Book Review: Gardenista
Karen We are all coming to realize that outdoor spaces can be made into extensions of our home and thereby enhance the quality of our lives. Michelle Slatalla, in her book…
Gardens of Singapore: Singapore Botanic Gardens
The garden was established in 1859 by the Agri-Horticultural Society when the Society focused on research useful plants, especially rubber. The design by Lawrence Niven reflects the English landscape gardens…
Plant Profile: Chinese Wingnut (Pterocarya stenoptera)
Chinese wingnut is a deciduous tree native to Southeast China where it grows in forests on mountain slopes or riverbanks. It is in the walnut family, Juglandaceae, that also includes…
Plant Profile: Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium)
Sweet cherry, the main ancestor of the cultivated cherry, is a deciduous tree native to Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia but is widely cultivated elsewhere and has naturalized in…
Book Review: Oh Say Can You Seed?
Author Bonnie Worth’s book, Oh Say Can You Seed?, combines the charm of Dr. Seuss’ classic books with the a botany less on flowering plants. In rhythmic rhyming sentences, the…
Weeds and Their Control: Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsute)
Also called flickweed, this annual weed is native to Europe and Asia but is widespread in the US and Canada. It grows in sun or shade and in damp or…
Plant Profile: Pheasant’s Eye (Adonis amurensis)
This native of Japan and Manchuria is a herbaceous perennial and member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, delphinium, and hellebore. It has many branched stems bearing…
Corydalis for the Garden
Corydalis is an herbaceous annual or perennial belonging to the poppy family (Papaveraceae) and related to bleeding hearts (Dicentra spp.) It is represented by over 400 species that are native…
Book Review: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design
Ornamental grasses are becoming more and more popular for gardens as the desire for naturalistic gardens increases. Nancy J. Ondra’s book, Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design, introduces the…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Madeira Wine
My husband and I have long been fans of Madeira wine. We have visited wineries in Funchal, Madeira, and tasted samples that are over 100 years old. We love the…