From Woadwaxen to Miniature Anthurium
The exuberance I experienced upon the recent discovery of a new plant was tempered by the thought that this might be an invasive species that would not be wise to recommend to an unsuspecting public....
Category Archives: Flowers
From Spider Lily to Holly Leaf Cherry
Over the years, I have gained respect for the spider flower (Cleome hassleriana). It is a drought tolerant annual that deserves wider recognition. It’s often left out of the spring flower garde...
Monkey Flowers
If you could plant nothing but monkey flowers, you would have a garden full of kaleidoscopic color all spring and summer long. Red, yellow, orange, pink, magenta, violet, white, and combinations of a...
Theodore Payne Foundation
If it has been a while since you last visited the Theodore Payne Foundation Nursery in Sun Valley, I highly recommend you go back and take another look. For years, although the people working there m...
Loren Zeldin’s Exotic Garden
On the surface, Loren Zeldin would seem to be an outstanding example of predictability. Fifty-five years old, he has lived in the same house in Reseda his entire life. He has held but one job since g...
The Boldness of Wallflowers
If you look up wallflower in Webster’s dictionary, you will find this definition: “A person who from shyness or unpopularity remains on the sidelines of a social activity (as a dance)....
Everybody Loves Lobelia
Everybody loves lobelia. How can you resist it? Lobelia (lobelia erinus) is a demure botanical wonder that grows into a tidy globe of dark blue, bell-shaped flowers. It does well in mixed flower beds...
Resistance to Petunias is Futile
Wave petunias are making waves, and, no matter how hard you try to resist them, they will soon inundate and overflow your garden. You will plant Wave petunias in prim and proper fashion along your ga...
Marveling at Begonias
Lately I have been marveling at a certain wax begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum), used ubiquitously as a bedding plant. Actually, there are at least six different popular versions of this bed...
Glorious California Poppies
Like other important events in life, you’ll never forget the first time you see a vast expanse of California poppies. For me, this occurred more than 10 years ago while driving past a large cor...
