Daphnes: A Practical Guide for Gardeners
Daphnes have always held an elusive role in the garden. These coveted shrubs are prized by those who can grow them well and desired by…
Seasons: Spring
Pacific Plant Promotions: Polygonatum prattii
Virtually no woodland garden is complete without the presence of at least one species of Polygonatum, generally known by its common name, Solomon’s …
Sweet Peas in California: A Fragrant but Fading Memory
Sweet peas were first grown in California’s Central Coast valleys on an agricultural scale in 1907. The region’s rich soil and benign climate were…
Wildlife Gardening in the Central Valley
Wildlife gardening, also called habitat gardening, generally refers to creating gardens with plant associations and vegetation communities that are in…
Frilly Echeverias: The Fairest Succulents of Them All
The rosette shaped succulents known as Echeveria, native to Mexico, have colors as red as salsa, as opalescent as a south-of-the-border sunset, and as…
Corsican Plantes des Maquis
While used in recent years for perfumes, biocosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical research, the plants of the maquis are deeply ingrained in Corsica…
Garden to Vase: Growing and Using Your Own Cut Flowers
There seems to be a limited overlap between the universe of gardeners and the universe of floral designers. More’s the pity, for the two realms…
Sacramento’s Historic Rose Garden
Some 400 heritage roses, part of the Historic Rose Garden, lay nestled among the towering pines, cedars, and elms in the oldest part of Sacramento’s…
Landscaping with Natives in San Diego
To landscape successfully with native plants requires a different approach—not necessarily more difficult, but different. California’s plants are …