Plant Profile: Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Karen Dill is a cool weather annual and a member of the carrot family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, sea holly, and Queen Anne’s lace. It is native to northern Africa…
Mistletoe Myths and Legends
The Christmas season always ushers in the use of special plants and mistletoe is one of them. I have never been partial to it but have always been intrigued by…
Plant Profile: Lacebark Pine (Pinus bungeana)
We had a specimen lacebark pine on the front lawn of our Annapolis home and it gave us a great deal of pleasure for many years. It was one of…
How to Make a Pine Cone Tussie Mussie for A Christmas Decoration
I enjoy Victorian style decorations for Christmas and one of them is a tussie mussie to go on the door knobs throughout the house. I used to make them of…
Plant Profile: Aloe (Aloe vera aka Aloe barbadensis)
Best known as aloe vera, this evergreen succulent perennial is a member of Asphodelaceae family that also includes daylily (Hemerocallis), red hot poker (Kniphofia), and foxtail lily (Eremurus) Its origin…
Botany for Gardeners: Reproduction-Ten Interesting Facts about Conifer Cones
When the holiday season comes cones of various sorts appear hanging on trees and laying on the ground offering an almost irresistible opportunity for collecting and using them in holiday…
Plant Profile: Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)
Native to East Asia, this fast-growing woody evergreen vine is a member of the mulberry family, Moraceae, that also includes banyan, osage orange, and rubber plant. It grows up to…
How to Make an Easy Inexpensive Indoor Christmas Wreath
I love wreaths on the windows at Christmas and have experimented with various possibilities over the year. My most ambitious project was making 45 boxwood wreaths one for every window…
Plant Profile: Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Also called English thyme, this well branched aromatic evergreen shrub is native to the western Mediterranean region to southern Italy. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, that…
Varieties of Poinsettias for Christmas
Florists, big box stores, and grocery stores offer a huge array of poinsettias every year but most of the ones you see are red, cream, or pink. Go to a…