Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Karen Ajuga reptans is a low growing evergreen herbaceous perennial native to Europe where it grows in woods and poor pasture land. It is a member of the mint family, Labiatae,…
Plant Profile: Illinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoiensis)
Also called prairie mimosa and prickleweed, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupines, mimosa, and black locust. It is native to the…
Genus Abutilons for the Garden
Abutilon is a genus with about 150 species of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees native to the tropics and warm temperate areas of the Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas.…
Plant Profile: Lyall’s Angelica (Angelica arguta)
Lyall’s angelica is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes carrots, celery, and Queen Anne’s lace. It is native to western North America…
Book Review: A Seed is the Start
Melissa Stewart’s book A Seed is the Start treats young readers to a botanical lesson about fruits and seeds. Her refreshing approach focuses on the different ways a seed can…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Piony
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…