Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Filbert (Corylus avellana)
Karen Also called common hazel, this deciduous suckering shrub is a member of the birch family, Betulaceae, that also includes alder and hornbeam. It is native to most of Europe, north…
Plant Profile: Willow Bottlebrush (Callistemon salignus aka Melaleuca salicina)
Endemic to eastern Australia, this broadleaf evergreen shrub is a member of the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that also includes clove, allspice, and eucalyptus. Growing from a vigorous root system, plants…
Book Review: Beerology
Karen Meyers Do you pick your beer based on your mood, food or occasion? Probably not, but after reading Mirella Amato’s book, Beerology, you might consider it. With the rise of craft…
Shrubs for the Wettest Zone of a Rain Garden
The following shrubs are suitable for the area of a rain garden that is the deepest and holds the most water for the most amount of time. They can tolerate…
Plant Profile: Chinese Abelia (Abelia chinensis aka Linnaea chinensis)
Native to the lower elevations in the mountains of southwest China, this semi-evergreen shrub is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigela, pincushion flower and teasel.…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Sage Wine 2
Archaeological evidence indicates that herbal wines were used medicinally since at least the time of the ancient Egyptians. We also know that the ancient people associated sage with longevity and…
Plant Profile: Yellow Anise Tree (Illicium parviflorum)
Also known as hardy anise shrub, Ocala anise, swamp star-anise, and small anise tree this broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree is a member of the starvine family, Schisandraceae, consisting…
Book Review: The Nutmeg Trail
When I picked up a copy of Eleanor Ford’s book, The Nutmeg Trail, I expected a history of nutmeg and perhaps other spices. But as soon as I opened the…
Genus Witch Hazels for the Garden (Hamamelis spp)
Witch hazels, Hamamelis spp., are deciduous shrubs or small trees native to eastern North America and eastern Asia. They are in the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, that also includes lorpetalum,…
Plant Profile: Alpine Bottlebrush (Callistemon sieberi aka Melaleuca pityoides)sieberi,
Also known as marsh bottlebrush and river bottlebrush, this broadleaf evergreen shrub is native to Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, Australia, where is grows in and around sphagnum bogs…