Plant Profile: Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Karen Common buckthorn is a suckering deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 25’ tall and a member of the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae that also includes wild lilacs (Ceanothus) It…
Edible Flower: Tulips (Tulipa spp)
Tulips are spring-blooming perennial bulbs that do well in in many areas of the US. They grow best in areas where summers are dry and winters are cold so thrive…
Plant Profile: Green Columbine (Aquilegia viridiflora)
Green columbine is a mound-forming herbaceous perennial native to China, Japan, Mongolia, and Siberia where it grows in forests, grassy slopes, valleys and wet places. It is a member of…
Book Review: Eating on the Wild Side
When faced with an ever increasing array of fruits and vegetable in grocery stores, specialty stores, and Farmers’ Markets, it is difficult to decide what foods to choose for the…
Weeds and Their Control: Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)
Also called wiregrass, this small annual grass is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes oats, bamboo, and rice. It is native to warm climates around the…
Plant Profile: Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Also known as absinthe, this wood-based subshrub is native to Mediterranean Europe, temperate regions of Asia, and northern Africa where it grows in dry open areas, often on rocky slopes.…
Plant Combination: Brazilian Verbena (Verbena bonariensis) and Arkansas Blue Star (Amsonia hubrechtil)
A “see through” plant like Brazilian verbena creates a beautiful sight when paired with the delicate foliage of narrow leaf blue star. The action starts with the emergence of the…
Plant Profile: Rose ‘Frontenac’
Masses of cupped shaped light crimson or deep pink flowers are produced in clusters of three to eight. A patch of white adorns the center and forms streaks into the…
Book Review: Embroideries from an English Garden
One look at the pictures of the competed projects will tell you that this book is special. Embroideries from an English Garden by Carol Andrews present fifteen projects inspired by…
Growing Plants from Seed: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Lettuce is one of the most successful crops for the home gardener. There are four basic of types of lettuce. 1. Leaf lettuce such as ‘Black Seeded Simpson’ and ‘Oakleaf’…