Camellia japonica – The Smarter Gardener

Avocado Prices Have Not Changed in 100 years

July 23, 2015 2 comments

Over the last hundred years or so, the price of avocadoes has not changed. Back in 1920, the price of avocadoes, which were a newly introduced delicacy in California, was around $1 a piece and, toda...

Classic Winter Bloomers

November 15, 2013 no comments

Note: The following was written shortly after a major earthquake in January, 1994. Whenever I walk my dog, I see a microcosm of Los Angeles at the end of the block. In the ruins of an ...

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There is a certain plant that has remarkable strength. I always think of an ox when reading about it or hearing its name and for an obvious reason: it’s called oxalis. Yet the etymology of oxalis has nothing to do with an ox. The word is derived f...

A Living Fence of Pyracantha

I’m looking for some kind of bush or shrub or vine that will help to create a security barrier over a 3 foot high chain link fence, that will grow to around 5 or 6 feet or so, will look decent maybe with some nice blooms and if I’m lucky I can get aw...

A Living Fence of Pyracantha

Larkspur/Annual Delphinium

Red Monkey Flower

Red monkey flower (Diplacus puniceus) is an evergreen perennial that you ignore all year long for the sake of its arresting spring bloom, although it may flower on and off throughout the year. Water it more than once a month — even in fast-dra...