If you’re looking to reduce your grocery bill, add beauty and intrigue to your yard, or swap out your lawn for something lower maintenance, then edible ground covers are for you. Plant these low-growing flowers, herbs, and veggies along paths and walkways, in your lawn as a grass-alternative, or as a “living mulch” in your […]
15 Edible Ground Covers for Your Yard & Garden Read More »
Yves shares how he creates designs for forest gardens in this excerpt from his Conservation Corner interview in the Winter edition of Botanical Anthology. This herbal magazine, featuring remedies, recipes and projects with plants for the winter season, can be purchased as a digital version here and as a printed version here. 0. Before ever
Forest Garden Design Strategy Read More »
Tulipán, also known as African tulip tree or Llama del Bosque, is in the Bignoniaceae family and is native to the tropical dry forests of Africa. It is cultivated extensively throughout the tropics and is well-loved for its showy reddish-orange flowers. In Guatemala, it is grown as shade trees on coffee plantations. Tulipán has a
Tulipán (Spathodea campanulata) Read More »
Myxomatosis is a highly contagious viral disease, caused by the myxoma virus, that affects rabbits worldwide. Among European domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the disease is severe and often fatal. Infected rabbits have a mortality rate of about 90-95% (Ross & Sanders, 1977) to 99% (Hudson et al., 1955). However, in its natural host, a type of
Myxomatosis in Rabbits Read More »
Morinda citrifolia is a small tree in the Rubiaceae, or coffee family. It is commonly called noni, Indian mulberry, or cheese fruit. It is native to the South Pacific. Today, noni is cultivated throughout the tropics and is grown commercially in Latin America, Florida, and the West Indies. Noni produces edible fruits with thin green
Noni (Morinda citrifolia) Read More »
Persian Lilac is a small to medium sized tree in the Meliaceae family. It is a close relative of neem (Azadirachta indica). M. azedarach is native to the subtropical and tropical regions of Asia and parts of Australia. It has now naturalized in many other parts of the world including regions of South America, Africa, the
Persian Lilac (Melia azedarach) Read More »
While ornamental plants are appreciated for their beauty, most of these plants have numerous practical applications too. These plants are grown abundantly, yet are rarely utilized. In this post, I’ll be highlighting five very common decorative plants that you’ll see growing in and around Vilcabamba, Ecuador and discussing various ways they are used. Jacaranda
Useful Ornamental Plants of Vilcabamba Read More »
We’re at the end of white sapote season here in southern Ecuador. The last of the many fruits I’ve purchased at the local organic market since October has been ripening on the counter for some weeks now, and will be savored when it turns soft. White sapote is one of my favorites and enjoying the
White Sapote (Casimiroa edulis) Read More »
In the five years I’ve been keeping rabbits, I’ve seen a variety of health complications arise, but certainly the most common issue I’ve dealt with is rabbit mites, also known as sarcoptic mange, or Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi. Sarcoptes scabiei is a mite that burrows deep into the epidermis of its host causing severe itching,
Treating Mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) Infestations in Rabbits Read More »
Capsicum pubescens is commonly known as rocoto, tree chile, or ají (a less specific name that is used to refer to many kinds of chili peppers). It is cultivated mainly in the high Andes, but is also grown in some parts of Gutatemala and in Southern Mexico, where it is called manzano. Rocoto produces beautiful red
Ají (Capsicum pubescens) Read More »
