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…
Seasons: Winter
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…
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…
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…
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…
Quinta Fay
Fay Truitt was a highly creative, energetic woman who put her personal touch on every aspect of her environment. Testament to that vitality is Quinta …
The Legacy of the Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation
Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation (SHRF) began offering new trees and new California native plant selections to the California landscape in t…
An Introduction to the Geography, Climate, and Flora of Chile
Nearly 4,300 species of vascular plants occur in Chile’s diverse habitats, of which forty-five percent are endemic, a rate that can be attributed to…