Plant Profile: Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana)
Karen A hybrid of Magnolia heptapeta x Magnolia quinquepeta, saucer magnolia is probably one of the most widely planted and best known of the magnolias. Its popularity may be due to…
Characteristics of Old Garden Roses: Noisette
Noisettes are America’s claim to fame in the rose world. They are the only old garden rose that originated in the United States. The story goes that about 1811, John…
Plant Profile: Giant Reed(Arundo donax)
This warm season, clump-forming, perennial grass is a native of the Greater Middle East but is wide spread in both the Mediterranean area and United States where it is considered…
Book Review: Secrets to Great Soil
If you are reading this book review you probably already appreciate the importance of soil to growing plants and feel there might be something more you could do in regard…
Weeds and Their Control: Fuller’s Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
Brought to North America from Europe in the early 1700’s to raise the nap of wool cloth, fuller’s teasel naturalized and is now considered a weed in many parts of…
Plant Profile: Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Native to central and southeastern United States, this deciduous, suckering tree is now found in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. It is very easily grown, accepts even the poorest…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Playboy’
This flashy Floribunda has bright golden yellow flowers with a wide orange-red edging and golden stamens. The mildly fragrant flowers are borne singly or in clusters of three to seven.…
Book Review: Growing Vegetable Soup
Lois Ehlert’s book, Growing Vegetable Soup, is a great way to interest your children in growing and eating vegetables. From onions, to broccoli and tomatoes, peppers, squash and more, the…
Weeds and Their Control: Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)
A native of southern Asia, velvetleaf is also known as Indian mallow. It was introduced into North American in the 1700s and is now found throughout the US. It is…
Plant Profile: Agave Center Strip (Agave lophantha) ‘Splendida’
A native of southern Texas south to Mexico, center-strip agave is also known as thorncrest century plant. It is a slow growing evergreen succulent with leaves seven inches long and…