Kitulo Plateau: The Garden of God
High above Tanzania’s tropical lowlands lies a little-known botanical wonderland: Kitulo Plateau. Officially established as part of the Tanzania Nat…
Topics: Perspectives
Thoughts from a Gardener of a Certain Age
Although I don’t think of myself as old, I have already gardened for over thirty-five years, including almost twenty-five years in Northern Californ…
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…
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…
The Most Majestic Southern California Oak
A remnant grove of Engelmann oaks (Quercus engelmannii), one of the highlights of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, covers much of a …
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…
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…
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…
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…