Book Review: What’s Wrong with My Houseplant ?
Karen Houseplants bring life and add color to any décor but unfortunately are often plagued by problems. What’s Wrong with My Houseplant? by authors David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth provides a…
Beneficial Insects and how to Attract Them: Tachinid Flies
There are over 1300 species of tachinid fly in North America, all belonging to the family Tachinidae from which they get their common name. Most trachinid larvae are non-selective parasites…
Plant Profile: Italian Bugloss (Anchusa azurea)
Italian bugloss is a biennial or short-lived perennial native to Europe, western Asia and pars of North Africa. It is a member of the borge family (Boraginaceae) along with forget-me-nots,…
Weeds and Their Control: Waterweed (Ellisia nyctelea)
The annual weed, also known as Aunt Lucy, is a member of the Waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae) and is native to the US where it is found in most states except…
Plant Profile: Rose Celsiana
Clusters of seven to fifteen pale red buds open to rose pink flowers that fade to white. The delicate petals are thin and crinkled, and surround a center of gold…
Book Review: Finding Spring
Spring is a beautiful time of year full of anticipation and promise. Carin Berger’s book, Finding Spring, takes a new look at this popular time of year by including winter…
Native Flowering Perennial Climbers
There are many beautiful perennial native vines that can be useful in the garden. They can be used as a screen, to stabalize an embankment, add a vertical element to…
Plant Profile: Moonflower (Ipomea alba)
m This perennial flowering vine is native to tropical and semi-tropical regions of the New World in South, Central, and North America. A member of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae)…
Botany for Gardeners: Desmanthus
Desmanthus Des MAN thus: from Greek desmos meaning a bundle and anthos meaning a flower Desmanthus is a genus in the bean family (Leuminosae/Fabaceae) and consists of twenty four species…
Plant Profile: Balm-Leaved Red Deadnettle (Lamium orvala)
Also called balm-leaved archangel,, this clump forming herbaceous perennial is native to central and eastern Europe. The heart-shaped leaves are up to six inches long, softly hairy and have serrated…