Plant Profile: Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa)
Karen Also called devil’s-tongue and Indian fig, this perennial cactus is native to eastern US from coastal Connecticut to the Florida Keys west to the lower Great Lakes, to the dry…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Raspberry Wine No. 2
Karen Meyers Raspberry gets its name from a mid-15th century word raspise, meaning a sweet rose-color wine so it should come as no surprise that even today raspberry wines are available. My…
Plant Profile: Ozark Sunflower (Helianthus silphioides)
Native to woodland edges of southcentral US, this little known herbaceous perennial is also called as rosinweed sunflower. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes…
Book Review: Eat Your Flowers
Eat Your Flowers by Loria Stern is a culinary adventure that combines flavors and aesthetics. Although the title uses the word “Flowers” the book actually includes all botanicals from flowers…
Weeds and Their Control: Yellow Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus)
Yellow rabbitbrush is a rounded deciduous shrub and member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, sagebrush, and lettuce. It is native to western North America and can…
Plant Profile: Alstromeomeria ligtu Hybrids
The Alstromoemeria ligtu hybrids are the result of a cross between closely related genera, A. haemantha and various subpecies of A. ligtu, all tender perennials native to Chile. They grow…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Sweet Violet (Viola odorata)
Native to Europe and Asia, this herbaceous perennial belongs to the plant family Violaceae, that also includes pansies and johnny jump ups. It grows 4-10″ tall and has a basal…
Plant Profile: Common Wood Aster (Aster cordifolius aka Symphyotrichum cordifolium)
Also known as heart-leaved aster or blue wood aster, this clumping herbaceous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceeae, that also includes sunflower, daisy, and lettuce. It is…
Book Review: The Edible Flower
The Edible Flower, by Erin bunting and Jo Facer, offers and introduction to growing edible flowers and incorporating them into everyday cooking. They focus on flowers that add flavor as…
Weeds and Their Control: Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Purple loosestrife is a herbaceous perennial and member of the loosestrife family, Lythraceae, that also includes pomegranate and crepe myrtle, but is not related to other plants called loosestrife that…