Weeds and Their Control: Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsute)
Karen Also called flickweed, this annual weed is native to Europe and Asia but is widespread in the US and Canada. It grows in sun or shade and in damp or…
Plant Profile: Pheasant’s Eye (Adonis amurensis)
This native of Japan and Manchuria is a herbaceous perennial and member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, delphinium, and hellebore. It has many branched stems bearing…
Corydalis for the Garden
Corydalis is an herbaceous annual or perennial belonging to the poppy family (Papaveraceae) and related to bleeding hearts (Dicentra spp.) It is represented by over 400 species that are native…
Book Review: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design
Ornamental grasses are becoming more and more popular for gardens as the desire for naturalistic gardens increases. Nancy J. Ondra’s book, Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design, introduces the…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Madeira Wine
My husband and I have long been fans of Madeira wine. We have visited wineries in Funchal, Madeira, and tasted samples that are over 100 years old. We love the…
Plant Profile: Almond (Prunus amygdalus aka Amygdalus communis)
Almonds are deciduous trees native to the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and North Africa and are members of the rose family, Roseacea. They are in the same genus (Prunus) as…
Plant Combination: Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria) and Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)
Rose campion provides a long season backdrop for many plants and Spanish lavender is one of the most striking. Both plants have attractive silver gray foliage all season into winter…
Plant Profile: White Poplar (Populus alba)
White poplar is a suckering deciduous tree native to moist areas in Europe and central Asia but widely planted throughout the US where it naturalized and is especially prevalent in…
Book Review: Power Vegetables!
From the Lucky Peach comes Power Vegetables!, a collection of recipes focusing on vegetables. The self-proclaimed goal is to produce vegetable dishes that are awesome and the center of attention…
Roses in Art: Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is generally considered to be the time from the fifth century to the fifteen century. During this time feudalism was strong and the power and influence of…