King Palms, Throatworts, & Sunflowers
It was nearly 20 years ago that I paid my first visit to the Virginia Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills. Many of the plants that I saw on that visit have disappeared but the Iochromas remain. Iochrom...
Category Archives: Flowers
The Man With Flower Power
Ted Howard is a man with flower power. His limitless energy appears to be derived from the flowers that surround him. The focus of his life is planting flowers, and he is the only person in the Valle...
Arboreta, Patience, & Australian Trees
If you want to learn the meaning – that is, the beauty – of patience, visit a botanical garden or arboretum. I recently had the opportunity to do so in Arcadia, where the Los Angeles Coun...
Easy to Grow Plants Can Be Beautiful, Too
Some of us may overlook simple, easy-to-do planting combinations because of that snobby gardener’s voice that tends to lurk in the back of our minds. “Plants that are easy to grow, or too...
Simple Plant Combinations Leave Lasting Impressions
Over the years I have noticed that simple combinations of plants leave lasting impressions. For instance, on both sides of an entryway in front of a house in my neighborhood, three plants alternate i...
Pansies Perk Up in June Gloom
June gloom may dampen the spirits of certain Angelenos, but it’s great weather for gardeners and their plants. It’s nice to be able to plant, prune and weed without working up a sweat. Ce...
Asparagus & Sunflowers
Two queries involving edible plants are the focus of this week’s column. Q: I recently moved into a new home and have discovered all the wonders of spring. Many items have emerged in the former...
Agapanthus: Flower of Love
It is appropriate that June, the favorite month for weddings, should also be the peak bloom period for the flower of love, otherwise known as agapanthus. The name is a combination of two Greek words:...
Consider Coreopsis
Among discerning Los Angeles gardeners, “Moonbeam” coreopsis could soon become enormously popular as a ground cover. Generally, discerning gardeners are reluctant to plant ground covers. ...
Non-Stop Color
One of the questions I am most frequently asked is what plant will bloom for a long time in low light. In Los Angeles, the plant that blooms longer in less light than any other is Begonia x Richmonde...
