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…
Seasons: Summer
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…
The Enchanted Hacienda: An Island of Biodiversity
I was a neophyte gardener on a cramped San Diego corner lot when a heartbroken widower offered me his thirty-year-old glass-house and a collection of …
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…
Great Plant Picks 2012: Made in the Shade
Shade is a shifty character, with a number of elusive and subjective descriptors, most commonly: light, partial, full, dappled, open, and deep. But wh…
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…
Striving for Diversity: Persian Ironwood
Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) seems exotic yet familiar, all at the same time. With many worthy ornamental traits and an adaptability to a range…
Garden Update: The San Diego Botanic Garden
Two years ago, Quail Botanical Gardens changed its name to San Diego Botanic Garden to better express its identity in the San Diego metropolitan area.…