Plant Profile: Paradise Tree (Simarouba amara)
Karen The paradise tree is an evergreen understory tree native to the rainforests and savannahs of the Caribbean, and South and Central America. It is a member of the Simaroubaceae family…
Beneficial Insects and How to Attract Them: Rove Beetle
Rove beetles belong to the family Staphylinidae, one of the largest family of beetles, with over sixty thousand species worldwide and over three thousand species in North America. Since there…
Plant Profile: Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoids)
Maiden pink is an evergreen herbaceous perennial native to Europe and western Asia. It is a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae.that also includes baby’s breath, Lynchnus, and soapwort (Saponaria).…
Book Review: The Flavor Bible
Cooking can be a very creative process if you have an understanding of the aesthetic of flavor. The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dorneburg presents a guide to…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wine: Quince
Not many people grow quinces or do much with the fruit. It is a deciduous tree related to pears and apples and has been grown for its fruit as well…
Plant Profile: Sand Pine (Pinus clausa)
Sand pine is a coniferous shrubby tree native to areas in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama where it grows in the infertile very well-drained soils of ridges, barrens, and dunes. It…
Plant Combination: Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) ‘Burgundy Lace’ and Coral Bells (Heuchera) ‘Plum Pudding’
For long season color in a shade garden try this subtle combination of fern and coral bells. Coral bells ‘Plum Pudding’ is evergreen in warm climates and has plum purple…
Plant Profile: New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae aka Symphyotrichum novae-angliae )
New England aster, also called Michaelmas daisy, is a herbaceous perennial native to much of the US from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast where it grows in a…
Book Review: A Plant Based Life
The growing interest in a healthy life style has led to an increasing number of people changing their diet and eating more plant based meals. Micaela Cook Karlsen’s book, A…
Botanical Latin: Crocosmia
Crocosmia (kro CAWS a) from the Greek words krokos meaning saffron and osme meaning smell. The dried flowers of the plant have a strong saffron smell when placed in water.…