A Glimpse of Paradise
Visitng Sherman Gardens is like spending time in a great museum. After an hour or so, you reach a saturation point and sigh, “There are just too many treasures to absorb in a single visit. I...
Why not to Plant Magnolias and Jacarandas
If you are considering planting a tree, you might want to eliminate southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and jacaranda from your list of choices. There is a bacterial disease that is infecting t...
Peruvian Lilies
If ground cover selections in Southern California were confined to Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria), I would not have a problem with that. There are Peruvian lily cultivars in every color except blue ...
Japanese Garden in Los Angeles
You can learn basic elements of garden design by visiting the Japanese garden in Woodley Park in Van Nuys, starting with the entrance gates. There are three contiguous gates, but only one is open. ...
California Native Ground Covers
This spring’s flowers – there are just so many of them — cannot be compared to those of any spring in recent memory. Perennial plants native to dry climates – and most of the woody and herbaceo...
Dragon Trees
Plants are full of surprises. You never know what to expect and that’s why to dabble in the dirt is to be humble. Even after years of planting, you are always a beginner in the garden. Everything ...
Oxalis: Strong as an Ox, Sour as a Lemon
There is a certain plant that has remarkable strength. I always think of an ox when reading about it or hearing its name and for an obvious reason: it’s called oxalis. Yet the etymology of oxalis h...
A Living Fence of Pyracantha
I’m looking for some kind of bush or shrub or vine that will help to create a security barrier over a 3 foot high chain link fence, that will grow to around 5 or 6 feet or so, will look decent maybe ...
Larkspur/Annual Delphinium
Just scatter larskpur seeds for a magnificent spring bloom. These annuals will then self-sow and come back year after year after year. No garden should be without larkspur.
Red Monkey Flower
Red monkey flower (Diplacus puniceus) is an evergreen perennial that you ignore all year long for the sake of its arresting spring bloom, although it may flower on and off throughout the year. Water...
