A Visit to a Tea Village, Longjing, China
Karen For years I have heard about the health benefits of green tea and on occasion have bought a box at the supermarket and tried to make a habit of drinking…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Hannah Gordon’
Named for the Scottish actress, Hannah Gordon, this upright rose can be tall and is a good specimen for the back of the border. Classified as a pink blend, the…
Book Review: Salvage Style for the Garden
If browsing at garage sales and flea markets is for you, take a good look at this book and learn to turn someone else’s cast-offs into works of art for…
Weeds and Their Control: Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense)
Horsenettle is not a true nettle and is in the nightshade family along with potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. It is native to southeastern United States but has spread throughout…
Plant Profile: Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
This upright, suckering shrub is a native of coastal North America and was important in colonial times when candles were made from the berries. It is a member of the…
The Story of Iris
The genus Iris includes over 250 species that range in size from the diminutive Iris danfordiae and I reticulata (4-6”) to tall I. pallid, I. siberica, and I. pseudacorus growing…
Plant Profile: Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia aka Pyrus arbutifolis aka Photinia pyrifolia)
A native of thickets in wet areas such as bogs and swamps from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to Michigan, Missouri, and Texas, this deciduous shrub is a member…
Book Review: Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables
Does the thought of cantaloupe at Thanksgiving or garden tomatoes at Christmas make your mouth water? If so, you might want to consider learning the techniques of root cellaring, a…
Weeds and Their Control: Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
Brought to North American by European settlers for the food value of its root, wild parsnip escaped from gardens and is now found in most of the continental United States.…
Plant Profile: Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
This low growing juniper is a native of North America where it is found growing on coastal cliffs and stony hillsides. It is an evergreen ground-hugging shrub with long trailing…