Nature’s Wonders I Planted Roots in Mexico series – A Glimpse into “The Medicinal Jungle”

By Tommy Clarkson on the Winter 2022/2023 Edition Man does not live nor survive  on meat alone! Vegetative material is a key component in our lives. Be it for food, clothing, household items or their health and healing applications, we need  I’ve pulled verbatim five of these plants. As seen through our first book series, “The Civilized […]

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Nature’s Wonders I Planted Roots in Mexico series – A Sucker for Cycads

By Tommy Clarkson on the Winter 2022/2023 Edition A Sucker for Cycads Suffice it to say, I really like ‘em!In the center of the entryway to our home stands a magnificent Prince Sago Palm (Cycas taitungensis). It sets the tone for the array of tropical plants interspersed throughout Ola Brisa Gardens. But, in spite of what no […]

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Nature’s Wonders I Planted Roots in Mexico series-Hibiscus

By Tommy Clarkson on the Winter 2021/2022 Edition Hibiscus Family Malvaceae Also known as Rose Mallows (Regular readers of my weekly column, “Planting Roots in Mexico,” or those who’ve perused the first two volumes of our “The Civilized Jungle” series, are aware that, generally, I strive to write about specific species, not general genera – somehow that […]

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Hybrid Glory Bower Vine – I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the April 2021 Edition Hybrid Glory Bower Vine Clerodendrum x speciosum Family: Lamiaceae Also known as: Clerodendrom Vine (Before we go one word further, if you’ve read – and remember what I wrote – about the Bleeding Heart (Clerodendrom thomsoniae) in volume I of this series, you already know over 90% of […]

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Physic Nut – I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the March 2021 Edition Physic Nut Jatropha integerrima – or, possibly, J. pastada or J. coccinea Family Euphorbiaceae Also known as Nettlespurge or Rose-flowered Jatropha Ever in search of new species of tropical or semi-tropical plants that will complement the others in our gardens, I was recently delighted to come upon this […]

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Mexican Sunflower -I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the March 2021 Edition Mexican Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia Family Asteraceae   Also known as Goldflower of the Incas, Red Sunflower or Mexican Marigold (Inasmuch as most of my regular readers and garden visitors know that, in fact, I was just an old Midwest US kid who enjoys rootin’ in the dirt, I’m […]

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Mexican Heather – I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the February 2021 Edition Mexican Heather Cuphea hyssopifolia Family Lythraceae Also known as False Heather, Mexican False Heather, Hawaiian Heather, Artificial Heather, Elfin Plant, Elfin Shrub, Elfin Herb, Clammy Cuphea or Corail For whatever reason – other than it does sorta’ resemble it at first glance – I always think of the […]

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Identifying Palm Species – I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the February 2021 Edition Identifying Palm Species With well over 2,400 different species of palm trees known to exist, it’s no wonder that some folks become a bit confused when trying to determine the type they see or seek. But, in endeavoring to do so, it will help if you keep in […]

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