Gardenig in California. Tips & Guides

The captivating Yucca brevifolia, commonly known as the Joshua tree, is a member of the agave (Agavaceae) family.With the Mojave, Great Basin, and western Sonoran D

If you’re curious about what kind of effort it takes to grow plumeria, you’ve come to the right place.Who wouldn’t want this gorgeous specimen in their lands

It loves chilly weather, is essential for making kimchi, and isn’t as fussy as some other brassicas. Say “hello” to napa cabbage.Also known as Chinese cabbage, this plant is perfect for growing when man

When I first moved to southern California from Montana to attend university, I was amazed by the diverse array of stunning plants: the pink sprays of bougainvillea, the purple flush of jacaranda trees, the orange-tufted, sharp-beaked birds of paradise.It’s uncanny how much this flower resem

If you’re a “Here We Come A-wassailing,” Yule log, Tiny Tim, and plum pudding-type of holiday reveler, have I got the holly for you to grow at home!English, aka common, holly (Ilex aquifolium) is native to Europe, no

California poppies create spectacular displays of bright yellow-orange blooms that cover grassy hillsides in early spring.Their soft and silky petals reflect the sun’s light, making th

The Pacific Northwest is one of Mother’s Nature’s verdant playgrounds.While the deserts highlight her talent for architectural simplicity, and she

Satin flower, Clarkia amoena, aka godetia, is an annual native wildflower in the Onagraceae family that also includes evening primrose and fuchsia.Colors include peach, pink, purple, red, and white, often with str

You know those fruit flies that hover and get in your face when you have fruit that got too ripe? The ones that scientists use as model systems to advance medicine?They are highly annoying but don’t do much harm. The common fruit fl

If you want a pepper that has just a bit of zing but not so much that it overwhelms your dishes, Anaheims might be the perfect thing.Also known as California chilies or Magdalenas, they’re larg

Beautiful and seemingly delicate, the poppies are the plants not particularly very easy to grow, but the beauty of the flowering plant makes it a popular classic. Those who want to enjoy the intense blooms in their container gardens must grow poppies in pots.

According to the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, there are around 60,065 species of trees around the world! The researchers also found that 300 of these varieties are on the verge of extinction. Here’s one variety you must read about.

In the 1880s, a new disease decimated vineyards in the Los Angeles basin. California’s first professional plant pathologist, Newton B. Pierce, studied the disease and was rewarded with its being named after him.More than a century later, Pierce’s disease is still a major threat to vineyard

As a child growing up in Delaware, I was always fascinated by agapanthus, a plant I was only familiar with from ogling books filled with pretty pictures of different flowers.I still vividly remember my excitement on m

One of my favorite things to do during the winter is to put food out for the birds.Not only does this activity nourish the birds

A gift from the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, sun-loving turpentine bush is native to the southwestern United States, including southeastern California, west Texas, southern New Mexico, and southern Arizona, as well as north-central Mexico.And in addition to tolerating blistering desert heat, this tough ev

These peculiar desert plants bring a sense of wonder to the arid landscapes they thrive in with their distinctive and stunning appearance.They are popular in xeriscape gardens and can be found in many co

Cabbage maggots are small insects that can have a huge impact on cole crops, such as cabbage, broccoli, turnips, rutabaga, radishes, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.The larvae live in the soil, feed on the fibrous roots

It’s not uncommon for me to grow too many tomatoes – WAY too many.Last year I finally made it a point to seriously minim

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Flowering kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, is a cool-weather biennial in the Brassicaceae family that includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and kohlrabi. It is usually grown as an annual in the cool gardens of fall, and winter.Bred to look attractive, it is edible

Going for the gold has its appeal in certain circles, but as a diehard vegetable gardener, I prefer to go for the green.Or, more accurately, the greens.And one way I l

My mother has always grown a vegetable garden. Even when we lived in Southern California and our backyard was all cement patio and pool deck, she would always have a community garden plot that I remember having to go water and weed every weekend. I didn’t appreciate the benefits of growing your own vegetable garden back then, but the gardening bug must run in the family because I LOVE it now! And my daughter Britta is following in the footsteps of her Mom, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother as she embarks on her second year of vegetable gardening.

The smell of dill takes me straight to my happy place: Mediterranean-style meals, warm spring days, and soft feathery plants.Life doesn’t get much better than that doe

By now, you have probably heard of a lethal disease called citrus greening that devastated Florida’s citrus industry and is now on the march in California.While most of the news concern

You might think tropical hibiscus can only be grown in places like Hawaii, Florida, southern Texas, and California, where the sun shines and the snow steers clear pretty much year-round.These symbols of the tropics are native to regions th

Every summer, for as long as I can remember, my mother has planted a vegetable garden. Even when we lived in Southern California and there wasn’t a lot of room to plant, my mother always had a garden plot in our local community garden. Every Saturday she would drag us kids to weed and water the garden, something we definitely did not appreciate back then. I wish I could turn back time and experience that all over again, because this time I would definitely enjoy it more! :-)

My love affair with perennials started way back when I was a girl growing up in Southern California. My mom always kept a garden and I loved seeing her perennials blossom every year.

Walking outdoors with your new puppy, a growing child, or a curious cat can cause you to panic when they start touching, sniffing, or chewing strange leaves (or one of your precious azaleas).I know I always start to worry when my cat walks through the garden with me.Th

Should California be able to require higher welfare standards for farm animals raised in other states if products from those animals are to be sold in California? On May 11, 2023, the US Supreme Court upheld California’s position by a 5-4 vote in National Pork Producers Council v. Ross.

Those flamboyant bearded irises may get most of the attention, but the not-so-humble Douglas iris is ready for more time in the spotlight.A North American native, this spectacular species g

If you’re the adventurous foodie type, broccolini might be something you’ve not only heard of, but cooked at home or eaten in a restaurant. But what about the similarly named broccoli rabe, also known as rapini? Are these two vegetables the same thing?Ready for a quick and simple answer? No, they’re not!

Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, is an aromatic Mediterranean herb in the Apiaceae (Umbellifer) family that includes carrots, celery, dill, and parsley.The edible yellow blossoms, seeds, feathery lea

Every kid in my tiny elementary school thought I was a strange girl because I kept a jar of sand on my desk.But it wasn’t just any sand. It was sand my dad

Are you up for a challenge that is extraordinarily rewarding? Grow olive trees!Of course, if you’re located in the US and you

Cucumbers are one of these veggies that really is best eaten right off the vine. So what should you do if you have an abundance?Fortunately, there are several easy and delicious ways to store cucumb