Plant Profile: Trailing Abutilon (Abutilon megapotamicum)
Karen Trailing abutilon is a deciduous or partially evergreen shrub native to Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay where it grows in dry mountain valleys. It is a member of the mallow family,…
Book Review: The Little Tree That Would Not Share
Nicoletta Costa’s book, The Little Tree That Would Not Share, tells the story of young tree living in a city that takes great delight in his new leaves as they…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Pansy
Shakespeare’s pansy is the wild pansy (Viola tricolor) that we call Johnny jump up, not the large flowered hybrid that we know by that name. Also known as love-in-idleness, ,…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Pinks
Pinks are in the genus Dianthus that is a member of the Caryophyllaceae, and includes carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) and sweet william (Dianthus barbatus). Many different species of Dianthus are called…
Plant Profile: Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
This cereal grain is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes rice, corn, and bamboo. Early evidence for barley indicates that it has been grown in Eurasia…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Dames Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Dames rocket is a biennial or short-lived perennial known by a variety of names including dame’s violet, mother of the evening, and sweet rocket. It was introduced from Eurasia into…
Plant Profile: American Senna (Senna hebecarpa)
American senna is a herbaceous perennial native to eastern US from Michigan and Maine through the Appalachians and Atlantic plains south to Georgia where it grows in moist open woodlands,…
Book Review: On Fire
On Fire is a collection of 16 long-form essays from Green New Deal advocate, Naomi Klein, setting out her reason why the economy has to be transformed to address the…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Ebulum
Have you ever heard of ebulum? The word is the ancient Latin name for dwarf elder, Sambucus ebulus and today seems to refer to a strong elderberry ale made from…
Plant Profile: Mountain Heliotrope(Valeriana sitchensis)
In spite of its common name, mountain heliotrope is not a true heliotrope and is not even in the same family. It is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae,…