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Spring

By Peyton / March 27, 2021

“Just living is not enough,” said the butterfly. “One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” Hans Christian Andersen This year, spring sprang into being in the Northern hemisphere at 2:37 a.m. PST March 20. Some plants in the garden decided it was spring in February, or even January. Some are just getting the […]

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Winter Wonderland (California Style)

By Peyton / January 9, 2018

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 been a dry fall. December […]

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A garden of another color

By Peyton / August 7, 2016

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. Monochromatic gardens have been around […]

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Autumn is here, but do we care?

By Peyton / September 24, 2015

I should have paid more attention to the Autumnal Equinox, the day when day and night are the same length. For a few months, until the solstice, there will be a little more night than day. I should have posted something on facebook, sent out a tweet, posted pictures on Pinterest of what a typical […]

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A New Era

By Peyton / April 10, 2015

This article first appeared in the April 4 edition of the Porterville Recorder newspaper.                You’ve probably heard that on April 1, the state Water Quality Control Resource Board announced new state-wide water restrictions. This was no April Fool’s joke, however. Stricter restrictions were expected, so there was nothing surprising in the announcement, and nothing […]

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Mother’s Day Spring Boutique – May 11, 2013

By Peyton / May 9, 2013

Hope to see you at this event, which combines my love of plants with love of animals and so is dear to my heart: Mothers’ Day Spring Boutique Garrison Gourd Farm – Saturday, May 11, 2013  – 10 a.m. – 1p.m. 12944 avenue 320, Visalia CA Raffle & Refreshment proceeds benefit Friends of Tulare County […]

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California native plants during the Freeze

By Peyton / January 12, 2013

Plants that need help now, during periods of sustained low temperatures: 1) plants you found and bought at nurseries outside the area that originate –grow in the wild–in areas that don’t routinely experience freezing. 2) plants that originate in low elevation areas that you planted in your high (2000′ feet and above) garden. 3) plants […]

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Native Plant Fall Festival

By Peyton / November 9, 2012

Nov. 17 & Nov. 18    10 a.m. – 4 p.m.   both days   — River Ridge Ranch, Springville, CA Wow! Our first day of the Festival was fantastic. Warm, fall beauty, no rain (cloudy and breezy, but just right). We listened to poetry and prose sitting around the fire pit, walked trails, planted some Cleveland […]

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Unusual CA Native Plants for your Garden

By Peyton / October 30, 2012

If you’re just getting started with discovering how wonderful, rewarding and easy-to-care-for (most of the time) our own State’s native plants are, you’re probably just falling in love with Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii), Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens), Toyon (Hetermeles arbutifolia), Howard McMinn Manzanita (Arctostaphyllos desiflora ‘Howard McMinn’) and Concha Ceanonus (Ceanothus ‘Concha’). In fact, these […]

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CA native plant sales this fall

By Peyton / October 5, 2012

Opportunities to buy CA native plants this Fall! November is a great month to plant! Saturday November 3 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (note early closing time) Springville Ranch Marketplace -The White Barn Hwy 190 & Balch Park Rd, Springville Monthly “first Saturdays” at the marketplace. **CA native plants **Climate-right, low-maintenance plants from around the […]

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Last Month for Consultation Special

By Peyton / July 27, 2012

Summer Consultation Special continues through August! Read below and go here for details and contact me soon to get started on your landscape project! Summer is the best season for planning your garden, especially one that will include many California native & other Mediterranean-climate plants. Before the plants go in the ground this Autumn, there […]

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CA Native Plants & Fresh Veggies at Market Tomorrow 6/2

By Peyton / June 1, 2012

Howdy & Happy Friday! Springville Ranch Marketplace “First Saturdays” tomorrow, 6/2. I’ll be there in person with CA native plants for sale (and some other great summer-blooming plants like “Dark Knight” Butterfly Bush and “Lipstick” Sage), and Fresh Springville-Grown Greens from Auntie’s Home Grown Farm: Kale, Chard, Broccoli, Collards and Beets. Hope to see you […]

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