Book Review: Bees
Karen Meyers Shirley Raines’ book, Bees, introduces young readers to the lives and importance of four different kinds of bees. Written for children ages 5-8 years old in grades K-2, the book…
Weeds and Their Control: Annual Sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus)
Karen Also known as common sowthistle, milk thistle, and several other names, annual sowthistle is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes dandelions, yarrow, and lettuce. It is…
Plant Profile: Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Also known as Canadian hemlock, this coniferous tree is native to eastern North America and is a member of the pine family, Pinaceae, that also includes cedar and spruce. The…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Italian millet (Setaria italica aka Panicum italicum)
Also known as foxtail millet, this warm season annual grass is a member of the Poaceae family that also includes corn, rice and bamboo. It was first cultivated about 8,000…
Plant Profile: Lilac Daphne (Daphne genkwa)
This deciduous shrub is native to East Asia, China and Korea where it grows in the margins of paddy fields, hillsides and valleys. It is a member of the Thymelaeaceae…
Book Review: A Year in the Edible Garden
Sarah Raven’s book, A Year in the Edible Garden, shows how to have a beautiful garden and a bounty of delicious, fresh, edibles all at the same time. She gives…
Weeds and Their Control: Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta)
Hoary vervain is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the vervain family, Verbanaceae, that also includes lantanas, s verbenas, and sandpaper vines. It is native to the Midwest, the…
Plant Profile: Nepalese Paper Plant (Daphne bholua)
Growing at altitudes of 5,5000-12,500′ in the Himalayas and neighboring mountain ranges from Nepal to southern China, this flowering shrub tends to be evergreen at lower elevations and deciduous at…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Common Millet (Panicum miliaceum)
Also known as proso millet, this warm season annual is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes corn, rice, and bamboo. Archaeological evidence suggests that it was…
Plant Profile: Common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Also called American witch hazel and beadwood, this deciduous shrub or small tree is native to woodland margins and stream banks of eastern North America from from Canada to Mexico…