Problem-Solving Floribunda Roses
Karen Floribundas offer a big bang for the buck. A cross between a Hybrid Tea and Polyanth, Floribundas produce an abundance of flowers in many colors for many months and are…
Plant Profile: Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Swamp milkweed is a herbaceous perennial native to North America where it grows in moist to wet soils including swamps, ditches, and the edges of ponds, lakes, and streams. It…
Garden Design: Leaf Texture
The texture of leaves can have a big impact on the beauty of a garden yet it is often ignored. Just think about the contrast between the foliage of ferns…
Plant Profile: Southernwood (Artemesia abrotanum)
Also known as Old Man, Lad’s Love and Maiden’s Ruin, this bushy sub-shrub is native to southern Europe, parts of Asia, and Africa and is a member of the aster…
Book Review: Green Thumbs
Green Thumbs by Laurie Carlson is a collection of activities to teach children about gardening from planting seeds to enjoying the produce of flower and vegetable gardens. Written for parents…
Plants for Rain Gardens: Spring Blooming Native Perennials Wet Conditions
The moisture conditions in a rain garden vary and four regions can be identified: areas with 1. shallow water most of the time, 2.wet soil with occasional standing water, 3.…
Plant Profile: Hybrid Columbine (Aquilegia x hybrida)
Hybrid columbines are herbaceous perennials and members of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes monkshood, delphinium, and anemone. There are a large number of hybrid columbines and many are…
Botanical Latin: Pedata
Ped A ta from Latin pes, pedis meaing foot The term is used to describe plant structures, often leaves, that are divided so that they resemble a bird’s foot, with…
Plant Profile: Rose Altissimo
The cup-shaped to flat flowers appear singly or in clusters on long stems, and give way to large orange hips. The petals are uniformly blood red and surround a center…
Book Review: In Defense of Food
How can we decide what to eat when we are bombarded by all the ever-changing information from nutritionists, the food industry, and scientific studies? We all want to eat healthy…