Plant Profile: Giant Scabiosa (Cephalaria gigantea)
Karen This clump forming herbaceous perennial is native from the Caucasus to Siberia where it grows in meadows and mountain pastures. It is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that…
Book Review: Kitchen Garden Estate
With the renewed interest in ‘growing our own”and self-sufficiency the methods of the past offer many valuable lessons. Helen Gammack’s book, Kitchen Garden Estates, traces gardening practices from ancient and…
Growing Plants from Seed: Petunia
Petunias are tender perennials native to South America but grown as annuals. They belong to the tomato family (Solonacea) that also includes tobacco, peppers, and eggplant. There are about twelve…
Plant Profile: White Flowered Chinese Butterfly Bush (Buddleja fallowiana var alba)
A native of Yunnan in western China, this deciduous shrub grows in open woodland, and along forest edges and waterways. White felted shoots bear lanceolate silver-green leaves up to ten…
Weeds and Their Control: Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)
This attractive herbaceous perennial native to Europe and western Asia was introduced to North America and is considered invasive in many areas. It likes disturbed, moist soil and shady conditions…
Plant Profile: Rose Souvenir de la Malmaison
Named after the chateau of Empress Josephine, this rose has cup-shaped pale pink flowers fading to white at the edges. The flowers are borne singly or in small clusters and…
Book Review: Kingdom of Plants
The relationship of plants to other plants, animals, and humans is a topic that should interest all of us. Will Benson, in his book, Kingdom of Plants, delves into these…
Celebrating New Years Russian-Style with Olivier Salad
You may not think of a salad as typical New Year’s fare but many Russians around the world do. Russian New Year, Novy God, is celebrated with a tree, Grandfather…
Plant Profile: Crimped Bellflower (Campanula zoysii)
This semievergreen perennial is native to southeastern Alps where it grows in limestone rock crevices in subalpine to alpine zones. The plants are low growing and slowly form cushions two…
Growing Plants from Seed: Germination Test
Many seeds are viable a lot longer than you might think. For example, seeds of lettuce, cucumbers, eggplant, radish, cabbage, spinach, and musk melon are good for five years if…