Plant Profile: Western Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)
Karen This short-lived long blooming herbaceous perennial is native to western North America where it is found on ridges and dry slopes as well as in mountain meadows and grasslands. It…
Book Review: Worldchanging: A User’s Guide for the 21st Century
The gloom and doom journalism that we read constantly in the media can be unnerving but the book, Worldchanging, provides hope that these problems can be solved. A companion to…
Weeds and Their Control: Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Also known as creeping Charlie, ground ivy is native of Europe and Asia that was brought to North America by early settlers for its medicinal and culinary value. It has…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Mrs. B. R. Cant’
The cupped flowers are borne on long stems singly or in small clusters and come in generous flushes throughout the growing season beginning in late spring and ending with the…
How to Care for Bonsai: Satsuki Azalea
There are hundreds of kinds of azaleas but the most popular for bonsai are the Satsuki. Satsuki azaleas are evergreen shrubs native to Japan where they have been hybridized for…
Plant Profile: Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens)
This native of eastern United States is a slow growing herbaceous perennial that forms attractive clumps that are evergreen in zones 7 and warmer. It is amember of the box…
Book Review: Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Pots
The thought of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and corn from the garden appeals to most gardeners but only some have the garden space to grow their own vegetables. Lack of space…
Botanical Latin: Dentata
Dentata (den TAY tuh) derived from the Latin dens, dentis (tooth), meaning toothed Often used as the specific epithet, dentata usually refers to the margins of the leaves. American chestnut,…
Plant Profile: Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
Castor bean is native to Africa, Middle East and India but has naturalized all over the world in subtropical and tropical areas where it can be found in disturbed areas…
Ornamental Grasses as Valuable Garden Plants
Ornamental grasses have become increasingly popular in the last few decades. Before 1950 they were rare in American landscapes but since that time they have become a staple in American…