Plant Profile: Highway Iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis)
Karen Highway iceplant is a creeping perennial succulent and a member of the fig-marigold family, Aizoacea, that also includes “living stones”, and New Zealand spinach. It is native to coastal areas…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
Karen Meyers In the Bible, mantles symbolize authority, responsibility, and the transfer of spiritual power as illustrated in the story of Elijah and Elisha. During the Middle Ages people, especially the monks…
Plant Profile: Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)
Also known as bird’s-eye speedwell, and cat’s eyes, this herbaceous perennial is native to Europe where it is found in meadows, hedgerows, and open deciduous woodlands. It is a member…
Book Review: Mystical Mushrooms
Aurora Kane’s book, Mystical Mushrooms, explores a vast variety of topics concerning mushrooms from biology, to history, uses, folklore and real or imagined magical properties. A large section is devoted…
Weeds and Their Control: Ladysthumb (Polygonum persicaria aka Persicaria maculosa)
Also known as redshank, and Jesusplant, this annual weed is a member of the buckwhat family, Polygonaceae, that also includes sorrel, dock, and rhubarb. It is native to Eurasia from…
Plant Profile: White Mugwort (Artemisia lactiflora)
White mugwort is clump forming herbaceous perennial native to India and western China. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisies, sunflowers, and lettuce. Plants…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor)
During the Middle Ages people, the people, especially monks, who cultivated monastic gardens, often named plants to connect them to the attributes of the Virgin Mary and to the life…
Plant Profile: Winecup (Callirhoe involucrate)
Also known as purple poppy mallow, wine cup is a herbaceous perennial native to much of central US where it grows in medium dry soils along roadsides, on hillsides, and…
Book Review: Cool Green: Amazing, Remarkable Trees
Lulu Delacre’s book, Cool Green: Amazing, Remarkable Trees, is a tribute to the diversity of the world of trees. Written for children 4-8 in grades preschool to three, Cool Green…
Weeds and Their Control: Russian Thistle (Salsola iberica aka S. tragus, S. kali, S. australis)
This bushy annual weed is a member of the goosefoot family, Amaranthaceae, that also includes beet, cockscomb, and Gomphrena. It is native to southeastern Russia and western Siberia but was…