Plant Profile: Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)
Karen Also called mescal button, this spineless cactus is native to southern Texas and northern Mexico, and is a member of the cactus family, Cactaceae, that also includes prickly pear and…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Lentil (Lens culinaris aka Lens esculenta)
Lentil is an annual and a member of the bean family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupines, alfalfa, and black locust. It was first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent by 6,000…
Plant Profile: Greenbark Ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus)
Also known as redheart, this evergreen shrub is native to the scrub and chaparral of the coastal strip of southern California south of San Luis Obispo County to northern Baja…
Book Review: Modern Faux Flower Projects
Karen Meyers In her book, Modern Faux Flower Projects, interior designer, Stevie Storck, shares her experience using artificial flowers to enhance the décor of any home. She begins with information on choosing…
Common Diseases of Tomato and Their Control: Blossom End Rot
Caused by a lack of calcium uptake from the soil, blossom end rot can affect peppers as well as tomatoes. It appears as a water-soaked spot on the blossom end…
Plant Profile: California Juniper (Juniperus californica)
Also known as California white cedar, sweetberry cedar, desert white cedar, and Cedros Island juniper this evergreen small tree is native to dry soils at moderate elevations in Arizona, California,…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Olive (Olea europaea)
The olive was first cultivated from wild olive at the frontier between Turkey and Syria between 8,000 and 6,000 years ago. By 3000 BC it was cultivated by the Minoans…
Plant Profile: Sticky Phacelia (Phacelia viscida)
Also known as tacky phacelia and scorpion weed, this annual is native to the coastal hills and mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California where it grows…
Book Review: World Atlas of Tea
The World Atlas of Tea by tea mixologist, Krisi Smith, is a general introduction to tea from its cultivation, harvesting and processing to the unique flavors of teas grown in…
Poisonous Plants: English Ivy (Hedera helix)
This evergreen climbing vine is a member of the Aralia family, Araliaceae, that also includes Fatsia and Schefflera and is native to most of Europe and western Asia where it…