Plant Profile: Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana)
Karen Wayfaring tree is a large deciduous shrub growing up to 15’ tall and wide and a member of the moschatel family, Adoxaceae, that also includes elders (Sambucus). It is native…
Beneficial Insects and How To Attract Them: Damsel Bugs
There are over five hundred species of damsel bugs worldwide, forty of which are found in North America. They belong to the insect family Nabidae and the most common ones…
Plant Profile: Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
This autumn blooming perennial is a member of the Colchicaceae family and not related to spring blooming crocus that is in the iris family, Iridaceae. It is also called naked…
Book Review: The Fruits We Eat
We all recognize that fruit is a healthy food and tastes sweet and delicious yet how much do we or our children really know about this special food? Gail Gibbons’…
Weeds and Their Control: Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Multiflora rose is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or climbing vine that is probably the parent of ramblers and the popular Polyantha roses of today. Native to Japan, Korea, and eastern…
Plant Profile: Climbing Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
Also called bittersweet, poisonflower, and many other common names, this deciduous semi-woody perennial vine is a member of the potato family, Solonaceae, that also include peppers, tobacco, and petunia. The…
Plant Profile:Porcelain Vine (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
Also known as amur peppervine, and wild grape, porcelain vine is a woody, deciduous herbaceous perennial that climbs by tendrils. It is a member of the grape family, Vitaceae, that…
The Language of Flowers: Introduction
The language of flowers, also called florography, refers to the use of flowers and plants to secretly communicate with others. It is the result of the a blending of traditions…
Book Review: The Broad Fork
Whether you have a CSA, a vegetable garden, good Farmer’s Market, or a well stocked grocery store, you might want to learn new ways to cook vegetables and fruits. Hugh…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Fine Clary Wine
Clary (Salvia sclarea) is a biennial herb that has a long history of use to remove irritants from the eye and to flavor alcoholic beverages. German wine merchants in the…