Want to solve the world’s problems? Yeah, me too…but today I’ll settle for a few specifics in the garden. The movement toward using less water in the landscape, along with the human urge to seek novelty and beauty, has created a huge interest in succulent plants for years. Succulents are generally described as plants […]
This is the time of year where we traditionally reflect on the past as well as look forward to the future. There have been a number of important anniversaries to celebrate this past year; 800 years since the Magna Carta, 250 years since the first French restaurant – and yes, 30 years since Saturday […]
Soothing and refreshing, all at the same time, a cup of tea centers me and gives a pleasant pause. The heady scent, of mint in particular, brings both comfort and focus. Sipping something warm and fragrant provides a meditative moment that can warm the body and soothe the soul. Technically a flavorful herb […]
“If I re-landscape because of the drought, what happens when it starts to rain again?” This is a question I have been asked a lot lately. The re-education of the California gardener is really having an effect. More and more clients are wanting to put in low-water landscaping, even though I’ve been designing those kinds […]
Lose the lawn? No problem. More and more people are getting on board with lawn-less gardens in California. Of course, historically low rainfall and state mandated water conservation are the reason for the change of heart for many people. But losing the lawn can make room for re-thinking what you want in your landscape to begin […]
My garden had some special visitors recently, when my niece and my god-daughter came to visit for a couple of days. The girls both love exploring the outdoors, cooking and learning new things, so it was a natural that we would head out to the garden to see what we could nibble and pick. […]
Even if we don’t all have the means to take advantage of succulents on a grand scale, like some of the West’s famous estate gardens, most of us can find a pocket of space to enjoy a bit of nature’s drought-tolerant botanical-sculpture. The lack of rain in California makes this a good year to have fun with water-wise plantings but even […]
Armeria, also known as Sea Pink or Sea Thrift, is a lovely plant for adding texture to small scale plant combinations. It has neat-looking foliage, can take occasional foot-traffic and is deer resistant as well. Sea Thrifts have flowers that form a globe-shaped inflorescence at the top of a leaf-less stem, looking a bit like pink lollipops. […]
Jan loved the Prostanthera. That’s Prostanthera ovalifolia variegata, also known as Variegated Australian Mint Bush, a versatile shrub that’s been blooming its head off for more than a month now. Jan is Jan Nelson, also known as The Mountain Gardener, a versatile designer and garden writer who has been penning her column for the Valley Press […]
Succulents are justifiably stylish at the moment. In recent years people have come to appreciate what this varied group of plants can bring to a landscape. I still encounter people who think of low—water gardening, with succulents, as only about pokey, spined “cactus” in a barren rockscape. While it’s true that cactus are succulents….not all […]
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