Lantana Camara Highly Drought Tolerant
One of the horticultural marvels of the San Fernando Valley is located at the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and Hollywood Way in Burbank. Stand there and look east or west. Along the railroad tr...
Category Archives: Drought Tolerant
Bells of Ireland Flourish in Israel
For years, I had seen bells of Ireland in seed and plant catalogues — at least before plant catalogues, much like daily newspapers, became an endangered species. Every time I saw its picture, I imagi...
Healthy Plants are Barely Watered
Five years ago, I visited Claire Martin’s garden in Winnetka and reported on several plants that were the picture of health despite minimal care on her part. A few days ago, I paid another visi...
Desert Denizens
If you happen to spend a few days in Tucson, Ariz., as I recently did, you will quickly develop an appreciation for drought-tolerant plants, since irrigation systems are utilized infrequently and hos...
Fuchsia Flowering Gooseberry
In all of Los Angeles, there could not be a more stunning plant than the one currently blooming outside the east-facing wall of the Mid-Valley Regional Library in North Hills. It has pendulous cherry...
Rebecca Lovejoy’s Money-Saving Tips
Rebecca Lovejoy grows rhubarb in Reseda. “Never eat the leaves,” she advises. “They’re poisonous.” Lovejoy has lots of hints about gardening. Above all, she admonishes y...
California Natives at Soka U.
Although many of my favorite plants are California natives, I, like most other people, have a problem gardening exclusively with them. Once spring is over, I always thought, the native garden is much...
Gerbera Daisies
The title of this story could be “Ode to the Gerbera Daisies Growing at the Fast-food Restaurant on the Corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.” I have been st...
Plant Paradise in Madeira & Canary Islands
One of the botanical expeditions I have dreamed about at some length would take me to Madeira and the Canary Islands. These islands are situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Africa. T...
Irises: Carefree Backyard Orchids
The time is now for irises, whether you prefer classic bearded fleur-de-lis irises or native, Pacific Coast irises. Last week I had the privilege to visit two horticultural venues that featured irise...
