Book Review: Flower Chef
Karen Meyers Florist, Carly Cylinder, shares the secrets of success in her book, The Flower Chef, a comprehensive guide to flower arranging. She aims to make floral design easy and accessible to…
Gardens of Ireland: Blarney Castle Garden
Karen Located about 5 miles northwest from Cork city in the South of Ireland,15th century Blarney Castle is a tower house or fortress residence, and is home to the Blarney Stone…
Plant Profile: Chilean Glory Flower (Eccremocarpus scaber)
Also known as Chilean glory creeper, this half hardy perennial vine is native to the Chilean Andes and is a member of the trumpet vine family, Bignoniaceae, that also includes…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Peach (Prunus persica)
A native of China, the peach is a small deciduous short-lived tree in the rose family, Rosaceae, and in the same genus as plums, cherries, almonds, and apricots. Peaches have…
Plant Profile: Western White Clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia)
Also known by many other names including peppervine, old man’s beard, and creek clematis, this climbing woody or semi-woody vine is native to western US where it grows in streamside…
Book Review: Rory the Garden Bird
Frances’ Rodgers’ book, Rory the Garden Bird, introduces young readers to the idea of backyard animals and what we can do to make their lives better. Rory, an appealing brown…
Common Diseases of Cucumber and Their Control: Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum obiculare and affects certain cucurbits, including watermelon, squash, pumpkin, and cantaloupe melon as well as cucumber. Symptoms appear in mid to late…
Plant Profile: “Headbourne Hybrid’ Agapanthus (Agapanthus x “Headbough Hybrids’)
These rhizomatous perennials are hybrids that include in their parentage A. campanulatus, A. inapertus, A. praecox, and probably some others. They are members of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, that also…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
This herbaceous biennial is native to damp grassland and woodland areas in Eurasia and North Africa and is a member of the honey suckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigela,…
Plant Profile: Bigelow Sneezeweed (Helenium bigelovii)
Native to moist mediows, streamsides, and marshes of California and Oregon this herbaceous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow and lettuce. It…