Christmas Butterfly (Papillon demodocus)
Karen The Christmas butterfly is a swallowtail native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is also known as citrus butterfly because of the damage it does to citrus crops, and as orange dog…
Plant Profile: Water Arum (Calla palustris)
A relative of the tropical calla lily and peace lily, water arum has the same type of inflorescence consisting of a showy white spath cuped around a fleshy central spadix…
Book Review: Flowers and Herbs of Early America
Growing out of research at Colonial Williamsburg, curator Lawrence’s Griffiths book, Flowers and Herbs of Early America, provides the historical background on fifty eight species of plants that were available…
Herb Companions for Old Garden Roses
There is nothing new about growing herbs and roses together. Roses were traditionally grown as an important part of the herb garden because of their supposed value for curing a…
Plant Profile: ‘Blackbird’ Spurge (Euphorbia ‘Nothowlee’)
The velvety dark purple foliage of ‘Blackbird’ spurge is striking in the garden from spring until fall. The foliage color is stimulated by sunlight so plants grown in full sun…
Weeds and Their Control: Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
Also known has Canadian Fleabane, Coltstail, Marestail and Butterweed, horseweed is found throughout to North and Central America where it grows along road sides, and in waste areas, meadows, fields,…
Book Review: The Nonstop Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide to Smart Plant Choices and Four-Season Designs.
Is there any gardener that would not like a nonstop garden? That is, one that provides year round beauty. Of course, we all would and authors Stephanie Cohen and Jennifer…
Weeds and Their Control: Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)
Common cinquefoil, also known as oldfield cinquefoil, is a low growing perennial that resembles a strawberry plant with yellow flowers. It is native to tall grass prairies but is now…
Plant Profile: New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis)
I am partial to ferns so I am likely to incorporate almost any fern into my garden but this fern offers some unique characteristics that make it special. It forms…
Flowering Vines for Ground Covers
Chances are that if you are growing vines they are growing up on a wall, fence or trellis. But many vines can be used as ground covers where they will…