Alexanders: Food And Medicine Rolled Into One Plant
Smyrnium olusatrum, commonly known as Alexanders, horse parsley or alisanders is an edible flowering plant in the Smyrnium genus. This flowering plant thrives in uncultivated areas by the seaside, salt marshes, in hedgerows, woods, in lime soils and wastelands. Smyrnium, Alexander's genus, derives its name from the Greek word smurna, meaning myrrh, probably because of its aromatic seeds. Basically, there are about 8 species in the genus. While some species are biennials, others are perennials. Continue reading [...]
Welcome Autumn with Chrysanthemums
Hardy chrysanthemums, also called mums, are a beacon of autumn in North America. Blooming in late summer through mid-fall, mums add a pop of color when other garden plants are dying back for the year. Continue reading [...]
Remarkable Feijoa Flower Medicinal Benefits
Feijoa, botanically known as acca sellowiana or pineapple guava is an evergreen shrub native to South America in the Myrtaceae family. These small trees are commercially cultivated in California for their sweet and aromatic fruits. In addition, some people grow them for ornamental purposes. Feijoas bring forth wide, white petal flowers with bold, red centers resembling fuchsia blossoms, which are the focus of this article as they have medicinal properties. Continue reading [...]
Soapwort: A Soapy Affair?
Soapwort, botanically known as saponaria officinalis, is a herbaceous, perennial, flowering plant that is easy to grow and is rarely fussy of soils. It is a hardy plant and withstands diseases and harsh weather quite well. As a result, it proliferates aggressively and can form dense colonies crowding out other plants. Continue reading [...]
“Exploding” Jewelweed is Popping with Fun
Jewelweed is a yellow or orange flowering plant whose claim to fame is that the ripe seed pods "explode" or burst open when touched. Much to the delight of children and fun-loving adults, these plants have a quite entertaining method of dispersing their seeds. Continue reading [...]
Venus Flytrap: The Perfect Gift for Curious Kids
The Venus flytrap is the most mysterious and notorious of house plants. These carnivorous plants were made famous (or infamous) in the cult classic movie "Little Shop of Horrors" and have been intriguing curious kids for decades ever since. Continue reading [...]