The Language of Flowers: Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Karen Asclepias is a genus of herbaceous perennials and a member of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes blue star (Amsonia), periwinkle (Vinca), and oleander (Nerium). There are over 140…
Plant Profile: Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)
Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) Also called mosquito grass, this warm-season tufted perennial is native to southern and western US where it was the dominant grass in the short grass prairie…
Plants of the Bible: Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)
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,…
Edible Mushrooms: Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibaius)
The chanterelle is common throughout the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere where it grows in troops from mid summer to fall in association with spruce and pine, sometimes with…
Plant Profile: Sand Lovegrass (Eragrostis trichodes)
Native to prairies, open woods, rocky slopes and roadsides of the western plains states, this perennial grass is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes bamboo, rice,…
Gardens in Art: Medieval Farm-Garden Complex
One of the best and most well-known sources of information on medieval gardening is Petrus Crescentius, jurist from Bologna Italy, who worte an agricultural treatise based on classical and medieval…
Plant Profile: Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Ponderosa pine is a large confierous evergreen tree native to rocky cliffs and dry slopes in mountainous regions of western US from southwestern North Dakota, south the Texas and west…
Plants of the Bible: Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqua)
Also called St. John’s-bread and locust bean, this evergreen tree is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae) and native to Southern Europe, Northern Africa, the Levant, Middle East and…
Plant Profile: Betony (Stachys officinalis aka Betonica officinalis)
This herbaceous perennial is native to grasslands, meadows, and open woods of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa and is also known as common hedgenettle and bishopwort. It is a…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Bachelor’s Button
The plant known as bachelor’s button today is Centaurea cyanus, an annual native to Europe. It is in the aster family, Asteraceae that also includes daisies, sunflowers, and lettuce. Intense…