Plant Profile: Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
Karen Native to Sicily, southern Italy and the Aegean Islands, this bushy annual or climbing annual vine is a member of the legume family, Fabaceae, that also includes peanut, mimosa and…
Book Review: A Year in Flowers
Karen Meyers Flower farmer and florist, Erin Benzakein, shares her experience and expertise in her book, A Year in Flowers. She includes the basics of floral design, essential techniques and detailed instructions…
Plant Profile: Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Also known by many other names including gloriosa daisy, this native of eastern and central North America is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow,…
Book Review: Flower School
Calvert Crary’s book, Flower School, is a philosophical guide to flower arranging that urges the reader to take joy in the process of making arrangement and experiment often. The book…
Plant Profile: Sky Lupine (Lupinus nanus)
Also known as field lupine, dwarf lupine, ocean-blue lupine and Douglas’ annual lupine, this native of western US grows on slopes and open or disturbed areas of California, Nevada, and…
Book Review: Modern Faux Flower Projects
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…
Book Review: The Flower Recipe Book
Authors and floral designers, Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo introduce readers to the recipe approach to floral design that makes flower arranging accessible to anyone that wants to try their…
Book Review: Discovering Dahlias
Erin Benzakein, author and farmer-florist, presents a guide for growing and arranging dahlias, in her book, Discovering Dahlias. After introducing the great variety in dahlia size, form, and color, the…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Snapdragons are one of the best plants for a plant zoo because they are as interesting as they are beautiful. To seize the interest of your kids or grandkids take…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Bunny Tails Grass (Lagurus ovatus)
The blooms of this perennial grass are just plain cute and are bound to attract children of all ages along with their parents. The plant grows 1-2′ tall and has…