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…
Seasons: Spring
Insect Hotels
Insect hotels add a charming focal (and conversation) point to gardens. Part of the appeal in creating a hotel is in the artistic expression possible …
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…
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…
Australian Shrubs
For those who yearn to travel to far-flung places, but are hindered by life’s circumstances from satisfying those longings, try my approach: bring t…
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…
Two Great Flower Shows: A Comparison
Floral exhibitions and garden shows have long been a traditional outlet for growers to showcase their finest plants and superb flowers, all to be scru…
Where Lilacs Still Bloom
Jane Kirkpatrick has worked hard all her life, given generously to the community, and turned herself into a writer of warm, “feel-good” novels as she…
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…