Weeds and Their Control: Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
Karen The bane of every hay fever sufferer, common ragweed is a summer annual native to North America and is found throughout the United States including Hawaii but not Alaska. It…
Plant Profile: Sea Buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides)
Grown in China for twelve centuries for its medicial uses this spiny deciduous shrub may become the next health food fad but is a useful garden plant too. The outstanding…
Rose Garden Themes: Beverages-Wine
With wine tasting on the rise it is not surprising to find roses named after wines. The wine-named roses are hybrid teas, floribundas, miniatures and one David Austin English rose.…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Hot Princess’
The hot pink color with purple undertones has made ‘Hot Princess’ a favorite with exhibitors and florists alike. The color does not fade even on hot days and the blooms…
Book Review: Small Green Roofs: Low-Tech Options for Greener Living
Green roofs are not just for large scale commercial building. They can also bring homeowners benefits such as water conservation, storm water management, and energy savings. Small Green Roofs focuses…
Weeds and Their Control: Clammy Groundcherry (Physalis heterophylla)
If you are familiar with the cultivated plant Chinese lantern you will recognize its cousin, clammy groundcherry. Both are perennials in the genus Phasalis, produce papery lantern like structures, and…
Plant Profile: Leatherleaf Mahonia (Mahonia bealei)
This large, gangly evergreen shrub is a native of China but grows especially well in southern United States where it is sometimes considered invasive. It is a member of the…
Flowering Shrubs for Containers
Flowering shrubs grown in containers can be used in many ways. They can line a driveway or walk, decorate a swimming pool, patio, deck or terrace, or screen off an…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Gemini’
The rose ‘Gemini’ has long pointed buds with large outer petals that reflex at the tips as they unfurl to form a flower with creamy white center surrounded by a…
Book Review: Language of Flowers: A Novel
Whether you are new to the language of flowers or well versed in it, Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s novel is intriguing and fascinating. During the Victorian era people used flowers to convey…