Genus Alchemilla for the Garden
Karen Alchemilla is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the rose family (Rosaceae) that also includes cherries, spirea, and hawthorn. Most of the three hundred species of the genus live in…
Edible Mushrooms: Dirty Tricholoma (Tricholoma terreum)
Also called grey knight tricholoma, dirty tricholoma is found growing in troops during the autumn on calcareous soil under conifers especially pine and spruce in Europe and North America. It…
Genus Asarum (Wild Ginger) for the Garden
Asarum is a genus in the pipevine family, Aristolochiaceae, and includes about sixty species including several that are considered garden worthy plants. It acquired the common name, wild ginger, because…
Edible Mushrooms: Slimy Spike-Cap (Glutinous gomphidius)
Native to North America, slimy-spike cap can be found singly or scattered from summer through fall in conifers woods, especially under spruce, pine, and fir trees. It belongs to the…
Genus Eryngium (Sea Holly) for the Garden
Sea hollies are unique looking annuals, biennials, or perennial plants. The leaves are generally hairless, stiff, and spiny. The small green, white or blue flowers are usually carried in dense…
Summer Blooming Blue Perennials for the Garden
As the big splash of spring flowers comes to an end and spring ebbs into summer the challenge of bringing color to the shade garden changes. Blue flowers are always…
Plant Combination: Salvia ‘May Night’ and Daylily ‘Stella D’Oro’
Enjoy a stunning gold and violet blue combination over a long bloom season in a sunny border. Daylily ‘Stella D’Oro’ provides an attractive fountain like mound of long green leaves…
Edible Mushrooms: Chicken Mushroom (Laetiporus sulphureus)
This conspicuous bracket mushroom is native to North America and Europe and grows as a parasite mostly on hardwood trees, particularly on oak,. It appears high up in the tree…
Genus Polygonum (Smartweeds) for the Garden
Polygonum is a genus of flowering plants native to temperate regions and is in the knotweed family, Polygnaceae, that also includes rhubarb, buckwheat and many notorious weeds such as Pennsylvania…
Edible Mushrooms: Chestnut Bolete (Gyroporus castaneus)
The chestnut bolete usually grows in small groups in deciduous forests of Eastern US from summer to fall. It is especially fond of oak stands but also can be found…