Plant Profile: Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria aureae)
Karen Native to Chile, this tender perennial is a member of the Alstroemeriaceae plant family and a popular cut flower of the floristry industry. It is the hardiest and most vigorous…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Red and White Gooseberry Wine
Most gooseberries in the US are either Ribes uva-crispa (European gooseberry), Ribes hirtellum (American gooseberry), or a variant of one of these. Fruit from European gooseberries are larger and reportedly…
Plant Profile: Lace Aloe (Aloe aristata)
Also called torch plant, this tender succulent perennial is native to South Africa and Lesotho and is member of the Asphodelaceae plant family that also includes red hot poker, foxtail…
Book Review: Me, Toma and the Concrete Garden
Karen Meyers In his book, Me, Toma and the Concrete Garden, Andrew Larsen looks at the growth of a friendship, a garden, and community spirit. When Vincent spends the summer in a…
Common Diseases of Tomato and Their Control: Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a fungal disease that affects tomato and potato as well as plants in several other plant families including cucumber, onion and bean. The pathogen specific to tomato, Colletotrichum…
Plant Profile: Cliff Stonecrop (Sedum cauticola aka Hylotelephium cauticola)
Also called shortleaf stonecrop, this succulent perennial is native to Japan where it grows on rocky cliffs. It is a member of the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae, that also includes jade…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Ivy (Hedera helix)
This evergreen climbing vine is a member of the Aralia family, Araliaceae, that also includes Fatsia and Schefflera. It is native to most of Europe and western Asia where it…
Plant Profile: Common Sand Aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia aka Lessingia filaginifolia)
Also known as California aster, this herbaceous perennial or subshrub is native to western North America from the southwestern corner of Oregon through California to Baja California where is grows…
Book Review: Butter & Flower
Ann Allchin’s book, Butter and Flower, presents 45 recipes for cannabis edibles and a collection of stories from 15 people with divers perspectives on cannabis. Directions are given for making…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Goatsbeard ( Aruncus dioicus)
This shrub-like herbaceous perennial, also known as bride’s feather, is native to North America, northern Europe and Asia where it grows in moist woodlands. It is a member of the…