Plant Profile: Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium)
Karen Squirting cucumber is a half hardy perennial native to the Mediterranean, northern Africa and temperate areas of Asia where it grows in disturbed soil such as roadsides and waste areas.…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wine: Apple Wine
When fall comes we can look forward to apples and apples mean pies, cider, and perhaps, wine. My paternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright, author of the book Old Time Recipes…
Plant Profile: Rose Souvenir de la Malmaison
Named for the summer house of Empress Josephine, this rose bears its flowers singly or in small clusters. Each flower has soft pink flowers that are creamy white at the…
Book Review: The Little Gardener
One of the pleasures of being a grandmother is introducing and sharing things and activities you love to grandchildren. Jan Gerardi’s book, The Little Gardener’, is a board book aimed…
Growing Plants from Seed: Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
The tall spires of hollyhocks are always a welcome sight but especially in cottage gardens where they evoke a nostalgia for times past. Hollyhock is a native of China and…
Plant Profile: Dragon Arum (Dracunculus vulgaris)
Dragon arum goes by numerous name such as snake lily, voodoo lily, stink lily and black dragon. It is a tuberous herbaceous perennial, a member of the arum family (Araceae),…
Weeds and Their Control: Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris
Puncturevine, also known as goatshead and devil’s thorn, is an annual that is very widespread in the world and US but is especially adapted to growing in dry climates such…
Plant Profile: Tasmanian Tree Fern (Dicksonia antarctica)
This large evergreen tree fern is endemic to Australia where it grows in moist areas such as the creek beds and gullies of woodlands. It is the most common tree…
Book Review: Essential Guide to Cultivating Mushrooms
Growing mushrooms is tricky and very different from growing plants. Stephen Russell’s book, The Essential Guide to Cultivating Mushrooms, aims to provide the basic methods of mushroom cultivation so small…
Grasses for Rain Gardens
Rain gardens can be an important part of a water conservation program. Their efficacy is related to the plants they employ as the plants soak up water, filter it, cleanse…