Botanical Latin: Galium
Chuck Galium (gay LEE um) derived from Greek gala meaning milk. Galium is the genus name for the bedstraws which includes over six hundred annuals and perennials most of which are…
Plant Profile: Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)
Karen Also known as windflower, this anemone is an herbaceous perennial native to northern and central Europe where it grows in deciduous woodlands. It is a member of the buttercup family,…
Book Review: 100 Edible and Healing Flowers
If you have any interest in herbs, Margaret Roberts’ book, 100 Edible and Healing Flowers, has something to offer you. Believing that the use of natural products enhances health and…
Plant Combination: Michaelmas Daisy (Aster laevis) ‘Calliope’ and Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus) ‘Lemon Queen’
This tall combination is a colorful addition to the back of a perennial border. Blooming in late summer to early fall, Michealmas Daisy ‘Calliope’ and perennial sunflower ‘Lemon Queen offer…
Plant Profile: Bog Rosemary (Andromeda polifolia)
Unrelated to true rosemary, this low growing evergreen shrub is native to cool regions of North America where it is found in wet sites such as bogs and swamps. The…
Top Five Exhibition Floribunda Roses for the 2014 Show Season
The American Rose Society announced the top exhibition floribunda roses in the March/April issue of their magazine, American Rose. The list is important to people interested in exhibiting roses because…
Plant Profile: Italian Alder (Alnus cordata)
A native of Corsica, the timber was used as piles to support the buildings of Venice. The foliage is dense with small heart-shaped leaves that are bright, glossy green, and…
Book Review: About Amphibians
Many children need some help to find frogs, toads and salamanders appealing and Cathryn Sill’s book, About Amphibians, is an excellent resource. The book introduces the basic facts about these…
Botanical Latin: Calochortus
Calochortus (Cal o KOR tus) derived from the Greek words kalos meaning beautiful, and chortos meaning grass The members of this genus have strikingly beautiful flowers and grass like leaves.…
Plant Profile: Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum)
Also known as moosewood, this native of eastern United States and adjacent Canada is an under-story tree known for the vertical white stripes on the greenish gray bark of is…