Plants of Ancient Pompei: Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium)
Karen Also known as wild cherry, and bird cherry, this deciduous flowering tree is native to Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia, and is the main ancestor of the cultivated cherry.…
Plant Profile: Mezereum (Daphne mezereum)
Also known as February daphne, spurge laurel or spurge olive, this deciduous shrub is native to limestone soils in mixed woodlands of most of Europe and western Asia, north to…
Book Review: Tea
Karen Meyers Written by the owners of the Camellia Sinensis Tea House in Montreal, Tea is a comprehensive guide to non-herbal tea from the major tea producing countries of the world: China,…
Common Diseases of Tomato and Their Control: Fusarium Wilt
Caused by one of three races of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, this warm weather disease affects peppers, eggplant, potatoes, and legumes as well as tomatoes, and survives on weeds such…
Plant Profile: American Basketflower (Centurea americana)
Also called American starthistle, this annual is native to the southern central US and northeastern Mexico. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow,…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
The opium poppy is a herbaceous annual native to Greece and western Asia and is a member of the poppy family, Papaverceae, that also includes bleeding heart and corydalis. It…
Plant Profile: European Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
Also called common privet, this semi-evergreen or deciduous shrub is native to central and southern Europe, north Africa, and southwestern Asia. It is a member of the olive family, Oleaceae,…
Book Review: CBD & Chill
CBD & Chill provides a guide to the use of CBD and includes recipes using CBD for everyday wellness and beauty. The introductory material discusses what CBD actually is (and…
Common Diseases of Tomato and their Control: Buckeye Rot
Buckeye Rot of tomato is caused by three species of the soil borne fungus-like water mold, Phytophthora: P. capsici, P. drechsleri, and P. nicotiana var. parasitica. The disease is common…
Plant Profile: Sweet Sultan (Centaurea moschata aka Amberboa moschata)
Native to Asia Minor, this clump-forming cool climate annual is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It grows 1-3′ tall and has…