Plant Profile: Stiff Twinspur (Diascia rigescens)
Karen Also called bride’s saddle, this spreading, semi-evergreen, tender perennial is a native of South Africa where it grows in damp places on grassy mountain slopes or in full sun in…
Plant Profile: Parrot Lily (Alstroemeria psittacina aka A. pulchella)
Parrot lily is a clump-forming, tuberous perennial native to southern Brazil, northern Argentina and north-eastern Paraguay. It grows 2-3′ tall and is evergreen in mild climates. The lanceolate leaves are…
Plant Profile: Dotted Gayfeather (Liatris punctata)
Also known as dotted blazingstar and narrow-leaves blazingstar, this herbaceous perennial is native to the central plains of the US from Canada to northern Mexico. It is a member of…
Plant Profile: Golden Tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Known by several names including golden coreopsis, plains coreopsis, and calliopsis, this annual is native to much of the US especially the Great Plains and South where it grows in…
Weeds and Their Control: Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Oriental bittersweet is a deciduous woody, climbing or trailing vine belonging to the bittersweet family, Celastraceae, that also includes crucifixion thorn and euonymus. It is native to northern China, Japan…
Book Review: The Tiny But Mighty Farm
Jill Ragan of YouTube’s Whispering Willow Farm, presents a guide to mini farming showing readers how to grow as much food as possible with as little land and as few…
Plant Profile: Lily of the Valley Tree (Clethra arborea)
This evergreen shrub or small tree is native to the semitropical forest of Madeira and is a member of the small plant family Clethraceae that is distantly related to azaleas.…
Plant Profile: Cootamundra wattle (Acacia baileyana)
Native to scrub and chaparral of New South Wales, Australia, this evergreen shrub or small tree, is a member of the legume family, Fabaceae, that also includes pea, lupines and…
Book Review: The Herb Gardening Handbook
Author Andrew Perry in his book The Herb Gardening Handbook, presents a beginner’s guide to growing and harvesting herbs. As founder of Urban Herbs, an online retailer of unusual and…
Plant Profile: Oven Wattle (Acacia pravissima)
Also known as wedge-leaved wattle and Tumut wattle, this evergreen shrub or small tree is native to southeastern Australia where it grows near streams or in moist sheltered sites, often…