Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Perry or Pear Cider
Karen Perry is an alcoholic beverage made from pears, specifically perry pears, that are thought to be a hybrid of the cultivated pear, Pyrus communis subsp. commybis, and the wild pear,…
Plant Profile: Prickly Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus aka J. deltoides)
Also known as cade, cade juniper, prickly cedar, and sharp cedar this coniferous evergreen is native to rocky sites in the Mediterranean region from Portugal and Morocco, to southern France…
Weeds and Their Control: Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium)
Hedge bindweed is a herbaceous perennial vine that can trail on the ground or cover fences, trees ,and shrubs with its twining stem. It is a member of the morning…
Plant Profile: Martegon Lily (Lilium chalcedonicum)
Native to Tuscany, Greece, and Albania, this short-lived perennial bulb is a member of the lily family, Liliaceae, that also includes tulips and fritillaria. Plants grow 4-6′ tall and have…
Plants of the Bible: Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
Native to Africa, Middle East and India castor bean is a tender perennial that is very fast growing and quickly becomes a suckering shrub or small tree. Plants are well…
Edible Mushrooms: Beefsteak Mushroom (Fistulina hepatic)
Also known as jelly tongue, and ox tongue, this bracket fungus is )a parasite of oaks and.chestnut trees and can be found singly or in clusters in deciduous woods, parks,…
Plant Profile: Common Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
Native to rocky regions of southwestern Asia, including parts of Turkey, northwestern Syria, Lebanon and northern Israel, the common hyacinth become known as the Dutch hyacinth when it was introduced…
Herbs for Medieval Physics Garden: Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum graecum)
This herbaceous annual was grown from ancient times and is native to the Mediterranean and Middle East, dating back to 4000 BC in Iraq. Also known as Greek hay it…
Plant Profile: Gum Arabic Tree (Acacia nilotica aka Vachellia nilotica)
Also known as babul, thorn mimosa, Egyptian acacia and thorny acacia this evergreen flowering tree or shrub is native to Africa, the Middle East, and India where it is found…
Plants of the Bible: Ivy (Hedera helix)
This evergreen climbing vine is a member of the Aralia family, Araliaceae, that also includes Fatsia and Schefflera and is native to most of Europe and western Asia where it…