When Oranges Split . . .
Does your orange tree have split fruit? If so, do not despair. You are not alone. The conditions that caused your oranges to split are causing oranges to split all over the Valley. While this fruit-s...
Category Archives: Flowers
Mildred Mathias and Her Garden Beauties
In 1993, I was exceptionally fortunate to make the acquaintance of Mildred Mathias. Mathias was a world-renowned UCLA botanist who was distinguished not only for her achievements in horticulture and ...
Gerbera Daisy: Happiest Flower on Earth
If an award for happiest flower was given, gerbera daisy would most likely win the prize. The sight of gerbera daisies invariably brings a smile and the thought of having giant bouquets of them provo...
Freeway Daisies
For years, the dazzling white, trailing African daisy was a staple of highway landscaping, so much so that it earned the sobriquet “freeway daisy.” The plant proved astonishingly tough, a...
Geraniums: simple garden pleasures
Geraniums are one of a gardener’s simplest pleasures. Geraniums do not require special attention. They bloom on and off throughout the year and look especially fine in winter, when many other p...
Gaze Upon Gazania
Q: What multicolored ground cover would you recommend for a small 10-by-12-foot area in a front yard? There is a short wall for the ground cover to cascade over, plenty of sun and an adjacent grassy ...
Iris and Other Cut Flower Candidates
Q: I would like to know which flowers you think are best for cutting. I live in Monte Nido in the Santa Monica Mountains and we have a micro-climate that can and does go down into the upper 20s in Ja...
All About Camellias
There is no better time to pick out camellias than in January and February, when they are in bloom. Camellias are the stalwart shrubs of the shade garden. They are dependable and relatively low maint...
The Amaryllis Among Us
Q: I received a potted amaryllis with four large bulbs in it as Christmas gift. The last bulb is ready to bloom. I would appreciate information on what I should do when it is done blooming. Should I ...
Japanese Gardens: Junipers & Their Relatives
Two gardening questions received by e-mail toward the end of 2001 may stimulate creative horticultural thinking for 2002. Q: I want to plant a garden but cannot afford to spend a lot of time or money...
