Shakespeare’s Garden: Piony
Karen There is considerable disagreement about the nature of “Piony” but some people believe the word refers to the genus Paeonia, the only genus is the family Paeoniaceae and with between…
Plant Profile: Chinese Lespedeza ( Lespedeza cuneata)
Also called Chinese bush clover, this semi-woody perennial is a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also lupines, mimosa, and alfalfa. It is native to China, Korea, Japan, Formosa,…
Plant Combination: Bee-Balm (Monarda didyma) ‘Cambridge Scarlet’ and Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria)
A pleasing color combination of red and yellow plus a contrast in flower shape makes this combination a great addition to the sunny border in summer. Golden Marguerite begins to…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Baronne Edmond de Rothschild’
Deep pink flowers with silvery reverses are borne singly or in small clusters and are 5” across, full, and very fragrant. Their thick textured petals, high bloom form, and long…
Book Review: Vegetable Literacy
Rarely does a cookbook combine botanical and culinary information with recipes but Deborah Madison’s book, Vegetable Literacy, does it in spades. Drawing on her long experience as a gardener and…
Old Time Recipes for Homemade Wine: Cherry Bounce
George and Martha Washington enjoyed cherry bounce and so when cherry season rolls around you can mix up some too. According the my paternal grandmother’s recipes, it is traditionally, an…
Plant Profile: Cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior)
Also called pig-potato and stiff cowbane, this herbaceous perennial is in the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, Queen Anne’s lace, and poison hemlock. It is native to eastern…
The Language of Flowers: Michaelmas Daisy aka New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii aka Symphyotrichum novi-belgii )
Michaelmas daisy is a common name referring to at least two asters, one European (Aster mellus)and the other North American (Aster novibelgii). This entry refers to the latter but the…
Plant Profile: Brazilian Pepper Tree (Schinus terebinthifolius)
Also called Christmasberry tree and Florida holly, this evergreen shrub or small tree is a member of the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that also includes poison ivy, sumac, and smoke tree.…
Book Review: Being the Challenge
Many people are concerned about global warming but how many people actually have changed their lives to improve the situation? Author Peter Kalmus, an atmospheric scientist from Columbia University, is…