Plant Profile: Sweet Acacia (Acacia farnesiana)
Karen A native of Texas and Mexico, sweet acacia is also native to southern Asia and Australia and is an invasive species in Australia. It is grown in southern France for…
Gardens of Pompeii: Garden Ornaments
No matter how beautiful the planting of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants may be, there is always room for ornaments. Water features are popular for sparkle, movement, sound, and coolness…
Plant Profile: Japanese Larch (Larix kaempferi)
Japanese larch like other larches is a deciduous conifer. In spring the needle-like sea green foliage marked with two white bands appears on the pendulous brachlets turning dark green in…
Book Review: Greenhouse Gardener’s Companion: Growing Food and Flowers in Your Greenhouse or Sunspace
Working on assumption that growing plants in a greenhouse can be both good for the table and the spirit, Shane Smith present a vast amount of information about setting up…
Botany for Gardeners: Taxonomy of Dicots: Identification of the Parsley Family (Umbelliferae)
Also known as the Apiaceae and Umbelliferae, the parsley family consists primarily of herbaceous annuals, biennials, and perennials, and a few shrubs and trees. In addition to parsley, the family…
Plant Profile: Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata)
This small deciduous tree from China, also called the Handerchief Tree, is a treasure with its large creamy white flowers that droop from its branches in mid- to late-spring. The…
Gardens in Ancient Pompeii: The Peristyle
The houses of the wealthy ancient Pompeians usually were large and had many rooms organized around an open space. The open space was used as a garden and was surrounded…
Plant Profile: Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea )
This southeastern native provides year round interest for those living in areas where summers are hot and winters are cold. The foot-long wisteria-like clusters of fragrant flowers appear in late…
Book Review: Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History
Bill Law’s book, Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History is a great read for those who love plants and history. It is filled with interesting tidbits and morsels…
Weeds and Their Control: Crabgrass (Smooth, Digitaria ischaemum; large, Digitaria sanguinalis)
There are many kinds of crabgrass but the two that are the most prevalent in the United States are smooth crabgrass and large crabgrass. They are very similar in appearance…