb Gardening Handbook
Author Andrew Perry in his book The Herb Gardening Handbook, presents a beginner’s guide to growing and harvesting herbs. As founder of Urban Herbs, an online retailer of unusual and…
Weeds and Their Control: Virginia Copperleaf (Acalpha virginica aka A. digyneia)
Also known as mercuryweed, threeseeded mercury, and wax balls, this summer annual is a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that also includes poinsettia , croton, and caster oil plant.…
Plant Profile: Prickly Moses (Acacia verticillata
Also known as prickly-leaved wattle, star-leaved acacia, prickly mimosa, and whorl-leaved acacia, this flowering evergreen shrub or small tree is native to southeast Australia including Tasmania. It is a member…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Almond (Prunus amygdalus aka Amygdalus communis)
The almond is a deciduous tree belonging to the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes plums, cherries, nectarines apricots, and peaches and is most closely related to peaches. Almond is…