We envision a resilient world dependent on the thoughtful cultivation of plants

Humble Beginnings

Initially, grasses seemed a natural choice for meeting the criteria I established for my new garden in Oakland. I deeply value the elan that grasses a…

Perennial Pleasures

When it comes to creating a California native garden, the most popular flowery perennials include monkey-flowers, irises, California poppy, California…

A Bevy Of Balsams

The time has come for new stars in the genus Impatiens, often called balsams and formerly regarded as filler for annual beds, to be illuminated on the…

Second Spring

I used to think of plants that bloomed in fall as freaks of nature and confusers of seasons. My aesthetic image of autumn didn’t include the pastel …

Thanks to Our Feathered Friends

A few years ago, I started offering foods to attract a different range of birds. Birds eat many different things. When people think of feeding birds i…

Fuchsias Rise Again in the Bay Area

A fuchsia breeding program sponsored by the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum (SFBG) aims to create garden-worthy plants that are r…

A Mediterranean Garden in Seattle

In Seattle, two to three months of dry weather in the warmest season can be a challenge to gardeners who grow plants from summer-wet climates. Plants …