Shakespeare’s Garden: Aspen
Karen Shakespeare’s aspen was probably Populus tremula a native of the cool areas of Europe, Asia and North Africa and should not be confused with the aspen of North America, Populus…
Plant Profile: Rose ‘Jeanne Lajoie’
Large clusters of ten to forty flowers are produced in profusion continuously. The flowers are flat, round, and full of petals that are rich mid-pink at first fading to pale…
Book Review: Cultivating Chaos
Does a meadow of colorful flowers make your heart sing? Does a forest filled with ferns and spring ephemerals take your breath away? With help from the book, Cultivating Chaos,…
Edible Flowers: Violets, Johnny Jump Ups, and Pansies (Viola spp)
These three members of the genus Viola are spring blooming plants known for their pretty five petaled flowers. The common violet (V. odorata) also known as sweet violet is a…
Plant Profile: Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)
Miner’s lettuce is a rosette-forming annual native to Western North America from British Columbia to California and Mexico where it grows is moist disturbed areas. It is a member of…
Weeds and Their Control: Spiny Pigweed (Amaranthus spinosus)
Spiny pigweed is an annual native to tropical America but has spread into the eastern US and California where it inhabits disturbed areas including cultivated fields, roadsides, and lawns. In…
Plant Profile: Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum)
Sea holly is an evergreen herbaceous perennial and a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae) that includes Queen Anne’ lace, dill, and parsley. It is a native to Europe where…
Book Review: When Spring Comes
When the leafless trees, gray skies, and cold temperatures make winter days seem bleak and endless, the prospect of spring is joyous even though the wait may be long. Kevin…
Butterflies in the Garden and How to Attract Them: Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
The viceroy can be found through out most of the US, southern Canada and northern Mexico where it inhabits moist open or shrubby areas such as land around lakes, along…
Plant Profile: Eastern Blue Star (Amsonia tabernaemontana var salicifolia)
Native to eastern US from New Jersey to Florida and west to the Mississippi River , this herbaceous perennial is a member of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) that also includes…