Plant Profile: Marlberry (Ardisia escallonioides)
Karen Marlberry is an evergreen small tree or large shrub native to southern Florida where it grows in pinelands, marl ridges, and hummocks. It is a member of the primrose family,…
Garden Plants for Flower Arrangements: Red Barrenwort (Epidmedium x rubrum)
Also called bishop’s hat, red barrenwort an herbaceous rhizomaceous perennial and a member of the barberry family (Berberidaceae). It is a hybrid between E. alpinum and E. grandiflorum and is…
Plant Profile: Amur Privet (Ligustrum amurense)
Native to northern China this dense shrub is deciduous in cold climates, semi-deciduous in colder ones. It grows 12-15’ tall and is a member of the olive family, Oleaceae, that…
Book Review: The Power Greens Cookbook
Whether you want to eat greens because you like them or you want the health benefits, Dana Jacobi’s book, The Power Greens Cookbook will expand your recipe choices. Focusing on…
Growing Plants from Seed: Beets (Beta vulgaris)
Garden beets do double duty as vegetable, providing leafy greens as well as a root crop. The root may be red, pink, orange, golden yellow, white, or white and red…
Plant Profile: Winged Elm (Ulmus alata)
Winged elm is a small to medium sized deciduous tree native to the Southeast from Maryland to Kansas and south to Florida and Texas where it gros in open woods,…
Beneficial Arachnida and How to Attract Them: Predatory Mites
There are thousands of predatory mites in North America and they belong to several different arachnid families. The most important family is Phytoseiidae and the mites belonging to this family…
Plant Profile: Shiso (Perilla frutescens)
Shiso, also called beefsteak plant, is a herbaceous perennial herb grown as an annual and is native to Southeast Asia and Indian highlands. It is a member of the mint…
Book Review: Compost Stew
As composting becomes more popular children are getting involved both at home and at school and Mary Siddals book, Compost Stew, is a fun way to capture interest of the…
Earth-Kind Roses: Polyanthas
Polyantha roses are a type of modern rose that is known for its large clusters of small flowers on relatively small, sturdy bushes. The ones described below are all Earth-Kind…