Solomon's Seal ideal for wild, native, and shade gardens
If you’ve read any of my past diatribes, you know that I favor scientific botanical nomenclature above common names. That’s caused many readers to...
Hearty beech fern ideal for the West Virginia garden
Before we commence chatting about my favorite fern of all time, let’s get the nomenclature out of the way (nomenclature: a fancy, two-bit word...
Remarkable orchid's single leaf persists through winter in W.Va.
You may have to stretch your imagination a wee bit to embrace the common name of this very interesting West Virginia resident that’s also...
Pink-flowering redbud trees guided early W.Va. settlers
Blossoming across the eastern U.S. in spring, redbud trees were notably important during the settlement of the Appalachian Mountains, where they indicated the presence...
Sarvis Tree blossoms signal the arrival of mountain spring
Seasons come and go in the temperate regions of the world with many false starts, but in the Appalachian Mountains, settlers knew spring had...
Single-leafed orchid grows wild in West Virginia woodlands
This here story is a tale about a very interesting native plant that just happens to be one of the many species of orchids...