The History of Lapageria rosea at the University of California Botanical Garden
The University of California Botanical Garden has a long history of cultivating Chilean bellflowers (Lapageria rosea). Revered as the national flower …
Plants: Flowering plants, vines, and bulbs
The Gardens of Lake Park
After years of gardening on a modest suburban lot, Mary Lynn Cox, moved to a retirement community. She was surprised to learn that she need not have l…
Great Plant Picks for Container Gardens
Every garden, no matter how grand or petite, is made richer by a well-planned container, be it exuberant, elegant, eccentric, or edgy. With this intro…
New Entrance Garden at UC Botanical Garden: An Explosion of Arid Exotica
The new entry plantings at the UC Botanical Garden reflect the diversity of the garden while maintaining a cultural and aesthetic continuity with the …
Mediterranean Splendor in Leucadia
In the seaside community of Leucadia in San Diego County, where municipal planting often consists of little more than the same overused trees and shru…
The Northwest Garden in Winter
Here in the Pacific Northwest, garden chores continue through the winter— sitting in front of the fire poring over garden catalogs and planning for …
A Mediterranean Courtyard in Santa Monica
Walled patios and courtyards are an indelible part of California’s history, introduced as a style by the Spanish missionaries in the late eighteenth century. The…
Native Plant Care
The optimal time for planting most California natives is autumn, except in the mountains, high deserts, and other cold-winter areas of the state. Plan…
A Garden in Eugene
When Buell and I moved into our new home in Eugene, Oregon, in August, 2002, we realized we were taking on a sizable challenge, despite our nearly ten…