Motherwort

"According to the early writers, there was no better herb than Motherwort for "strengthening and gladdening the heart.""

- Maida Silverman (1977) A City Herbal: Lore, Legend, & Uses of Weeds

I have been treating it like a noxious weed. Who knew?

Leonuris cardiaca

Wildflower Information

http://wildflowerinformation.org/default.asp

Huge amounts of information on wildflowers.

Haunted Hales Corners

Hales Corners - Whitnall Park

For a sure sighting, head to this massive park and watch for a woman in a white gown holding an infant. Sometimes she talks and sometimes the baby cries. She appears in several locations throughout the park, but for the best view stay in the parking area. She appears around 11pm.

- page 292, in the Haunted Wisconsin section of Wisconsin Day Trips (2005) by Mary M. Bauer

Lavender

Lavender is a tender perennial that should be planted in well-drained soil in as much sun as possible, said Ron Pesche of Luxembourg Gardens in Franklin.

- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (link here)

Ron Pesche is one of my favorite growers.

Dwarf Japanese Maples

(recommended by Mike Groarty)

Butterfly
Hoshi kuzu
Pixie
Red Elf
Waterfall

Wild parsnip

Wild parsnip to be exact, a perennial weed with sap that is harmful to human skin and is so corrosive it can cause blisters as severe as a second-degree burn.

- Star Tribune (link here)

No wild parsnips in the garden yet.

Wild Ones

http://www.for-wild.org/

Very preachy advocates of native plants.

Rain Gardens of West Michigan

http://www.raingardens.org/Index.php

Lots of good information.

Midwest Gardening

http://www.midwestgardening.com/

Web site of gardening columnist Jan Riggenbach.

Has some good tips.

Horseweed

http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~vista/html_pubs/WEEDS/183.html

Ambrosia trifida, also known as giant ragweed

Prarie Moon Nursery

http://www.prairiemoon.com/

Huge selection of forbs, trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, etc.

Garden Party

One of these Daturas was called Toloache and is probably Datura innoxia. It was used as a painkiller in certain initiation rituals and given as a narcotic to the ritual sacrifices. For this purpose the preferred method of administration was either by enema or as a rolled-up leaf suppository which reduces some of the less pleasant side effects of the drug.

- http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/Datura.htm

When Rick Nelson was singing about a garden party, is this what he meant?

Proof that E.T. exists

(Thanks to Logan for this one.)

Another bear attack

Officials at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park say a black bear mauled an 8-year-old Florida boy and the boy's father was injured while defending him.

- AP/ajc (link here)

In spite of the danger, I would still like to see a bear in the garden.

Lamphreys

(Thanks to Elizabeth for calling my attention to this one.)

Federal officials are stepping up their war on sea lamprey in an effort to rein in a growing population of the invasive, parasitic fish in Lake Michigan.

- Muskegon Chronicle (link here)

McCormick & Schmick's

We ate dinner at the new McCormick & Schmick's last night (motivated by a $50 gift certificate, a door prize from the Firefly art fair).

Excellent food, but the service, though friendly, was glacially slow.

Life in the food chain

A mountain lion has snatched a Labrador retriever from a bedroom in the foothills southwest of Denver, and the dog's dead body was found nearby.

- AP/azcentral (link here)

In spite of the danger, I would still like to see a cougar in the garden.

Black Dragon

Deep and dense, the foliage on this small tree is highly aromatic.

A delight in miniature form, this splendid new Japanese Cedar reaches only 5 feet tall and 7 feet wide after 10 years' growth, but every branch is suffused with color, fragrance, and even a handful of small cones! Very slow-growing, 'Black Dragon' is drought-tolerant and ready to thrive in any sunny to partly shaded area.

The habit of this evergreen conifer is fastigiate when young, becoming increasingly pyramidal as the years pass. The branching is very dense, and the foliage the darkest, richest green yet seen in the family. When it begins to set cones, they are small and unbelievably profuse.

Asking only for protection from strong, drying winds, 'Black Dragon' is ideal in containers as well as the garden. Its lush habit looks full and healthy year-round, and it is hardy to -10 degrees F. Make this fine Japanese Cedar a standout in your landscape! Zones 5-9.

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

Still on my wish list.

Ancient Egyptians

"The mouth of a perfectly happy man in filled with beer."

- Ancient Egyptian saying (quoted by Niall Edworthy in The Curious Gardener's Almanac (2006))

Nearly Native Nursery

http://www.nearlynativenursery.com/index1.cfm

Impressive selection of perennials, shrubs, trees, and vines.

Nice selection of ferns.

Seven Sons

Heptacodium miconioides -- Seven Sons Flower- provides beautiful, sweetly fragrant cascades of sparkling white flowers in late summer. For many plants this would be the highlight, but this is only the beginning of this rare tree's spectacular drama. Flowers soon transform into fruits surrounded by large, glowing red and purple calyces more gorgeous than the flowers- an effect that lasts 4 to 5 weeks (well into late fall), increasing even further when the prominently-veined leaves turn a gorgeous purple.

This eye-catching delight grows rapidly to about 15 feet. Adaptable to sun or shade, although best color is achieved when planted in sun. Whitish, exfoliating young bark turns rich brown at maturity, giving rise to its nickname "The Crepe Myrtle of the North"! Winner of the Gold Medal Plant Award of the Pennsylvania Horticultural society. Zones 4-9.

- http://www.parkseed.com

Definitely on my wish list.