A common sight along roadside ditches, as well as in carefully tended residential flower gardens, is the Day Lily, known to the botanist as (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus).

This time of year one can see along roadsides, in and on both public and private lands, a beautiful wildflower, commonly called Yucca, Adam's Needles, or Spanish Bayonet. It is Yucca filamentosa L. and every single part of the plant is said to be useful.

Long, green sword-like leaves 12-32" in length, 1-3.5" wide, comprise most of the green portion, while the flower stalk arises centrally, erupting in a tall and beautiful display of large white blossoms having plenty roomy for a bumblebee. The plant may reach 4-5' in height.

Growing one's own lettuce at home is relatively easy. This year our garden hosted three varieties of absolutely delicious and beautiful lettuces.

Forellenschluss is a hardy one that has survived, uncovered, the entire winter, when a late summer or fall planting was made so that the plants reached an edible stage by September or October. It has beautiful burgundy swirls throughout each leaf.

A truly delicious wild green, similar in taste to spinach or lambsquarter, was pointed out by a neighbor who has eaten it in season for as long as he can remember. It is called Shawnee. It is cooked in the same manner as spinach or lambsquarter, and the main difference in taste is more of a texture, as it is "grainier" than the other two, yet still delicious steamed with a little butter or olive oil.

One of the most delicious foods this writer knows is Lambsquarter, Chenopodium album L. This tasty green is related to spinach, beets, and Swiss chard, and compared to spinach, this one is tastier in the opinion of many.

Ozark Chinquapin Tree Deserves Protection After 35 Years

This designated critical habitat includes areas on the Mark Twain National Forest in Reynolds County, Missouri.
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Rare Midwest Dragonfly Earns 26,500 Acres

When snow is on the ground, the sun is hiding, and the days are dreary, ponder this. Many people can grow a couple of tomato plants all winter long inside their homes. Of course the key is size and variety.

Most tomato varieties I've ever grown will tower over a human, and will climb up tall trellises, if they are tied securely enough. But sometimes (in the winter) we might not want a behemoth of a plant inside our house. Last year we grew, by accident somewhat, a tomato variety that is absolutely PERFECT for the south window in wintertime.

For the past several years, here in Missouri's Ozarks, we are finally seeing turkeys again. Decades ago, when we first camped and hiked in this area, we saw dozens of wild turkeys, and were never surprised to see flocks wandering across fields, or crossing roads from one side of the forest to another.

Not too long ago the Donald Danforth PLANT SCIENCE CENTER, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132 mailed a slick, color cardstock brochure out to many, including our household. I noticed the pre-printed "box" (in place of the stamp) that reads NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST. LOUIS MO PERMIT NO 5385.