I love this season! Wait – didn’t I say that about Autumn? As I’m writing this it is raining, the first “real” storm of the season. In California’s Mediterranean climate, the normal is for us to receive the majority of rain and snow in winter and early spring. It’s …
Western spice bush (Calycanthus occidentlias) under some severe heat stress in this part sun foothill garden. Is more water the answer? I’ve been receiving several questions over the past month or so about plants that have been doing fine for years, but suddenly this summer are looking ragged. This is …
One of the reasons I love to travel is to visit public lands and botanic gardens, both to admire and discover plants that I am unfamiliar with, and to bring ideas back that might work in our Southern Sierra and southern central valley areas. I’m always interested and delighted when …
Our newer, water-saving landscapes are helping us break free of plain old green in the garden. With many plants, the traits that make them water-thrifty, also give them interesting foliage color and form. We can use this to our advantage by creating a “wow!” garden based on the monochromatic style. …
A design style that makes good use of California native plants is The New Perennial Movement. This design trend, likes most styles, shares similarities with other themes. Probably the best comparison is a naturalistic or wild-scaping style. Efforts to encourage planting native plants has also been a large part …
When I was a younger, idealistic college student, I participated in Earth Day activities every year in the Southern California city where I lived. I don’t remember thinking I was making a big positive change to the environment. It seemed more like something I should do, and it was …
Late-winter is one of my favorite seasons in the garden. Plants that were dormant in summer and fall look refreshed and green now. One of the showiest is silver bush lupin (Lupinus albifrons), with great stalks of purple or pink flowers that you can see from a distance. Bush lupin …
All the talk is about the lack of water. But still, the flowers bloom. I’ve been especially enjoying the beautiful Ceanothus at the Springville Park and the bush lupin by the roadsides and the wildflowers along some peaceful, reverential walks lately. The grapes are leafing out. The buckeyes, oaks and …
Saturday – May 5 – Scroll below for full flyer — I can’t wait! This is shaping up to be one fine event, and I am thrilled to be a part of this celebration, which benefits Friends of Tulare County Animals and is being held at just one of the …
Howdy, Full newsletter next week, but in the meantime hope to see you Saturday: Springville Ranch Market Place “First Saturdays’ Saturday, March 3 9 a.m. – noon CA Native Plants for sale – including some spectacular CA Lilac and Manzanitas from Theodore Payne Foundation, plus Sages,std Coffeeberry and more. Opportunities …
