Plant Profiles

Of fog and rain

"An absolute patience. Trees stand up to their knees in fog. The fog slowly flows uphill. White cobwebs, the grass…

14 years ago

Why did these gummy resins make good presents?

Frankincense and myrrh These fascinating herbs are best known through the story of the Three Wise Men delivering gold, frankincense,…

14 years ago

Camellia ‘Yuletide’ Christmas

Happy Holidays, everyone! Since my 'Yuletide' Camellia, usually on the patio, is in full bloom, we decided to put it inside…

14 years ago

Mysteries in the mulch

Get down... Get down low...and see the mysteries that may be in your mulch and layer of leaf liter under…

14 years ago

Past memories and changing your mind

Shasta Daisies and Ox-eye daisies The memories of the tall Shasta daisies in my grandmother’s and mother’s gardens created in me,…

14 years ago

Best Fall bloomers: Mexican marigold

Introducing you to... Mexican marigold or Tagetes lemmonii... Lemmon's Marigold, Copper Canyon Daisy or Mexican Bush Daisy, you can call…

14 years ago

‘Dragon’s Blood’ and first snow

Yesterday, Saturday OK, I see it now. After several years of growing Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood', I have only seen…

14 years ago

Discovering and identifying the Oracle Oak

Discovering new natives I have always loved the names of plants. I don't know why, but I must know what a…

14 years ago

An Explosion of Asters

Their colors are so intense, majestic, it is a privilege to be out among the asters and goldenrods and drying…

14 years ago

Marvelous Milkweed, part of a butterfly garden

Collecting milkweed pods I found these milkweed pods on a drive up to Bald Mountain in the Sierra Forest. I…

14 years ago

Invasive plants and impatience in the garden

Arrrgggghh! I did it to myself,...I planted Mexican Primrose in my front beds in my impatience for something to fill…

14 years ago

Ice Wings

Each with their secret and each with their song Narcissus lifting their faces to me Paper-white petals so fragile so…

14 years ago

Reblooming Iris ‘Hemstitched’

Rainy, stormy night and day. Big change in the hot weather of the last two weeks. This Iris just rebloomed,…

14 years ago

‘Sweet vagrant’ tarweed

"What is that wonderful smell", guests exclaim! So spicy and fragrant, Common Madia, Madia elegans and Rosinweed, Calycadenia truncata are…

14 years ago

August ‘Easter’ Lilies

Three pots of lilies, with faded blooms, given to me by a friend in May 2009, were planted on the…

14 years ago

Red and Pink

Fun for Valentine's Day. Can you guess these? [gallery link="file"] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

15 years ago

Barberry Blitz and Intriguing Iris

Nov 1st, 2007 I love the Fall color of the 'Royal Cloak' barberry, so determined to get more.  As a…

17 years ago