Garden Alphabet: Vinca
Vinca These lovely Vinca flowers comes from the garden of our Sicilian family near Mascalucia, Francesca had several lovely pots of these flower scattered around the yard. This was her Continue Reading
Garden Alphabet: Honeybee
Honeybee It took some time to make peace with honey bees. I grew up with yards that were more clover than grass, so summer days often involved accidentally stepping on Continue Reading
Garden Alphabet: Ficus benjamina
Ficus benjamina Far beyond the small office or house trees you often see, my Ficus benjamina are large, dense trees that shade a large portion of my back garden. I Continue Reading
Garden Alphabet: Magnolia Grandiflora
Magnolia Grandiflora These large trees, with heavy, waxy leaves and large, blowzy flowers are quite common here in Los Angeles. They put on quite a show each year and seem Continue Reading
Garden Alphabet: Oleander (Nerium)
Oleander (Nerium) Oleander is an extremely common landscape plant around here and, as familiarity breeds contempt, I haven’t thought much about it. In most yards it grows huge and out Continue Reading
Garden Alphabet: Aspen
Aspen I took this photo years ago high atop Snow Bowl in the San Francisco Peaks just north of Flagstaff. A friend of ours, who lives in Sedona, took us Continue Reading
Garden Alphabet: Campsis radicans
Campsis radicans Another lovely flowering vine — this one from my own garden. This camps is vine has arrived each year like clockwork since we moved in 18 years ago. Continue Reading
Garden Alphabet: Mandevilla
Mandevilla Found along a neighborhood walk today. There was a also a pretty red variety of Mandevilla planted near to this one. The pink had better light for the photograph, Continue Reading
Garden Alphabet: Helianthus (sunflower)
Helianthus (sunflower) A neighbor had a lovely stand of sunflowers that caught my eye on a walk this week. The orange variety was especially striking. I keep meaning to grow sunflowers Continue Reading
Garden Alphabet: Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) This is such a ubiquitous landscape plant herein Los Angeles that no one really even notices it anymore. You see it everywhere, so you tend to Continue Reading