Book Review: Planting a Rainbow
Karen As an introduction to gardening Lois Ehlert’s book, Planting a Rainbow, is hard to beat. It is written for children as young as three and begins with the statement “Every…
Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and How to Control Them
Sometimes a plant wilts easily, has a yellow appearance, fails to grow properly, and slowly dies. No signs of insect or fungal damage can be seen; fertilizing and watering does…
Plant Profile: Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)
Swamp sunflower, also know as narrowleaf sunflower, is a herbaceous perennial native to eastern United States from the mid-Atlantic to Florida, west to Texas where it grows in wet areas…
How to Care for Bonsai: Boxwood Fig (Ficus buxifolia)
This native of central and west Africa is a medium-sized evergreen plant that is especially good for bonsai. The thick, dark green leaves are small and triangular. They resemble those…
Plant Profile: Igiri Tree (Idesia polycarpa)
This unusual deciduous tree is a native of China, Japan, and Korea, and is noteworthy for its leaves and fruits. The heart-shaped leaves are large, up to 12” across, are…
Book Review: Bringing Nature Home
By turning natural habitats into shopping centers and housing developments we are taking away the food and places our wildlife need and thus bring about the disappearance of many of…
Weeds and Their Control: Curly Dock (Rumex crispus)
Although native to Europe and western Asia, curly dock is a perennial weed that has naturalized throughout North America and become invasive in some areas. It prefers rich, moist, heavy…
Plant Profile: Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
This deciduous large shrub or small tree native to eastern North America where it may be found on forest edges and along roadsides. It has erect to arching branches and…
Best Blue Ornamental Grasses for the Garden
Blue is a very valuable color in the garden both complementing and blending colors together. The glaucous blue foliage of grasses can add special shades of blue as well as…
Plant Profile: European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Like other members of the genus, European ash is not especially ornamental but is a large deciduous tree that does well in inhospitable places. Growing up to 80’ tall, it…