Earth-Kind Roses: Old Garden Roses
Karen Old garden roses are those types that existed prior to 1867 when the first hybrid tea, ‘La France’ was introduced. These roses were generally extolled for their form and fragrance…
Plant Profile: Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida aka Cercidium florida)
This small deciduous tree to large shrub is native to the Sonoran desert of southeastern California, Arizona, and Mexico where it grows in intermittent streams, arroyos, and riverbanks. It is…
Beneficial Insects and How to Attract Them: Minute Pirate Bugs
Minute pirate bugs are predatory insects belonging to the Anthocoridae family. There are up to six hundred species worldwide of which about seventy species occur in North America. Most are…
Plant Profile: Showy Fleabane (Erigeron speciosus)
Showy fleabane, also called aspen or garden fleabane, is a herbaceous perennial native to open woods, prairies, meadows, and roadsides from Alberta and British Columbia, south to the Black Hills,…
Book Review: The 420 Gourmet
To the uninitiated a gourmet cookbook devoted to recipes using marijuana seems like a oxymoron but The 420 Gourmet is a foodies delight. Written by an author who calls himself…
Plant Profile: Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Multiflora rose is a multi-stemmed shrub or climbing vine that is probably the parent of ramblers and the popular Polyantha roses of today. It grows five to twelve feet tall…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
Also known as rowan, this deciduous shrub or small tree grows up to 40’ tall and is native to light woodlands in almost all of Europe, parts of Asia, and…
Plant Profile: Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Rose of Sharon is a vigorous deciduous shrub growing 8-10’ tall and is a member of the mallow family, Malvaceae ,that also includes okra, cotton, coffee, and hollyhock. It is…
Book Review: Plantlab
Author Matthew Kenny presents a cookbook that shows how artistic and accessible a plant-based cuisine can be. The book, Plantlab, immediately catches the eye with its bold vibrant color photographs…
Weeds and Their Control: Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
Alligator weed is a perennial native to South American but spread to many parts of the world including the US where it is invasive and considered a Federal Noxious Weed.…