Plant Profile: Canna glauca
Karen 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…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Quince
The quince (Cydonia oblonga) belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) along with apples, pears, and almonds. It is native to southwest Asia, Turkey, and Iran where it grows on rocky…
Plant Profile: Pineleaf Milkweed (Asclepias linaria)
Also called pine-needle milkweed, this evergreen herbaceous perennial or subshrub is a member of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes periwinkle. It is native to Arizona, New Mexico, and…
Plant Profile: Running Rock Cress (Arabis procurrens)
A stoloniferous herbaceous perennial, running rock cress is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes cabbage, alyssum, and candytuft. It is native to Southern Europe where it…
Book Review: Medical Marijuana Dispensary
The mother and daughter-in-law team, Laurie Wolf and Mary Wolf offer an introduction to medical marijuana in their book, The Medical Marijuana Dispensary. As owners of a company in Oregon…