Beneficial Insects and How to Attract Them: Fireflies
Karen Also known as lightening bugs, fireflies , are actually beetles belonging to the Lampyridae family of insects. There are over two thousand species, about one hundred fifty of which live…
Plant Profile: Cornish Bellflower (Campanula alliariifolia)
Also known as spurred bellflower, this herbaceous perennial is in the Campanulaceae family that also includes ladybell (Adenophora), Lobelia, and balloon flower. It is native to the Caucasus and Turkey…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Cranberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus)
Native to the mountains of southwestern China, this deciduous shrub grows 2-3’ tall with a spread of 3-6’. Its arching reddish branches grow in a herringbone pattern and carry ¾”…
Plant Profile: Mexican Daisy/Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus )
Mexican daisy is a tender herbaceous perennial native to Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America but has naturalized elsewhere including the west coast of the US. It is…
Book Review: A Handful of Dirt
Raymond Bial’s book, A Handful of Dirt, is photographic essay about soil. Written for children ages 7-10, it covers the important and formation of soil as well as the many…
Rabbit Resistant Plants for the Garden: Spring Blooming Perennials for Sun
Few things are more discouraging that having a beautiful garden eaten by the rabbits. Few plants seem to be off limits for rabbits and tender new growth is especially appealing.…
Plant Profile: Winter Begonia (Bergenia ciliata)
Also called fringed bergenia and hairy leaf bergenia, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the Saxifragaceae family that also includes foamflower (Tiarella), coral bells (Heuchera), and astilbe. It is…
Spring Blooming Perennials with Yellow Flowers for the Garden
It is no coincidence that yellow is used for most traffic signs because it is the most visible of all colors. By using yellow in the garden you can make…
Plant Profile: Rose ‘Hawkeye Belle’
Bred for hardiness, this rose has Hybrid Tea shaped flowers with high centers at first and petals with creamy white edges and blush pink centers. The strongly scented flowers are…
Book Review: On Vegetables
Known for his inventive vegetable dishes, author and chef, Jeremy Fox presents recipes for seventy five signature dishes and seventy five larder recipes in his book, On Vegetables. Although not…