Fastigiate Trees, ‘Starry Night’
There is something about fastigiate (fass-ti’-gee-it) trees. You either love them or hate them. Or so it seems. Fastigiate means columnar and I could not help but contemplate this arboreal for...
Category Archives: Trees
Epicormic Growth, ‘Reed’ Avocadoes
Do you have epicormic growth? Epicormic (epi = upon, kormos = tree trunk) growth is the technical term for shoots that develop from hidden buds on tree trunks and branches. Suckers, which grow out ...
The Price of Bringing Nature Close to Home
I wondered if you could give me your opinion about our deodar cedar tree and whether it is safe to keep it. I love the tree. It’s beautiful, but it is very close to the house/roof so I feel l...
A Quick Guide to Pine Trees
If you notice something emerging from your garden soil that resembles an exotic spider or the green tentacles of a misplaced sea creature, do not be alarmed. You are merely witnessing the germinatio...
The Most Poisonous Plant, Trees for Small Spaces
The most poisonous plant on earth, commonly known as castor bean, is growing along Roscoe Boulevard, between White Oak and Encino Avenues, in Northridge. Did I say growing? In fact, several robust ...
Southern Live Oak, Tumbleweed, Feather Grass
A gleaming oak tree from the Southeast and an iconic weed from Russia are thriving in Balboa Park. The park entrance is located on the east side of Balboa Boulevard, between Burbank and Victory Boul...
Oaks and Acorns
If you have a dog, you should be extra diligent these days about examining its fur for ticks. My wife, who works next to a park resplendent with mature oak trees, brought attention to the fact that ...
The Truth About Deodar Cedar
Learning the origins of plant names tells you a lot about how people relate to the botanical world around them. Take deodar cedar. Deodar is derived from devadaru, a Sanskrit word that combines dev...
Growing Money Trees Can Make You Rich
Money Tree = Jade Plant You might think the idea of a money tree started in ancient times yet all evidence points to it being a rather recent concept. Some say that the money tree is a jade plant (C...
Northfolk Island Pines & Flame Vines
They are the most distinctive and unforgettable trees in Southern California gardens and landscapes. Unlike palm trees, which also have an exotic look, there are not so many of them as to become bor...
