90 Year Old Grows Abundant Tomato Crops
“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away.” These words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the famous author, came to mind durin...
Category Archives: Advice
Splurge with Spurge
The sun-loving equivalent of baby’s tears, it grows rampantly and, left unchecked, will take over every bare spot of garden earth within a week or two. Spotted prostrate spurge takes over just ...
Bauhinias and the Bauhin Brothers
The greatest compliment that can be paid to a botanist is to have a plant named in his honor. But if two great botanists happen to be brothers, what then? If a plant is given the brothers̵...
Replace Front Lawn with Fruit Trees
Amidst thoughts concerning alternatives to the front lawn, I recently came across “Self-Reliance,” Ralph Waldo Emerso...
Avocado Tree Longevity
Q. I have an avocado tree that has been on the property for almost 70 years. What is its life expectancy? – Grace Hampton, Burbank A. That is very old for an avocado tree. The original ‘H...
Rain Puts Smiles on Gardeners’ Faces
For the nongardening resident of Los Angeles, rain is nothing but a burden. Rain lengthens the daily commute. If you forgot to rake the leaves off your roof, your rain gutters will overflow and creat...
Peruvian Lilies Are Always in Bloom
Q. My Alstroemeria plants in the ground have thrived so far over the winter. They are lush and green but no flower buds. What should I do now to assure blossoms in the spring? Lauralee Oster Chatswor...
When Italian Cypress Branches Bend . . .
Our very heavy snowstorm last month loaded and bent the branches of all of the Italian cypress trees encircling the backyard. The trees have grown very tall. However, they look quite grotesque and br...
How To Turn Acorns Into Oak Trees
As daylight hours are reduced in the last days of December, gardening may be the last thing on your mind. But with the help of some Styrofoam cups and a little soil mix, you can start many plants ind...
Honeysuckle Heaven
Q: The other day I was at Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks and noticed a huge shrub with large, tubular, yellow-orange flowers, which — like all strange flowers I encounter — I could not re...
