Botanical Latin: Convallaria
Karen Convallaria (kon val AIR ee a)from the Latin word convallis meaning valley + the suffix aria meaning a place containing In Song of Solomon 2.1 of the Vulgate Bible the…
Plant Profile: Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica aka C. glabra)
Arizona cypress is a coniferous evergreen tree native to western US from Texas west to Utah and California, south to central Mexico where it grows in woodland edges, clearings, and…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wine: Mead
Mead, also called honey wine, is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with water sometimes with the addition of spices, hops, grains or fruits. Archeological evidence indicates that it…
Plant Profile: Rock Candytuft (Iberis saxatilis)
Rock candytuft is a perennial subshrub with a woody base native to the western Mediterranean. It is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes rockcress, alyssum, and…
Book Review: Improving Your Soil
Good soil is basic to any garden and Keith Reid’s book, Improving Your Soil, is a comprehensive guide for learning how to create the best soil for your plants. Written…
Book Review: The Sun King’s Garden
Ian Thompson’s book, The Sun King’s Garden, presents a cultural, social, and political history of the times that surround the creation of the gardens of Versailles. He shows how the…
Weeds and Their Control: Common Burdock (Arctium minus)
Take a walk with your dog in a place where common burdock grows and you will spend the following half hour pulling the brown burs off your clothing and pet’s…
Plant Profile: Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)
This deciduous tree is native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia and Ontario, south to Georgia and west to Kansas where it grows in woodland edges, thickets, rock outcroppings,…
Edible Flowers: Elderflowers (Sambucus nigra)
The European elder tree (Sambucus nigra) that produces elderflower for culinary use is native to most of Europe where it grows in both wet and dry, fertile soil, mostly in…
Plant Profile: Rose ‘Casino’ (aka ‘Gerbe d’Or’)
Deep yellow buds open to light yellow flowers that fade to creamy white. The flowers are borne singly or in clusters and have a Hybrid Tea-like form in the first…