So what did they do before the Sears Catalog hung in every outhouse in America? Supplying the "necessary" isn't talked about much, but there is botany at the very heart of this certain small ...

Occasionally I find I have random plants popping up in my flower beds. These plants make an appearance despite me not planting them there. I call these my “gifts from the birds.” Let’s face it, seeds ...

The plant: Like lamb’s ear, the large, velvety leaves of mullein invite you to give them a rub. Because of its textured leaves, mullein is also called old man’s flannel, velvet dock, bunny’s ears and ...

A regular reader wrote in with her comments on the mulleins mentioned in a previous week’s column: Q: Thank you for your column July 8 where you wrote about host plants needed for a complete butterfly ...

There’s a summer plant that always seems to show up uninvited in Southwest landscapes, causing many gardeners consternation. On the one hand, this plant does not fit in with your garden design; on the ...

I have a small patch of woods behind my house that has a lovely assortment of spring wildflowers. In recent springs, I've noticed garlic mustard growing in the woods. Do I need to worry? I see lots of ...

Due to the wet springs we’ve had, common mullein and Canada thistle have been especially prolific the last several years. With seed-heads and flowers on the plants now, both weeds are at their most ...

Cowboy’s Toilet Paper, Our Lady’s Candle, Bunny’s Ear, Beggar’s Blanket, & Quaker’s Rouge are just a few nicknames for Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), a member of the snapdragon family. You will ...