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…
Regions: Northern California
Nor. Cal
Filoli’s Daffodil Collection
No other flower says spring like the daffodil. The pleasure of seeing a whole field of bright yellow trumpets, planted en masse, is a heart-warming an…
Relict Gold: The Long Journey of the Chinese Narcissus
A variety of flowers are intimately associated with Chinese New Year, but the landscapes of the Far Western frontier provided none of those early-bloo…
Pacific Plant Promotions: Adiantum xmairisii
The delicate foliage of a fern adds a softness and grace to any garden. Maidenhair ferns (Adiantum species), in particular, are known for the beauty o…
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…
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…
Garden Allies: Raptors
Powerful Winged Hunters Standing in our narrow side yard, my husband and I were startled by the sudden arrival of a red-tailed hawk scooping up…
Central Coast Gardening Essentials
Central Coast Gardening Essentials is the result of years of trial-and-error and keen observations by Joe Seals, a gardener, teacher, and horticulturist, who shares his…
Revealing the “Essence of the Tree”: Aesthetic Pruning of Japanese Maples
Japanese maples are among the most rewarding trees to prune because of their shape and the wide vocabulary of their branching structure—from the str…