Plant Profile: Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Karen This mounding to rounded deciduous shrub is native to open woods, lakeshores, streambanks, rock outcroppings, and prairies in central and eastern US from New Brunswick to Ontario, south to Georgia…
Book Review: Mushroom Rain
Karen Meyers Laura K. Zimmermann’s book, Mushroom Rain, introduces young children to the life cycle of mushrooms. Using short lyrical sentences she begins with the sudden appearance of of mushrooms and follows…
Weeds and Their Control: Oxeye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum aka Leucanthemum vulgare)
Oxeye daisy is a rhizomatous perennial and belongs to the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflowers, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to Europe and Asia but was introduced…
Plant Profile: Common Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis aka Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis)
Also called American elder, this deciduous shrub or small tree is native to North America east of the Rocky Mountains, south to Bolivia, where it usually grows in moist areas…
Plant Profile: Spanish Broom (Genista hispanica)
Also known as Spanish gorse, or anlaga, this deciduous shrub is native to southern France and northern Spain where it grows in scrub on open rocky hills. It is a…
Book Review: Weed All About It
In his book, Weed All About It, Danny Mallo presents a guide for growing and using marijuana. After giving background material, the author delves into the nits and grits of…
Weeds and Their Control: Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Oriental bittersweet is a deciduous woody, climbing or trailing vine belonging to the bittersweet family, Celastraceae, that also includes crucifixion thorn and euonymus. It is native to northern China, Japan…
Plant Profile: Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Also known as redgum, American storax, hazel pine, bilsted, satin-walnut, star-leaved gum, and alligatorwood, this deciduous tree is native to eastern US and Mexico where it grows in a variety…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Apple (Malus domestica )
Apples originated in Central Asia and were domesticated 4000–10000 years ago in the Tian Shan mountains. From there they spread and by 1300 BC the Egyptians were planting orchards along…
Plant Profile: Dyer’s Broom (Genista tinctoria)
Also known as dyer’s greenwood, dyer’s whin, waxen woad, and waxen wood, this deciduous shrub is native to meadows and pastures in southern Europe and Turkey. It is a member…