Lupines and Texas BlueBonnets – 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Lupine is a family of annual and perennial flowers which were native to the Balkans and the Aegean. The oldest Lupines were annuals, white flowered, and had been cultivated since Egyptian times. These plants were used to improve the soil, fixing nitrogen because they are legumes and as…
Larkspur
Larkspur – 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Larkspur, for years, was considered to be a member of the Delphinium family, but has been recently re-classified with the new name Consolida ranunculaceae. This re-classification makes it a member of the Ranunculus family. The plant, an annual, was introduced into Britain in the mid-1500’s from its native habitat the Mediterranean.…
Hollyhock
Hollyhock 
- A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Hollyhocks whose current Latin name is Alcea rosea were known in Gerard’s time (John Gerard, 1545-1612, author of the definitive horticultural text of the period, The Grete Herball, 1597,) as Malva Hortensis and in Breck’s time as Althea rosea. The plant is a biennial native to Turkey and other parts of…
Hesperis, Dames Rocket
Hesperis, Dames Rocket 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Hesperis, also known as Dames Rocket, Sweet Rocket and Dames Violet, belong to a family of plants which are native from Europe to China and Siberia. Hesperis are members of the Mustard family. The plants were introduced into North America during colonial times and were a popular cottage garden flower…
Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Gomphrena, also known as the Globe Amaranth, is native to the tropics of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The plant is related to the Cockscomb and Love-Lies-Bleeding. The native plant had magenta, clover-like flowers, but today’s cultivars are purple, pink and white as well as magenta. The plant has been…
Gloriosa Daisy
Gloriosa Daisy 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions The Gloriosa Daisy is a type of Black Eyed Susan that produces a much larger flower on stems 6-12 inched taller than the typical Black Eyed Susans. The flowers are often 4-5 inches in diameter with yellow petals or purplish-brown petals fading to yellow near the ends. The flowers are striking…
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) – 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Gaillardia, also known as Blanket Flower or the Firewheel, is native to the Americas. The plant is a member of the Aster family which also includes daisies and sunflowers. Gaillardia were one of the more than 200 plant varieties catalogued and described by Lewis and Clark during their famous…
Foxglove (Digitalis)
Foxglove (Digitalis) 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Foxglove, also known as Digitalis, Fairy’s Gloves, Witches’ Fingers, and Fairy Thimbles is one of the most beloved of all garden flowers despite being poisonous, short lived and a brief bloomer. The plant is a biennial native to Europe, North Africa and Central Asia. The common name, Foxglove, refers to the…
Four O’ Clocks
Four O’ Clocks – 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Four O’ Clocks, also known as Marvel of Peru, False Jalap and Belle De Nuit, is native to the tropical Americas and was introduced into Spain and then England from Peru in the 1500’s. The name Marvel of Peru refers to the way in which people marvel when the…
Forget Me Not
Forget Me Not 
- A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Forget Me Not, also known as Scorpion Grass and a member of the Borage family, is a temperate climate perennial plant, which was originally native to Europe, Asia and North America. The common name, Forget Me Not, comes from a German legend about a knight who died trying to…