Plant Profile: Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)
Karen Meyers Also called firewheel and sundance, this hairy annual is native to northern Mexico and southern and central US from Arizona east to Florida, and the Carolinas and north to Nebraska…
Plant Profile: Carolina Lupine (Thermopsis villosa aka T. caroliniana)
Karen Native to the mountains of the Carolinas and Georgia, this clump-forming herbaceous perennial is known by many common names including Aaron’s rod, false lupine, blue ridge lupine, golden-banner, and bush…
Plant Profile: Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora)
This hybrid short-lived perennial is the result of a cross between tall, perennial G. aristata and shorter, annual G. pulchella and is a vigorous, long blooming plant with a short…
Plant Profile: White Mugwort (Artemisia lactiflora)
White mugwort is clump forming herbaceous perennial native to India and western China. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisies, sunflowers, and lettuce. Plants…
Plant Profile: Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
This herbaceous perennial is native to North America where it grows in prairies, dry rocky woods, tickets, and abandoned areas in most of the US. It is a member of…
Plant Profile: Bell Agapanthus (Agapanthus campanulatus)
Also known as African bluebell, this deciduous clump-forming perennial is native to South Africa where it grows in the moist soils of grasslands, slopes, valley bottoms and cliffs. It is…
Plant Profile: Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
Also called upright prairie coneflower and Mexican hat, this clump-forming herbaceous perennial is native to much of North American where it grows in prairies, plains, and disturbed areas. It is…
Plant Profile: Wood Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides)
Native to the woodlands of Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus, this bushy evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the spurge family, Euphorbaceae, that also includes rubber plant, croton, and…
Weeds and Their Control: Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum)
Foxtail barley is a short-lived cool season perennial and a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes corn, bamboo, and rice. It is also known by several other…
Book Review: Eat Your Flowers
Eat Your Flowers by Loria Stern is a culinary adventure that combines flavors and aesthetics. Although the title uses the word “Flowers” the book actually includes all botanicals from flowers…