Meadow Garden: Native Sedges
Karen Meyers Sedges offer numerous benefits to meadows and some can be used instead of turf grass for lawns. They are aesthetically pleasing and play a significant role in in the ecological…
Plant Profile: Rose Acacia (Robinia hispida)
Karen Also known as bristly acacia, this flowering deciduous shrub is native to eastern and central US and is a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes mimosa, lupine,…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum AKA Asperula odorata) Our Lady’s Lace, Our Lady’s Needlework
Sweet woodruff has been valued since the Middle Ages for its medicinal and aromatic properties. It was used to treat various ailments from wounds to heart problems, and to freshen…
Plant Profile: Japanese Poplar (Populus maximowiczii)
This deciduous tree is native to China, Japan, and Korea where it grows in sunny fluvial plains, river banks, and woodlands. It is a member of the willow family, Salicaceae,…
Book Review: From Plant to Plate
In their book, From Food to Plate, Darryl Gadzekpo and Ella Phillips share their knowledge of cooking, gardening and plant-powered food in a comprehensive guide to growing your own produce…
Groundcovers for Shade: Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Lily of the valley is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial native to the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere and grows best where summers are warm but not hot. Each plant…
Plant Profile: Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
This deciduous shrub is known by several names including blue huckleberry and swamp huckleberry and is a member of the heath family, Ericaceae, that also includes heather, cranberries, and azaleas.…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum sp.) Our Lady’s Hair
Mary is usually shown in Medieval and Renaissance art with most of her hair covered by a veil or scarf as was the Jewish custom of her time. Women, especially…
Plant Profile: Rayless Sunflower (Helianthus radula)
Also known as pineland sunflower, this tender perennial is native to southeastern US from South Carolina to Florida and eastern Louisiana where it grows in sandy uplands, along moist to…
Growing Bulbs in the Natural Garden
Internationally acclaimed designer, Jacqueline van der Kloet, shares her extensive knowledge and expertise in her book, Growing Bulbs in the Natural Garden. Comprehensive in nature, the book includes the basic…