Book Review: The Secret World of Plants
Karen Meyers The Secret World of Plants by Ben Hoare explores the plant kingdom through the unique stories of over 100 amazing plants. Written for children ages 7-9 in grades 2-4, the…
Meadow Garden: Low Growing Native Flowering Perennials for Part to Full Shade
Low growing perennials in a meadow garden add color and textures as well as the opportunity to extend the bloom time. Also considered groundcovers, these plants will grow in the…
Plant Profile: Common Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Karen Common blanket flower is a herbaceous perennial native to northwestern and north central US where it grows in meadows. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Spotted Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum) “Madonna’s Milk”
The name “Madonna’s Milk” for Lamium maculatum probably arose from Christian folklore and medieval plant symbolism. The white markings on the leaves of spotted dead nettle probably suggested drops of…
Plant Profile: Coral Aloe (Aloe striata aka A. hanburiana)
This evergreen succulent perennial is native to the rocky slopes of coastal and karoo areas of South Africa and belongs to the Asphodelaceae family that also includes daylily (Hemerocallis), red…
Book Review: How to Keep Your Plants Alive
How to Keep your Plants Alive, by Kit Carlson and Aaron Carlson, is a brief guide to successful houseplant gardening. After discussing the basics of growing plants indoors from light…
Meadow Garden: Medium-Height, Native, Flowering Perennials for Moderate to Dry Soil in Full Sun
The following list of plants are 12-30″ tall and do well in average to lean soil. Most are native to the central part of the US and can grow in…
Plant Profile: Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Native to southern Italy, this short-lived perennial is a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes pinks, baby’s breath, and chickweed. The spreading plants form mats of densely…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Italian Daisy (Aster amellus) “Our Lady’s Birthday Flower”
Italian aster is known as “Our Lady’s Birthday Flower” because of its later summer bloom about the time of Mary’s birth. The Bible does not provide information on Mary’s infancy…
Plant Profile: Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
This evergreen perennial fern is native to eastern North America from Florida and eastern Texas north to Nova Scotia and west to Minnesota where it grows in shady woodlands, stream…