Plant Profile: Royal Azalea (Rhododendron schlippenbachii)
Karen This dense flowering deciduous shrub is native to Korea, Manchuria, Japan and far east Russia where it grows in the understory of mountain forests. It is a member of the…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Heather (Calluna vulgaris) “Our Lady’s Adversary”
Karen Meyers The connection between heather and the Virgin Mary is obscure and speculative. Most of the legends about heather come from areas where it grows abundantly, such as Scotland, Ireland, and…
Plant Profile: Woodbine (Lonicera periclymenum)
Also known as European honeysuckle, this twining deciduous shrub has a vine-like growth habit. It is native to woodlands, hedgerows and scrublands of Europe, North Africa and western Asia and…
Book Review: The 30-Minute Gardener
In his book, The 30-Minute Gardener, author Greg Loades shows readers how 30 minutes a day can be used to produce and maintain a garden. With a focus on enjoying…
Edible Mushrooms: Field Blewit (Lepista saeva aka L. personata aka Clitocybe saeva)
Less common than wood blewit (Lepista saeva), field blewit is native to Europe and the British Isles. It often appears in groups or fairy rings usually in chalk or limestone…
Plant Profile: Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis)
Also known as cucumberleaf sunflower, and East Coast dune sunflower, this short-lived tender perennial is a native of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the US where it grows in…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Chives (Allium schoenopras) “Our Lady’s Garlic”
The association between Mary and chives or garlic is illusive. Both plants are in the same genus, Allium, along with onions, shallots and leeks. The Bible does not mention chives…
Plant Profile: Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium martagon)
Known since 1568, this herbaceous perennial is a native of Europe and Asia. It is a member of the Liliaceae plant family that also includes tulips, fritillaries, and Quamash. Plants…
Book Review: Guide to Growing Organic Food
Tanya Denckla Cobb’s book, Guide to Growing Organic Food, is a comprehensive guide to growing food crops by sustainable, organic methods. Cobb covers a wide range of science-backed practices with…
Edible Mushrooms: March Wax Cap (Hygrophorus marzuolus)
The March wax cap grows singly, scattered or in clusters in the siliceous soil of mixed forests in the mountains of North America, Europe and Asia. It appears in the…