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. ...
Category Archives: Advice
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 ...
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...
Growing Plants in Containers
Have you ever had a pet frog, a bird, a hamster, or a goldfish? If so, you have some idea of what caring for a potted plant is all about. Constant vigilance, really. You want to feed it, but not t...
How to Grow Pomegranates, the Healthiest Fruit on Earth
Pomegranates are probably the healthiest fruit on earth. Hundreds of peer reviewed articles in scientific journals attest to the multi-faceted benefits of pomegranate consumption, from lowering chol...
Tactile Plants
Everyone loves petting zoos, especially kids, and I was just wondering if, maybe alongside them, petting gardens would be appropriate. A petting garden would feature leaves with furry, fuzzy, bumpy, ...
The Pluot Revolution
“I was visiting my parents in Modesto and we picked up some delicious pluots at a local fruit stand. Since my Santa Rosa plum has rarely bloomed or produced fruit, I was interested in replacing it wi...
