Follow Me On Instagram Buckwheat Flowers In The Garden The native buckwheat we planted a few years ago is flowering in huge sprays like this. This has been one of most successful native plants in the garden over the years. From my Instagram Feed Read more on this topic: Clytostoma callistegioides (Lavender Trumpet Vine) Flowers […]
Gardening under oak trees is tricky, to say the least. Sensitive to summer irrigation, fertilizers, and root disturbance means creating a garden near an oak tree requires a delicate touch. That’s why the careful selection and placement of dry-shade-loving plants is critical for the tree’s overall health. Read Gardening Under Oaks: Learning to Love Dry-Shade Plants (Another […]
There are few things we love to daydream about more than a beautiful garden and the next one our list to visit, once we are able to travel. From the peaceful public gardens of Japan to the perfectly manicured gardens of the world’s royals that we have to see, there’s not an area of the world whose gardens we are not […]
As soon as it starts raining, I can’t help but think of all the ways I should be saving this precious resource. My son always suggests we catch the water by putting out a bunch of buckets, and I politely tell him that while that is a solution, there are more effective ways to use […]
Chances are, if you live in an arid or semi-arid region, you’re already familiar with xeriscaping—even if you haven’t heard of the term. Derived from “xeros,” the Greek word for “dry,” xeriscaping is the practice of designing landscapes that require little or no more water than what the natural climate provides. And if you don’t […]
These no-fuss landscaping ideas yield gardens that practically take care of themselves. Creating an inviting outdoor space doesn’t have to be a time-consuming, backbreaking endeavor. Although there’s no such thing as a truly zero-maintenance landscape, it is possible to create a stylish backyard with minimal upkeep. Read on for six simple design ideas that can spruce up your backyard and […]
Whether creating spiraling circles, a honeycomb, or a complex labyrinth, Hedrick carefully rakes the fallen leaves into intricate designs. She draws inspiration from environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy (whose visually striking nature art has also wowed us for years). With a background in landscape design and art, Hedrick sees her annual installations as a way to not only […]
For centuries, women’s ambitions to forge green-fingered careers were an uphill struggle for recognition and acceptance in a male dominated world. Just a few generations ago, female head gardeners were a rarity, but now women are involved in all areas of horticulture and heritage gardening.Here we take a look behind the scenes at some of […]
Los Angeles Zoo bird curator Mike Maxcy believes small changes can have a huge effect — in the garden and in wildlife. “Habitat loss is the worst, but you can mitigate it,” he said. “During this time of year we have a mass migration of birds from the Pacific Flyway. It’s important to remember that […]
Here in Southern California, we joke about our four seasons: fire, flood, earthquake, and drought. In the fall, otherwise known as fire season, we have hot, dry weather punctuated by gusty winds reaching up to 70 miles per hour. These are perfect conditions for catastrophic wildfires to establish and spread. If you live in […]
