Godetia of Celestial Origins
When you look at Godetia, do you see God? Actually, Godetia is named for a Swiss Botanist by the name of Charles Henry Godet, who lived 200 years ago. But the plant that honors his name is clearly c...
Category Archives: Perennials
Don’t Forget to Notice the Natives
You know you’re getting old when time worn clichés begin to ring true. One of those clichés admonishes us: “don’t forget to stop and smell the roses,” to which I would add, “and don’t forget to stop...
Hydrangeas Grow Well Under Walnut Trees
Less than a century ago, thousands of acres of walnut orchards thrived in what would become the Los Angeles megalopolis. Today you can find the remnants of these orchards in equally spaced walnut tre...
Neighborhood Passion Vines & Pussy Willows
It’s amazing how much you can learn about plants simply by taking a leisurely walk around the block, just before sunset in the last days of July, in Sherman Oaks. In an alleyway, blackberries a...
A Pause for Kangaroo Paws
The kangaroo paw, when properly grown, is one of the most dramatic plants for Los Angeles gardens. Its flower stems can grow to 6 feet, and it will bloom from spring to fall. The most outstanding loc...
From Gold Medallions to Angel Trumpets
Over time, shrubs and trees that bloom every year, but only briefly, are increasingly welcome, much like old friends, each time they flower. Your appreciation of them grows from year to year as you l...
From ‘Elfin’ Thyme to ‘Stargazer’ Lilies
Question: My wife and I planted several flats of ‘Elfin’ thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘Elfin’) in an area near our driveway to fill in around some stepping stones, pretty much in f...
How to Grow Hydrangeas
At the end of last week’s column, I asked for advice on how to grow hydrangeas. Thanks to your e-mails, I have become an expert on the subject. “I have two hydrangeas in my backyard facin...
Hydrangeas: Classic Garden Plants
Is there anyone who does not like hydrangeas? These perennials have probably the largest sphere-shaped flower clusters in the botanical world. The blooming globes are up to half a foot in diameter, a...
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:...