The Language of Flowers: Rose Acacia (Robinia hispida)
Karen Rose acacia is a flowering deciduous shrub and a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes mimosa, lupine, and alfalfa. It is native to eastern and central US…
Plant Profile: Rose ‘Touch of Class’
Also known as Marechal Leclerc, this French Hybrid Tea commemorates the hero of the liberation of Paris in 1945, Marechal Philippe Leclerc. It has pointed coral buds that slowly open…
Book Review: Root to Leaf
If you are familiar with the term “nose to tail’ you will appreciate Steven Satterfield’s book Root to Leaf that reflects the same approach to cooking. With a concern for…
Poisonous Plants: Common Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Common foxglove is a biennial or short-lived herbaceous perennial that is native to disturbed sites in Europe and Asia but naturalized in parts of North America and has become invasive…
Plant Profile: Canna glauca
Canna glauca is a herbaceous perennial in the Cannaceae family that is most closely related to ginger, bird of paradise, and banana. It is native to the West indies and…
Plant Combination: Day Lily ‘Happy Returns’ and Spiderwort (Tradescantia virgiana aka T. x andersoniana)
Start the season with the sparkling blue of spiderwort while the day lily foliage emerges; then add the lemon yellow of the “Happy Returns’ flower and you have a very…
Plant Profile: Bulbine alooides
This spreading succulent perennial is a member of the Asphodelaceae that also includes aloe, torch lily (Kniphofia), and foxtail lily (Eremus). It is native to the rocky flats of the…
Book Review: Salad for President
Have you ever noticed a link between a salad and art? Probably not and Julia Sherman’s book ,Salad for President, will get you thinking about it. Sherman approaches salad making…
Weeds and Their Control: Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Also called goutweed, this rapidly growing herbaceous perennial is native to Eurasia but has been introduced into the US where it is often used as a ground cover. It is…
Plant Profile: Winter-Blooming Bergenia (Bergenia crassifolia)
Known by many names including leather leaf bergenia, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the Saxifracaceae family that also includes astilbe, foam flower (Tiarella), and coral bells (Heuchera). It…