Plants of the Bible: Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqua)
Karen 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…
Plant Profile: Cherrystone Juniper (Juniperus monosperma)
Also called one-seeded juniper, this evergreen coniferous shrub or small tree is native to the mountains of southwestern US including Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colordo, panhandle of Oklahoma, and western…
Weeds and Their Control: Common Velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus)
Common velvetgrass is a tufted perennial and a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes bamboo, corn, and rice. It is native to Europe , western Asia, and…
Plant Profile: Wild Plum (Prunus americana)
This suckering deciduous tree is also known as American plum and yellow plum and is native to North America from Saskatchewan and Idaho south to New Mexico and East to…
Plant Profile: Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
Also called yellowcress, this aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial is native to Europe and Asia where it grows in cold lakes and reservoirs, and along slow-moving streams and rivers. It is…
Butterflies in the Garden and How to Attract Them: Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) CHECK BEFORE POSTING
The eastern black swallowtail is found in eastern US from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rockies into Arizona and and Mexico. It inhabits open areas such as suburbs, gardens, farmland,…
Plant Profile: Soapwort (Yucca glauca aka Y. angustifolia)
Native to dry rocky soils of central US and Canada, this evergreen herbaceous perennial has many common names including beargrass, Great Plains yucca, narrowleaf yucca, and Spanish bayonet. It is…
Plant Combination: Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia) ‘Royal Standard’ and Sneezeweed (Helenium)‘Moerheim Beauty’
The strong thrust of the tall poker ‘Royal Standard’ provides a striking contrast to the daisy-like flower heads of ‘Moerheim Beauty’ while the colors of ‘Moerheim Beauty’ echo the changing…