Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus)
Karen Laurustinus is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to shrubland and wooded rocky slopes of the Mediterranean area of Europe and northern Africa. It is a very attractive plant…
Plant Profile: Night Gladiolus (Gladiolus tristis)
Also known as sad-flowered sword lily, marsh Afrikaner, ever-flowering gladiolus and evening flower, this tender perennial is native to southern Africa and is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae,…
Plant Profile: Dragon Fruit (Selenicereus undatus aka Hylocereus undatus)
Also known as pitaya, Belle-Of-The -Night, Cinderella Plant, Honolulu Queen, and Jesus in the Cradle (to mention just a few names), this lithophytic or hemiepiphytic perennial vine is a cactus…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis)
Also known as bay laural, this aromatic evergreen shrub or small tree is native to the Mediterranean region and a member of the laurel family, Lauraceae, that also includes sassafras,…
Plant Profile: Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana alata)
Also called jasmine tobacco, sweet tobacco, winged tobacco, tanbaku, and Persian tobacco, this annual or tender herbaceous perennial is native from southern Brazil to northeastern Argentina and is a member…
Book Review: Herbs: Gardens, Decorations, and Recipes
Herbs by Emelie Tolley, celebrates herbs with their ability to stimulate the senses and bring joy to every aspect of life. With more than 450 photographs Tolley shares her visits…
Plant Profile: Nippon Daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum aka Chrysanthemum nipponicum)
Also called Montauk daisy and Japanese chrysanthemum, this deciduous flowering sub-shrub is native to cliffs and rocky sites in the coastal regions of Japan and is a member of the…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Myrtle (Myrtus commmunis)
This upright evergreen shrub or small tree is native to southern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, Macaronesia, and the Indian Subcontinent. It is a member of the Myrtaceae family that…
Plant Profile: Night Scented Stock (Matthiola longipetala aka Cheiranthus longipetalus)
Native to Eurasia, this cool weather annual is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes cabbage, broccoli, and Alyssum. It may be upright or sprawling, and has…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Champagne Cider 1
Meriam-Webster dictionary defines champagne cider as “a sparkling cider that is matured in vats and then fermented in bottles to produce effervescence”. My paternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright, includes two…