Edible Mushrooms: St. George’s Mushroom (Calocybe gambosa
Karen St. George’s mushroom can be found in spring growing in troops or rings in grasslands, woods, fields, parks, gardens and roadsides of Europe. The mushroom stands two to four inches…
Plant Profile: Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
Also called noble goldenrod, this rhizomatous herbaceous perennial is native to central and eastern US where it grows in open woods and fields. It is a member of the aster…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)
Karen Meyers Also known as bird’s-eye speedwell, and cat’s eyes, this herbaceous perennial is native to Europe where it is found in meadows, hedgerows, and open deciduous woodlands. It is a member…
Plant Profile: Stiff Sunflower (Helianthus rigidus aka H. pauciflorus))
Also known as prairie sunflower this herbaceous perennial is native to central US and is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It…
Book Review: At Home with Nature
Why do people love their lawns, or or keep them in spite of their high maintenance, expense and monotanous appearance. In his book, At Home with Nature, author, architect, and…
Edible Mushrooms: The Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum repandum)
Wide spread in North America, the hedgehog mushroom belongs to a group of fungi that produce their spores on spines instead of gills. It is found singly, in large groups,…
Plant Profile: Arrowwood (Viburnum dentata)
Native to grasslands, woodlands, marshes, swamps and shores of rivers and lakes from Massachusetts south to Florida and west to Texas, this deciduous shrub is a member of the moschatel…
Plants for a Mary Garden: English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia aka L. officinalis) ” Mary’s Drying Plant”
Lavender has been valued for its scent, flavor and medicinal properties since ancient times. Called nard in the Bible, it is most frequently associated there with its desirable fragrance. Mary…
Plant Profile: Creeping Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’)
This low growing, spreading evergreen shrub is a cultivar of a plant native to the Mediterranean and a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, that also includes beebalm, basal, and…
Book Review: Katya’s Book of Mushrooms
Katya’s Book of Mushrooms, by Katya Arnold, is an introduction to mushrooms aimed at children 10-14 years old. It is not a a field guided intended for use in identifying…