Edible Mushrooms: Saffron Milk Cap (Lactarius deliciosus)
Karen Groups or troops of saffron milk cap can be found in summer and fall growing in the calcareous and siliceous soil in coniferous forests especially under pines. It is native…
Plant Profile: Common Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
Sneezeweed is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to eastern and north central North America where it…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Holy Communion Plant
Karen Meyers The use of sweet basil goes back to ancient times. The ancient Egyptians used sweet basil in the embalming process and believed it would open the doors of the afterlife.…
Plant Profile: English Holly (Ilex aquifolia)
Also known as common holly, European holly, and Christmas holly this evergreen tree is native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia where it grows in the…
Book Review: Little Seasons Spring Seeds
Mirka Hokkanen explores the coming of spring and the lifecycle of seeds in her book, Little Seasons Spring Seeds. Written for children ages 2-6, the author shows the great diversity…
Edible Mushrooms: Orange Peel Fungus (Aleuria aurantia)
Orange peel fungus belongs to the group called “sac fungi”, Ascomycetes, because they produce their spores is sac-like structures called asci (singular ascus). The asci are produced in cup-like orange…
Plant Profile: Rocky Mountain Flowering Raspberry (Rubus deliciosus)
Also known as delicious raspberry, boulder raspberry and snowy bramble, this deciduous shrub or vine is native to Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and the Oklahoma Panhandle. It is a member…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Larkspur (Consolida ajacis aka C. ambigua) “Mary’s Tears’
The name “Mary’s Tears” is derived from the resemblance of the droplet-shaped larkspur flowers to tears and is associated with the sorrow and compassion of Mary especially during the Passion…
Plant Profile: Spotted Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum)
Also known as spotted henbit and purple dragon, this herbaceous perennial is native to Europe and Asia where it grows in a variety of habitats from open grassland to woodland.…
Book Review: Complete Guide to Growing and Cultivating Herbs & Spices
Linda Gray’s book, Complete Guide to Growing and Cultivating Herbs & Spices, is a comprehensive look at cultivating and utilizing a wide variety of plants that provide flavorful additions to…