Shakespeare’s Garden: Holly
Karen Holly is in the genus Ilex, a member of the plant family Aquifoliaceae and consists of 400 to 600 species that include evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers. Shakespeare’s…
Plant Profile: Parrot’s Beak (Clianthus puniceus)
Also called lobster’s claw, this native of New Zealand’s North Island, is a small bushy evergreen shrub in the legume family (Fabaceae) . The dark green to gray green leaves…
Botanical Latin: Saintpaulia
Saintpaulia (Saint PAWL ee a) named for Baron Adalbert Emil Walter Redcliffe Le Tanneaux von Saint Paul-Illaire who first discovered the African violet. The baron was an avid plant collector…
Plant Profile: Honesty (Lunaria annua)
This biennial often grown as an annual is native to the Balkans and southwest Asia and is also called money plant, silver dollars, Chinese coins, and similar, because of its…
Book Review: In Search of Remarkable Trees
AAuthor and photographer, Thomas Pakenham searches for “wow trees” like others search for gold or adventure. In his third book on amazing trees he goes to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia,…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Box (Buxus sempervirens)
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), as it is called in America, is a slow growing evergreen shrub or small tree (15-30 feet tall) native to North Africa, western Asia, and Europe where…
Plant Profile: Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
This short-lived tender perennial is native to southern Europe and North Africa but has naturalized in much of Europe where it is grown as an annual. It is a member…
Growing Plants from Seeds: Scarification
Seeds need water in order to germinate yet some seeds have tough seed coats that prevent moisture from penetrating. The tough seed coat is a protection against early germination that…
Plant Profile: Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Lemon grass is an evergreen, clump-forming perennial native to southern India and Sri Lanka where it grows in dry stony areas. The bulbous lower leaf section of the plant is…
Book Review: How to Create a Wildlife Garden
The “back to nature” trend has made gardeners more aware of the role of wildlife in the garden and increased their desire to live in harmony. How to Create a…