Latest Episodes
Cola de Gallo
Anisacanthus thurberi or desert honeysuckle is in the Acanthus family, Acanthaceae. I do like the common name cola de gallo, because it captures the...
Gaillardia pulchella
I suppose the thinking is that any wildflowers blooming along the side of the road will beautify that road and who cares what’s in...
Two Common Species to Love
House finches are pretty darned cute and that’s why pet stores back in New York City in 1939 were selling them as “Hollywood Finches”....
Electric Calliandra
Calliandra is a beautiful plant name. I like the way a genus name can sometimes become the common name as well. I wonder how...
Salvia lemmonii
Hmm, I’m not doing a very good job of keeping up with botanical names. Either that or I’m making them up as I go....
Mearns Sumac
I like the name sumac and I’ve known it since I was a kid in Kentucky. The most talked about sumac of my youth...