Native Plants for Full Shade: Herbaceous Perennials
Chuck An area in full shade can be a problem because it gets little direct sunlight if any and most plants need light to survive. Some plants, however, need less light…
Plant Profile: American Hop-Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana aka Carpinus virginiana)
Karen This deciduous understory tree is native to eastern United States where it can be found on dry slopes and woodlands. It is small to medium in size with upright spreading…
Hops and a Visit to a Microbrewery
I was looking through a catalog the other day to find a vine suitable for the obelisk in the formal garden and came upon hops. Two kinds were listed, one…
Plant Profile: Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
This medium to large deciduous tree is native to central and southeastern United States where it can be found along stream banks, on flood plains, and on the rocky hillsides…
Book Review: Leaf Man
If you want a book that will stimulate imagination and creativity, Lois Ehlert’s book, Leaf Man, is a great choice. This is the kind of book that encourages the reader…
Weeds and Their Control: Virginia Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana)
Virginia buttonwood is a perennial native to the United States. It is found in from Connecticut westward to central Kansas, and southward to the Gulf of Mexico and can be…
Plant Profile: Sweet Olive (Osmanthus fragrans)
For fragrance, sweet olive ranks with jasmine, gardenias, and honeysuckle. A native of eastern Asia, it is a member of the olive family, Oleaceae, that also includes jasmine, lilac, and…
Botany for Gardeners: Plant Classification-Divisions of the Plant Kingdom
As members of the Plant Kingdom plants generally share three characteristics: they are multicelluar, their cell walls are composed of cellulose, and the cells contain chlorophyll that can trap light…
Plant Profile: Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
Amur maple is a small deciduous tree native to parts of Siberia, Manchuria, and Japan but is grown in North America where it has become invasive in some areas. It…
Book Review: Seasons of Witchery: Celebrating the Sabbats with the Garden Witch
Whether you believe in witches or not, this book is an entertaining way to become acquainted with the workings of a witch’s life. The author, Ellen Dugan, is a self…