“Oh my! Is that what I think it is?” I was admiring a friend’s lily patch. “Parrot lily. Very rare -- especially in this climate.” I’d heard it called parrot tail lily (among other names) and …
Hollyhocks
Now that’s an old-fashioned favorite!” I came to a stand by my friend’s display of hollyhocks. “Purple, pink, red ... these midsummer bloomers are real gems. Are they perennial?” “Actually, …
Foraging for American Elderberries: Identification and Harvest
I truly enjoy foraging in my neck of the Ozarks. As I venture out to collect the abundant wild spinach, pokeweed, and mulberries, my neighbors seem to think I’m mysteriously gifted with esoteric …
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The Scaredy-Cat Plant
“What’s that horrible smell?” I pinched my nose. As always, my friend's sunroom was filled with plants of every description. But there was a new one that caught my attention, and I leaned in for a …
Orchids That Are Actually Weeds
“Did you know this little treasure is actually a weed?” A friend was showing me the latest addition to her orchid family. “In countries like Cuba" she continued, "this Epidendrum radicans hybrid is …
Edible Wildflowers
“Some tea?” My friend asked as we lounged in her plant-filled sunroom. “Dandelion?” “Why not?” She poured ... and left the fragrant, yellow flower remnants floating in our mugs. Dandelion …
All About the Acianthera Nikoleae
Featured image is the Dresslerella caesariata, not the Acianthera Nikoleae. Since this is a newly discovered species, not that many images are available. Take a look at the Internet Orchid Species …
6 Reasons You Should Have Flowers in Your Vegetable Garden
With self-sufficiency as the someday goal, my first gardening days were purely practical. I browsed through seed catalogs with an iron will, bypassing the flower sections with a steely gaze -- and a …
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Medicinal Benefits of Tulsi
Ocimum tenuiflorum also known as tulsi or holy basil, is a popular Ayurvedic herb in India that is commonly used for tea. With “holy” being in one of its common names, you may have correctly concluded …
Pinecone-Like Orchid
“Look at this!” I was having tea with a buddy, looking through some garden magazines. Much better than the internet -- I think so, anyway. “Oh my,” I replied. “That looks like a pinecone made …
All About the Dragon Flower
“How many names does it need?” I asked. “I don’t know,” admitted my gardening friend (who loved all manner of trivia). “But this plant has quite a few -- dragon flower, snapdragon, toadflax, dog …
Exploring the Pigsqueak Plant
“What was that plant you gave me last year? I can never remember the name.” My friend, Susan, pointed to a plant in her garden. “The Bergenia?” I nodded. “Yes. It’s sprouting a stem -- I …
Unusual Exotic Plants
“Did you know there’s a shrub in India that blooms once every 12 years?” (My friend was sharing more gardening trivia.) “I read about it somewhere,” I replied. “What’s it called?” “The …
Ghost Pipe Flower
“Ready for a ghostly encounter with a flower? Let's see if we can find one.” “Find one?” I asked (always intrigued with her ideas). “A ghost flower.” She half whispered, eerily. “A what? …
Homestead Stories: Types of Irises
I’m not sure I have a favorite iris. They’re all so different, and unique. There are many varieties from bearded irises to the invasive yellow iris. There are also wild irises, which …
Homestead Stories: Peonies
“It’s kind of like a May flower,” my friend said thoughtfully. “It’s considered the birth flower for the month of May and represents the values of honor, romance, and beauty.” “It is beautiful,” I …
Foraging for Edible Flowers
Not all foraging has to be sustenance seeking. Sometimes, it’s just nice to sample the “trailside nibbles” mentioned in foraging literature, and none are more pleasant to pick than edible flowers. …
Homestead Stories: Parrot Tulips
“Is something wrong with your tulips?” It was late spring, and I was admiring the colorful display of tulips in my friend’s garden. “They appear rather ruffled.” “They’re supposed to be …
Homestead Stories: Autumn Crocus
“I haven’t seen those for a few years. Tulips in autumn? Strange, isn’t it?” “Actually,” my friend replied. “They’re not really tulips.” “But the flower is shaped like a tulip, and it’s so …
Homestead Stories: Rare Orchids
I love orchids. I have dozens lining my plant stands in the sunroom, and I nurture the wild orchids that pop up, unexpectedly, on my property, but they are just a few of the varieties that exist in …
Homestead Stories: Pollinator-Friendly Plants
“It’s that time of year again.” My friend groaned as we made our garden rounds. “What time?” I asked. “Springtime,” she said. “Time to clean up the yard. Everything comes to life.” “Even …
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Homestead Stories: Orchids That Look Like Birds
I love my orchids. I have all shapes, sizes, and colors of orchids, and I know there are a lot more to consider adding to my collection. I’ve written about the more common orchids and I’ve written …
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What Is Spilanthes?
Would you like to cultivate unique species in your garden that serve dual functions? Do you have toothaches and pains? Fungus infections? Are you in need of enhancing your digestion or immunity? Or …
Homestead Stories: The Rare Middlemist Red
What makes a plant rare? Or anything for that matter? Well, it’s rare if there are only a few examples in existence. The Middlemist red (scientifically identified as unspecified Camellia), a deep …
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