Scientific name: Datura stramonium Family: Solanaceae Common Name: Moonflower, Jimson Weed, Angel’s Trumpet Article by Susan Bruneni Datura stramonium is believed to have originated in the American Southwest, Mexico and South America, but other evidence suggests an Asian origin. The [...]

Scientific Name: Picea pungens Plant Family: Pineaceae (Pine) Common names: Colorado blue spruce, Blue spruce Article and photos by Janice Tucker (& Sonny Tucker) The Colorado blue spruce, with its near perfect conical shape, upright growth and bluish evergreen foliage, [...]

Scientific names: Euphorbia pulcherrima, (Poinsettia), Euphorbia davidii (Toothed poinsettia) Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia) by Cristina Salvador. Plant Family: Euphorbiaceae Common Name: Poinsettia Article by Susan Bruneni We all know the beauty poinsettias contribute to holiday décor today. But Aztec [...]

Scientific Name: Hylotelephium telephium ‘Autumn Joy’ (synonym Sedum x ‘Autumn Joy’) Autumn joy sedum early spring emerging Plant Family: Stonecrop (Crassulaceae) Common name: Autumn Joy sedum Article and photos by Janice Tucker The name “Autumn Joy” in Autumn [...]

Helianthus annuus (Common sunflower) in field by Janice Tucker. Scientific Name (Genus): Helianthus Family: Asteraceae Common name: Sunflowers Article by Susan Bruneni “At the dawn of creation, the spirits rushed to the edge of the world, to [...]

Scientific name: Berlandiera lyrata Family:  Aster (Asteraceae) Common names: Chocolate Flower, Green eyes Article and photos by Janice Tucker An early morning stroll through the garden is one of life’s little pleasures. The senses are filled with singing birds, colorful [...]

Scientific name: Thelesperma megapotamicum Family: Asteraceae Common name: Cota, Indian tea, Hopi Tea, Navajo Tea, Zuni Tea, Greenthread By Susan Bruneni Photos: Beverley Spears Cota is an integral part of life in much of New Mexico. As its many common [...]

Scientific Genus name: Paeonia Plant Family: Paeoniaceae Common name: Peony Text and photos by Janice Tucker Peonies are among those beautiful but ephemeral flowers that grace our gardens in late spring or early summer. Lasting only a few short weeks, [...]

Scientific name: Salvia pachyphylla Plant Family: Lamiaceae (Mint) Common names: Blue sage, mountain desert sage, Mojave sage, rose sage   By Susan Bruneni The Santa Fe Botanical Garden’s May plant sale is the perfect opportunity to find out what grows best [...]

Plant Family: Mint (Lamiaceae) Plant Name: English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) By Janice Tucker “Spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices”. This verse from The Song of Solomon, 4:14 [...]

Scientific name: Borage officianalis Plant Family: Boraginaceae Common names: Borage, starflower By Susan Bruneni One of the early bloomers in a springtime Santa Fe garden is borage, presenting a showy display of vivid blue star-shaped flowers. Borage is a member [...]