Plant Profile: Berberis darwinii
Karen This evergreen shrub is a native of Chile and Argentina. It was discovered by Darwin in Chile in 1835 when he was a naturalist on the Beagle, hence the specific…
Botanical Latin: Potentilla
Potentilla (po ten TILL a) derived from Latin potens, powerful + suffix – illa, little. Potentilla is the genus name for about five hundred plants known for their palmately compound…
Plant Profile: Coral Plant (Berberidopsis corallina)
Coral plant is an evergreen vine found native to forest ravines in Chile. It is now an endangered species due to forest clearance for timber production but is available in…
Book Review: Backyard Blueprints
If you have a small backyard with little charm but also harbor a big desire for a private paradise, consider this very helpful book by David Stevens. In Backyard Blueprints,…
Weeds and Their control: Western Salsify (Tragopogon dubius)
This annual or biennial weed is a native of Eurasia and North Africa but was brought to North America about 1900 and is now common in most of the United…
Plant Profile: Begonia sutherlandii
A native of Tanzania and southern Africa where it grows in trees or in rocky soil along streams in humid forests, this begonia is a tuberous tender perennial that makes…
Hybrid Musk Roses for the Garden
The hybrid musks are a small group of roses that was mainly developed by the British rosairian, Rev. Joseph Pemberton, in the early 20th century. As a group, hybrid musks…
Plant Profile: Astelia chathamica
Native to the Chatham Islands off the Pacific coast of New Zealand where it grows in forest margins, this evergreen herbaceous perennial forms large clumps of gently arching sword like…
Book Review: About Reptiles
Kids love finding a turtle in the garden but what about a snake? Cathryn Sill’s book About Reptiles, show young readers that turtles and snakes as well as alligators and…
Plant Combination Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and Purple Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
These two perennials provide long season interest in the border. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ emerges from the ground in blue-green mounds. As summer approaches it produces masses of tiny green buds…