Garden Allies: Honey Bees
An Insect Synonymous with Civilization In the late 1600’s, Johannes Swammerdam meticulously dissected a honey bee with home made tools and a primitive microscope. In…
Plants: Trees and Shrubs
A Gooseberry Affair
If the wild currants (Ribes species) of the West, are uncommon in gardens, the species of Ribes known as gooseberries are virtually unknown. Only one …
The Madagascar Spiny Forest at Los Angeles County Arboretum
The success of the LA County Arboretum’s Spiny Forest will, we hope, encourage more plant enthusiasts to experiment with some of these plants from M…
Striving for Diversity: Fragrant Champaca
In cultivation, champaca (Magnolia champaca, formerly Michelia champaca) matures at between twenty-five and forty feet. The bright green, glossy leave…
The Enchanted Hacienda: An Island of Biodiversity
I was a neophyte gardener on a cramped San Diego corner lot when a heartbroken widower offered me his thirty-year-old glass-house and a collection of …
Great Plant Picks 2012: Made in the Shade
Shade is a shifty character, with a number of elusive and subjective descriptors, most commonly: light, partial, full, dappled, open, and deep. But wh…
A Currant Affair
Decidedly underused, the genus Ribes is available in a dizzying number of ornamental species and cultivars for the West Coast gardener. Whether you ar…
Striving for Diversity: Persian Ironwood
Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) seems exotic yet familiar, all at the same time. With many worthy ornamental traits and an adaptability to a range…
From Tree to Table: Growing Backyard Fruit Trees in the Pacific Maritime Climate
“Sun-warmed fruit eaten straight from the tree is one of life’s great simple pleasures.” Authors Barbara Edwards (no relation) and Mary Olivella hooked me with…