Ornamental Grasses for Cold Climates
Karen Ornamental grasses are more and more popular as garden styles are changing and a natural look is developing. They have a lot to offer a gardener because they can play…
Plant Profile: King’s Spear (Asphodeline lutea)
This evergreen clump-forming perennial is native to the eastern Mediterranean, north Africa and Turkey, where it grows in scrubby meadows and rocky slopes. It produces whorls of grassy gray-green foliage…
Botanical Latin: Pogonia
Pogonia (puh GOH nee uh) derived from Greek pogon meaning beard Pogonia is a genus of terrestrial orchids that includes four species native to temperate regions, mostly in Asia. The…
Plant Profile: Lords and Ladies (Arum italicum)
This herbaceous perennial is a native of the Mediterranean region and other parts of Europe and the East, but has naturalized in various parts of the world including scattered places…
Book Review: A Greener Life
The appeal of producing your own food has never been more popular in recent times and is still on the rise. In their book, A Greener Life, authors Clarissa Wright…
Plant Combination: Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and Russian Sage (Pervoskia atriplicifolia)
This long lasting combination begins in summer when purple coneflower opens its daisy-like pink flowers. A short time later Russian sage’s gray stems produce small light blue flowers producing a…
Plant Profile: Mouse Plant (Arisaema proboscideum)
Mouse plant is a herbaceous perennial related to Jack in the Pulpit and is a native of Spain and Italy where it grows in shaded woodlands and marshy areas, It’s…
Amsonias (bluestars) for the Garden
Amsonias, also known as bluestars and dogbane, are subshrubs or perennials belonging to the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes oleander, periwinkle, and mandevilla. Bluestars are native to North America…
Plant Profile: Cruel Vine (Araujia sericifera aka Physianyhus)
Also known as moth plant and white bladderflower, this fast growing creeping vine is a native of Argentina and Brazil where it grows in forest margins, river banks and disturbed…
Book Review: Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines
When going through old books belonging to my family I came across this one written by my paternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright, a very straight-laced lady from Washington D.C. and…