Botanical Latin: Hypericum
Karen Hypericum (hy PER i cum): The genus name, Hypericum, is from the Greek word hypereidon and is derived from hyper, meaning above, plus eikon meaning picture. The plant was believed…
Plant Profile:Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
Chervil is an herbaceous herb native to the Caucasus but naturalized in Europe. It is a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae) which includes parsley, dill, and many other aromatic…
Edible Flowers: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Nasturtium is a trailing herbaceous annual native to the Andes from Bolivia to Colombia. It has naturalized on both coasts of the US and is cultivated in many more areas.…
Gardens for Cats
If you are both a gardener and a cat lover you might want to share your garden with your furry friends. Ideally, this garden would be an enclosed or contained…
Plant Profile: Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)
Alexanders is a biennial herb native to the Mediterranean region and known to the ancient Greeks. It grows wild in many parts of Europe and was introduced into England by…
Plant Combination: Rose ‘Crepuscule’ and German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Growing herbs and roses together have a long tradition and this duo combines a lovely Noisette rose with the familiar herb, German chamomile known for the tranquilizing tea made with…
Book Review: Herbal Healing for Women
As more and more medicines come on the market and are advertised on TV with all their warnings, many women are going back to home remedies that employ herbs as…
Edible Flowers: Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa sinensis)
Chinese hibiscus is a tropical evergreen shrub or small tree belonging to the mallow family (Malvaeceae) along with hollyhock, cotton, okra, and cacao. It is a popular landscape plant in…
Book Review: Grow, Cook, Eat
The joys of growing your own food are great but are enhanced when the fruits of your labor grace the table with a flare. Willi Galloway’s book, Grow, Cook, Eat,…
Edible Flowers: Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Pot marigold is a short lived herbaceous perennial in the aster family (Asteraceae) native to southern Europe but cultivated now all over the world. It grows up to two feet…