Weeds and Their Control: Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retrofluxus)
Karen Redroot pigweed is a summer annual native to tropical America but grows throughout the United States including Alaska and Hawaii and is considered a noxious weed in some states. It…
Plant Profile: Siberian Peashrub (Caragana arborescens)
“Underwhelming” is probably the best adjective to describe this extremely hardy plant. Neither the small yellow-pea like flowers nor the pods or leaves will probably excite you, but if you…
Plant Combination: Cool Trio for the Mid-Summer Garden
When the sun shines hot and temperatures rise in mid-summer, it seems as though the garden is full of hot colors, red, orange, and yellow. Beautiful as they are, those…
Plant Profile: Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica)
This deciduous shrub offers masses of yellow flowers on upright and arching green stems for two or three weeks in April or May and may rebloom in the summer. The…
Book Review: The Brother Gardeners: A Generation of Gentlemen Naturalists and the Birth of an Obsession
If you envy English gardeners, take a look at the entertaining yet scholarly book by Andrea Wulf that will change your thinking about plants and garden history. It tells the…
Botany for Gardeners: Taxonomy of Monocots-Identifying the Lily Family (Liliaceae)
Traditionally, the Lily Family (Liliaceae) is huge and made up of diverse plants. It includes many ornamentals such as true lilies, tulips, agave, lily-of-the-valley, and amaryllis, as well as a…
Plant Profile: Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus)
The reddish-brown flowers of this deciduous bush are loaded with a spicy fragrance that will fill the air with their pleasant aroma when they open in late spring. A native…
Gardens of Pompeii: Water Features
In the early days of Pompeii, the grand houses of the wealthy residents did not have an easy source of water and the gardens in the center of the houses…
Plant Profile: Natal Plum (Carissa macrocarpa)
This evergreen shrub has shiny dark green leaves, sharp spines, and fragrant white or pink fragrant flowers that are followed by edible red fruit. The sweet cranberry flavored fruits are…
Book Review: Green Thumbs: A Kid’s Activity Guide to Indoor and Outdoor Gardening.
Sharing something you love with people you love is what makes life so worthwhile so what could be more rewarding to a gardener than introducing children to gardening? Laurie Carlson’s…