Plant Profile: Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)
Karen Date palm is a tender evergreen tree that probably orginated in the Fertile Crescent and has been cultivated since 7,000 BC. It is a member of the palm family, Arecaceae,…
Weeds and Their Control: Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)
Also called butter-and-eggs, and wild snapdragon, yellow toadflax is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the plantain family, Plantaginaceae, that also includes snapdragon, foxglove, and turtlehead. It is native…
Plant Profile: English Ivy (Hedera helix)
This evergreen climbing vine is a member of the Aralia family, Araliaceae, that also includes Fatsia and Schefflera. It is native to most of Europe and western Asia where it…
Plants of the Bible: Aloe (Aloe vera aka Aloe barbadensis)
Best known as aloe vera, this evergreen succulent perennial may be native to the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Cape Verde Islands or the Arabian Peninsula. Plants grow 2-3′ high…
Edible Mushrooms: Brown Stew Mushroom (Kuehneromyces mutabilis aka Galerina mutabalis)
Also known as sheathed wood tuft and two toned wood tuft, this widespread mushroom grows in dense troops from spring to the first frost on dead wood in Australia, Asia,…
Gardens in Art: Monastic Garden-Il Fior de Virtu
This woodcut of a monastic garden is the title page from a Florentine verison of Il Fior de Virtu (Flower of Virtue) dating from 1491 and drawn up by friar…
Plant Profile: Henna (Lawsonia inermis)
Native to semi-arid and tropical areas of Africa, Asia, and northern Australia, this slender, much branched, evergreen shrub or small tree is also known as mignonette tree and Egyptian privet.…
Plant Profile: Sweet Flag (Acornum calamus)
This aquatic perennial goes by many name including beewort, calamus, flag root, gladdon, myrtle flag, pine root, sea sedge and sweet cane. It is native to Asia and Europe where…
Plants of the Bible: Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus aka Curcurbita citrullus)
Archaeological and artistic evidence suggests that ancient Egyptians enjoyed eating watermelons over 3,500 years ago. A tiny fragment of a watermelon leaf as well as tomb paintings indicate that the…
Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare aka F. officinale)
Fennel is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the carrot family, Apiaceae that also includes parsley, celery, and Queen Anne’s lace. It is native to the Mediterranean region region…