Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Anise-Seed Cordial
Karen Most Mediterranean countries have favorite anise flavored spirit. Think Absinth and Anisette in France, Sambuca in Italy, and Ouzo in Greece. The drinks are made from anise seed which made…
Plant Profile: African Sheepbush (Pentzia incana aka Chrysanthemum incanum)
Native to South Africa and Namibia, this aromatic subshrub is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflower, yarrow, and lettuce. The plants form dense bushy mounds…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Toad Lily (Tricyrtis hirta)
Revive the garden in late summer to fall with the unusual orchid-like flowers of this herbaceous perennial. The 1 ‘ long flowers are carried singly or in clusters of 2-3…
Plant Profile: Tiger Claw (Erythrina variegata)
Also called Indian coral tree, this deciduous tree is native to warm coastal areas of tropical and subtropical India and Malaysia. It is a member of the bean family, Fabaceae,…
Plants of the Bible: Winter Crocus (Crocus hyemalis)
Native to rocky areas and undergrowth of Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, this perennial corm is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiolus, crocosmia, and blue-eyed…
Invasive Plants and Their native Alternatives: Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Tree of heaven is a deciduous tree native to northern China, Taiwan, northern Korea, and Tibet. It was introduced to the US in 1784 as an ornamental and naturalized wherever…
Plant Profile: Foxtail Lily (Eremurus robustus)
Also known as giant desert candle, this perennial bulb is native to central Asia and is a member of the Asphodelaceae family that also includes daylily (Hemerocallis), red hot poker…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’)
With long, arching leaves horozontally striped with wide bands of cream and green this warm weather perennial grass grows 4-6′ tall in tight rounded clumps. By mid September it reaches…
Plant Profile: Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia, this herbaceous biennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. The plants produce a…
Plants of the Bible: Desert Tamarix (Tamarix tetragyna)
Also known as 4-stamen tamarix and salt cedar, this evergreen tree is native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterrean, Iran and the Arabian Peninsula where it grows in sandy…