Landscape Plants for California Gardens
A highly regarded landscape architect, professor, and author, Bob Perry’s first two books, Trees and Shrubs for Dry California Landscapes (1981) and Landscape Plants for…
Plants: Trees and Shrubs
Smith-Mossman Western Azalea Garden
Britt Smith and Frank Mossman were passionate about our native, deciduous West Coast azalea (Rhododendron occidentale). The Smith-Mossman Western Azal…
The Explorer’s Garden: Shrubs and Vines from the Four Corners of the World
The beauty of Dan Hinkley’s writing is that it has matured as his personal aesthetic for plants has grown more defined. The wild world is…
Ninfa: The Most Romantic Garden in the World
To paraphrase an old Italian saying (regarding the magnificence of Naples), one should “see Ninfa and die,” as it surely is superior to Naples and…
Orchard Trees of Rancho Los Cerritos: Loquats
Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica) are a delightful fruit for eating fresh off the tree or for canning, and may someday prove to be important in the pharma…
Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities
Azaleas and rhododendrons, hydrangeas and alstroemeria, daphne and even my favorite Robinia…all grow vibrantly in my garden adding beauty and delight, without the slightest hint…
Quarryhill Botanical Garden: A Sanctuary for Asian Plants
Quarryhill Botanical Garden is a hidden gem in Sonoma County's tranquil Valley of the Moon. This verdant garden is not only a world-class botanic gard…
A Golden Moment in a Northern California Garden
During a visit to the garden one cloudless day last May, I enjoyed the privilege of strolling underneath the fortress created by forty carefully train…
History of the West in an Altadena Garden
Our home sits on a south-facing alluvial fan at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Altadena, California. We designed and installed a semi-formal…