Epimediums: Queens of the Woodland
Among the most beautiful and charming perennials in the woodland is the epimedium. The delicate early spring bloom and the lovely, yet unobtrusive fol…
Regions: Northern California
Nor. Cal
A Half-Century of Camellias Find a New Home
To move a collection of this age and size, we needed to find a location for the camellias in a relatively similar microclimate, to minimize any post-t…
The Native Gardener’s Paintbox: Green
Gardeners can benefit from a technique used by florists, who add greenery to complement both exotic and pedestrian blossoms. An assortment of bold- to…
Fragrance in Wild Western Gardens: Irises
In California, the best smelling wild irises are to be discovered from around San Jose northward to Laytonville (in Mendocino County), or Garberville …
Thistle Lovers All: The Cobwebby Thistle as Habitat
The beautiful cobwebby thistle (Cirsium occidentale) is nearing the end of its life cycle in my Novato garden. It’s almost June, and I watch as the …
Garden Allies: Braconid Wasps
Several wasp families include species that attack aphids. The small, non-stinging wasps in the family Braconidae include aphid parasitoids, as well as…
Gardens Tell the Other Story of Alcatraz
For more than a century, gardens were an important part of everyday life on Alcatraz. Planted by successive waves of island inhabitants, from soldiers…
Winter Delights in the Garden: Flowers
Winter is a special time to have blossoms around us, and several flowering trees and shrubs can be recommended for their ease of care and permanence i…
Not Your Mother’s Hellebores: A New Look at Species and Hybrids (Part 2)
Selections from interspecific and intersectional hellebore crosses are widely available in a range of sizes, leaf shapes, and flower colors, thanks to…