Book Review: Bugs!
Karen From the What on Earth? Explorer series comes this fascinating book on bugs that is sure to capture the attention of any bug lover. It is set up as a…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Butterfly bush is a deciduous medium to large shrub native to central China where it forms thickets along waterways. It is naturalized in the US, readily colonizes natural and disturbed…
Plant Profile: Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
Threadleaf coreopsis is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, sunflower, and lettuce. It is native to southeastern US where it…
Genus Dianthus for the Garden
Dianthus is a genus in the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, and includes sweet william and pinks. Most of the species are annuals , biennials, or herbaceous perennials and are native to…
Plant Profile: American Alumroot (Heuchera americana)
Also called rock geranium, this evergreen, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial is a member of the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, that also includes astilbe, bergenia, and tiarella. It is native to the eastern…
Book Review: In Search of the Canary Tree
Dr. Lauren E. Oakes, a conservation scientist, takes readers on her scientific and emotional and journey to Alaska to study the yellow cedar. Her research was a blend of ecology…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Caraway (Carum carvi)
Caraway is a biennial and a member of the carrot family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, Queen Anne’s lace, and dill. It is native to moist meadows, arable lands, and…
Plant Profile: Rosa Perle d’Or
The small vermilion buds of this Polyantha rose open to large, long-stemmed clusters of 5-25 deep apricot flowers that fade to mother of pearl from the outside. The petals have…
Plant Profile: Hybrid Coral Bells (Heuchera x brizoides)
Hybrid coral bells are the result of crosses between Heuchera micrantha, H. sanguinea, and H. americana and vary primarily in size, flower color and heat-tolerance. The genus, Heuchera, is in…
The Language of Flowers: Sweet Alyssum (Alyssum maritimum aka Lobularia maritima )
Sweet alyssum is a low growing annual and member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes cabbage, broccoli, and stock. It is native to the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Azores,…